How Fast is the New BMW M2 CS? It Just Shattered a Nurburgring Record

The BMW M2 CS is shaping up to be a great performance car. It’s been just over a month since BMW revealed the coupe, and it’s already netted a lap record. Except the CS earned it more than a month before its official debut.

The M2 CS now holds the compact car lap record at the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit, lapping the 12.94-mile course in 7:25.5 on April 11, 2025. It beat the previous record by eight seconds, set in June 2024 by an Audi RS3. BMW M development engineer Jörg Weidinger set the new record, beating the previous M2 lap by 13 seconds, which he set in April 2023.

BMW M boss Franciscus van Meel called it a “significant milestone” for the car.

Powering the new M2 is BMW’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six with a power bump. The CS produces 523 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. Despite weighing 3,770 pounds, the coupe can hit 60 miles per hour in just 3.7 seconds and reach a 188-mph top speed.

The car lacks a manual transmission, but its omission doesn’t seem to be deterring buyers. BMW has already revealed that there’s “huge demand” for the car, and it is higher than expected in some markets. It’s forcing the automaker to increase the allotment of M2 CSs to those areas, including the United States, but it won’t be cheap.

The M2 CS starts at $99,775, which is a lot of money for a 2 Series. But buyers can take solace in the fact they have one of the quickest coupes around the Nordschleife with a stellar powertrain under the hood. That sounds quite enticing.