2026 BMW M2 CS Assessment – BMW’s Purest M Automotive But

The very first thing I seen wasn’t the ability. It was the rain. Thick Southern downpour, the type that turns each patch of asphalt right into a mirror. The automobile sitting in entrance of me — the brand new 2026 BMW M2 CS — regarded able to destroy lap instances, not wade by way of puddles. However that’s what made it good. There’s one thing cool about testing BMW’s most track-focused small coupe in situations that erase grip altogether.

I slipped into the carbon bucket seat, adjusted the flat-bottom Alcantara wheel, and hit the starter. I hit the starter and the S58 got here to life with that acquainted straight-six pulse — deep, purposeful, and unmistakably M. The cabin picked up a low vibration by way of the seat and wheel, the type that immediately tells you you’re in one thing critical.

Outdoors, the rain eased to a drizzle — simply sufficient to tempt me onto the monitor.

Chassis Upgrades: 8mm Decrease, M4 GT4 Mounts And Extra

Even earlier than turning a wheel, you may inform the CS is totally different. It sits decrease — 8 millimeters down on revised springs and dampers — and the stance alone provides away its intent. The engine and transmission mounts are stiffer, with the gearbox mounts borrowed instantly from the M4 GT4 race automobile. The Lively M Differential and stability techniques have been reprogrammed, the traction management now providing ten ranges of adjustment. Each piece of {hardware} has been tightened, sharpened, and tuned to make the automobile extra communicative.

From the surface, it’s a refined evolution quite than a shout — although actually, I wouldn’t have minded a bit extra visible drama. The carbon-fiber roof, ducktail trunk lid, and redesigned diffuser make the common M2 look tame with out overdoing it. The solid wheels save unsprung mass, the lighter carbon components chip away on the weight, and all informed the CS sheds about 97 lbs (44 kg) versus the usual automobile, bringing it right down to roughly 3,770 lbs.

Numerous Energy: 523 hp, 479 lb-ft

BMW may’ve simply added energy and referred to as it a day, however that’s not what occurred right here. The 523 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque are virtually secondary to how alive the entire automobile feels. The connection between throttle, drivetrain, and chassis is on the spot — the response is so crisp that you just really feel the automobile breathe beneath you.

Moist Traction on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S

The primary lap informed me all the pieces I wanted to know. Even on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S avenue tires, the M2 CS launched prefer it was glued to the monitor. Traction within the moist was shockingly good — the rear would twitch beneath full throttle, then dig in, sending the automobile ahead with a managed violence that made me chuckle out loud.

I spent most of these first laps in MDM. It’s the candy spot on a moist day: the rear can breathe on nook exit, you continue to get rotation on a carry or a brush of path brake, and it solely tidies up the spikes. It trims torque as a substitute of clamping the brakes, so the automobile by no means feels strangled. With M Traction Management in the midst of the vary, I may steer it on the throttle and study the floor as a substitute of combating it.

The Driving Expertise In contrast To The G87 M2

On nook entry, I may stand it on its nostril beneath braking, rotate it round, and feed in energy with precision. If the entrance began to push, a fast carry introduced it proper again. The stability was spot-on — playful, however at all times predictable.

In comparison with the bottom G87 M2, which already feels planted and forgiving, the CS has extra edge. It’s nonetheless secure, nevertheless it’s extra desirous to rotate. The stiffer mounts tie the entire automobile collectively and you may really feel the powertrain and chassis working as one. And surprisingly to different fashionable BMWs, you get loads of steering really feel. Extra on that in a second.

And that’s the distinction: the bottom M2 lets virtually anybody go quick; the CS in MDM nonetheless performs alongside, nevertheless it additionally reveals you the way far more there may be in case you’re prepared to lean on it.

Steering Really feel: G87 vs. F87 M2 CS

Even with DSC absolutely off, it by no means felt intimidating, no less than on the monitor. It preferred to step out, positive, however at all times in sluggish movement — progressive, catchable, and immensely rewarding. The M Traction Management system deserves critical credit score. In the fitting mode, you may dial in simply sufficient slip to bounce by way of corners with out worry. It’s the sort of automobile that makes you need yet one more lap, simply to see if you will get it a bit cleaner subsequent time.

The steering additionally feels higher than within the G87 M2, however as anticipated, a bit much less participating than the F87 M2 CS I drove two years in the past on a monitor close by. It’s heavier than most fashionable techniques, however not too synthetic. It masses up naturally, providing you with a continuing stream of data from the pavement. You’ll be able to really feel the entrance tires clawing by way of the water, the burden transferring, the chassis leaning ever so barely on its outdoors edge. There’s actual communication right here — the sort of participating steering that’s turning into uncommon in lots of fashionable sports activities vehicles.

MDM Mode Was The Finest

On the large monitor, with lengthy sweepers and flat corners, the automobile felt so safe that by the third lap, I used to be already experimenting with new strains. That’s what an ideal M automobile does — it earns your belief shortly, then invitations you to discover.

I stored MDM on for a lot of the morning. Within the quick, flat sections it let the rear breathe a bit, then collect itself up with out killing pace. As soon as I knew the place the grip was, I went DSC-off for a number of laps — extra laughs, extra angle — however my cleanest laps truly got here in MDM, as a result of it stored the automobile tidy with out feeling like a security web.

Carbon-Ceramic Brakes Are Constant and Fade-Free

The carbon-ceramic brakes have been flawless. They stopped onerous, lap after lap, even within the chilly and moist, with zero fade. There was a faint squeal within the slower corners — virtually like a reminder of how critical these brakes are — however pedal really feel was good. Linear, agency, constant.

Because the session went on, the odor of sizzling rotors mixing with rain crammed the cabin. The automobile hunkered down with each lap, the chassis feeling extra settled, the tires lastly discovering warmth. You possibly can sense it coming alive.

Autocross: DSC Off vs. MDM

When the rain lastly slowed, I turned off DSC utterly and headed for the autocross course. The floor was nonetheless slick, however this was the M2 CS at its finest. It rotated extra eagerly now, the rear following the throttle with simply the correct quantity of slip. By way of the tighter corners, I may really feel the entrance tires chew and the automobile pivot neatly round them — exact, however by no means medical.

Humorous factor is, on the tight autocross the quickest means round wasn’t DSC-off; it was MDM with a little bit of slip dialed in. It let the nostril chew, let the rear rotate simply sufficient, after which cleaned up my greed on throttle. I may push more durable with out paying a time penalty for each little mistake.

The shorter wheelbase provides it this compact, tossable nature, but it’s so nicely balanced that even large slides really feel simple to manage. The entire time, the steering wheel was alive in my fingers, gently writhing because the automobile discovered grip, misplaced it, and located it once more.

By the top of the session, I already knew what the M2 CS is all about: it’s not only a monitor weapon, it’s a automobile that reminds you the why we love combustion-powered sportscars.

On a dry monitor with Cup 2 or Cup 2 R tires, it might be devastatingly fast, although I think the firmer suspension and people ultra-sticky compounds would possibly make it much less pleasant on bumpy or moist roads. On the 4S tires, it felt like the right compromise — loads of grip, simply sufficient forgiveness.

Every day Driving: Consolation Mode & Experience High quality

After a full morning of monitor work, I took the M2 CS out onto South Carolina’s again roads. I needed to see how a lot of its character survived outdoors the circuit. All the things set to Consolation mode, the automobile softened up immediately. The journey is agency, sure, however removed from punishing. It soaked up tough patches and growth joints with out drama.

At about 55 mph, over patched asphalt, it stayed composed — speaking the street floor with out beating you up. There’s a slight drone on the freeway, most likely from the lowered sound insulation, nevertheless it fades as soon as the street turns fascinating.

At 70 mph in eighth gear, the engine hums slightly below 2,000 rpm. Quiet, regular, utterly livable. It’s surprisingly refined — a automobile you might commute in in case you needed to.

The Typical CS Cabin

The carbon bucket seats nonetheless hug tightly, however they’re heated, as is the Alcantara steering wheel. There’s wi-fi CarPlay, Android Auto, and charging ports. Positive, there’s no heart armrest or cupholders, however actually — you don’t purchase a CS to drink espresso.

And regardless of its additional edge, the CS hasn’t sacrificed practicality. It nonetheless retains the rear seats, which implies you may carry passengers or baggage — not one thing each “monitor particular” can declare.

Twin Character: Calm in Consolation, Alive in Sport

It was on these again roads that I actually began appreciating the duality of this automobile. It’s calm and obedient whenever you need it to be, however the second you dial the settings again to Sport, the entire thing tightens, the throttle wakes up, and the steering feels prefer it’s studying your ideas.

Similar to on monitor, the M2 CS feels flatter by way of corners but additionally extra alert. The primary time you flip in, you discover how a lot sharper it’s — exact and keen, but nonetheless with that BMW move that retains you related to the street.

Manufacturing, Worth & Allocation

BMW hasn’t stated what number of M2 CS fashions can be constructed, however whispers counsel fewer than 2,000 models worldwide, with the U.S. getting most of them. Japan will get simply 87 vehicles, all offered out already — a becoming nod to the G87 codename. Canada is alleged to have 81 models. Manufacturing runs by way of July 2026, constructed alongside the common M2 in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

It’s a $20,000 soar over the bottom M2 (MSRP $99,975), however you may really feel precisely the place that cash went — in the best way the chassis talks to you, how the automobile pivots mid-corner, and the way it rewards small, exact inputs. And when you concentrate on it, even at that worth, there actually isn’t a real rival on this section — nothing else that blends this stage of efficiency, stability, and on a regular basis usability fairly prefer it.

There’s one factor lacking although: the now iconic yellow lights.

Remaining Verdict: BMW M2 CS With Character & Soul

The F87 M2 CS was one among my favourite fashionable BMWs as a result of it managed to mix sharpness with pleasure. This one seems like its non secular successor. It’s sooner, extra composed, and but it hasn’t misplaced that uncooked edge that made the unique such a cult hit. Positive, it would barely extra controversial in the case of its design, however efficiency sensible, it’s actually a step up.

BMW calls this automobile “CS” for Competitors Sport, however I feel it stands for one thing else: Character and Soul.

It’s all the pieces a contemporary M automobile ought to be — compact, rear-driven, communicative, and filled with character. It’s not good. It’s agency in journey, it’s loud in design, it’s unapologetic. But it surely’s actual.

And after a full day within the rain, chasing grip and grins in equal measure, I spotted one thing: that is the M2 we’ve been ready for — the one which reminds you why you fell in love with BMW M within the first place.

I may’ve stored driving all of it day.