2026 BMW M2 CS Lays Claim To Nürburgring Lap Record
The record run beats the Audi RS3 by almost eight seconds.
BMW has regained its crown. The Bavarian automaker has revealed the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time for its upcoming M2 CS special, and the little two-door has reclaimed the compact car title for the brand with a blistering 07:25.534 lap time.
Not only is this lap time significantly quicker than the previous record holder (the Audi RS3 set an 07:33.12 lap last summer), it marks a major improvement over the last M2 lap time. With development engineer Jörg Weidinger behind the wheel, the regular M2 clocked a 07:38.706 in 2023. That means the CS has cleaved an entire baker's dozen of seconds off—once more with Weidinger behind the wheel, too.
The M2 CS pulls off this feat by having a full 70 horsepower more than the second-generation model had at launch in 2023, now totaling 523 hp. Torque peaks at 479 pound-feet. Extensive use of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) drops just about 100 pounds from the curb weight, while the standard-fit eight-speed automatic ensures quick shifts. Perhaps most important for a 'Ring time, the M2 CS can be had with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS track day tires. That's what it was wearing when it set the record on April 11; yes, before we even officially saw the car.
While this is the quickest compact car and quickest M2 at the Nordschleife, the BMW pecking order remains in shape. Ahead of the M2 CS is its big brother, the M4 CS, which has the benefit of AWD and an extra 20 horsepower, notching a 07:21.989 lap. The quickest production BMW of them all is the wild, rear-drive M4 CSL at 07:18.137.
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Kyle began his automotive obsession before he even started school, courtesy of a remote control Porsche and various LEGO sets. He later studied advertising and graphic design at Humber College, which led him to writing about cars (both real and digital). He is now a proud member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), where he was the Journalist of the Year runner-up for 2021.
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