The 2026 BMW M2 CS might be the best BMW M-car of the modern era. The littlest current M car is suddenly the most powerful rear-drive BMW on sale today. With the same horsepower as its AWD big sibling the M4 Competition, massive brakes, a huge new rear spoiler, and nearly 100 pounds less weight. But this 2 Series M-onster will come with a serious price tag.
Competition Sport Means Racetrack Focus
CS, in BMW, stands for Competition Sport. In the ever-changing hierarchy of the German car company’s M models, CS is near the top. It sits above the standard M model, and even the Competition. The only M cars that go harder are the CSL-badged cars, and that one is rarely used.
A CS badge makes this the ultimate version of the M2. BMW’s go-fast team has turned up the 3.0L twin-turbo inline-six from the standard M2’s 473 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque to 523 horses and 479 torques.
That’s a whopping 79 horsepower more than the last M2 Competition. It’s also 20 horsepower more than the M4 Competition offers in rear-drive form, which is what makes this M car the most powerful rear-drive BMW on sale today.
BMW M2 CS Is Rear-Drive, But Auto-Only
To get it out of the way, though it is rear-drive, it’s only offered with an automatic. No matter how much you prefer the increasingly rare manual transmission, CS is about lap times. An eight-speed automatic is quicker than a stick. Plus, if you want a stick, BMW will still sell you one in the standard M2.
Carbon fiber replaces metal for the roof and the trunklid, including that extra-tall rear spoiler. It replaces cheaper traditional plastic for the mirror caps and the rear diffuser.
Along with the lovely forged wheels and carbon fiber bucket seats, the replacement materials help cut weight — 97 pounds of it, BMW claims, bringing the M2 CS down to 3,770 pounds.
Yes, that’s still heavy. The previous-generation car was up to 500 pounds lighter. But these days, somehow anything under 2 tons is impressive.
More Track-Ready Suspension, Optional Track Tires
There are more than just engine and body changes. BMW M has tweaked the suspension, too. The BMW M2 CS is 0.2 inches lower, with new springs and a new calibration for the M adaptive shocks to “improve driving dynamics significantly in all scenarios.” The steering, the active rear differential, and even the brakes have all been tweaked for this special car.
Speaking of brakes, a special M pad compound comes standard. Or you can spend $8,500 to get a lighter and more fade-resistant carbon ceramic setup.
Despite the extra power, the tires are the same size as the M2. That’s 275/35 up front and 285/30 in the back, with 19-inch front wheels and 20s in the rear. The M2 comes standard with what BMW labels high-performance tires, but track tires and “ultra-track tires” are no-cost options. At least for the first set, subsequent tires are on you.
2026 BMW M2 CS Is a Six-Figure Car
All of this fast comes at a very large cost. With destination included, the 2026 BMW M2 CS starts from $99,775. That’s $33,100 more than a standard 2025 BMW M2, and $9,200 more than an M4 Competition.
Plus, it’s before you pick any options, including paint, which will take it over the $100K mark in a hurry. Big money for a car that shares a name (if nothing else) with a $39,600 front-wheel-drive BMW 228 sedan.
Still, the M2 CS will probably have no trouble finding garages to call home. If you want one, you’ll probably want to get on the phone to your dealer. Production starts in August, with deliveries in the third quarter of 2025.
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