These days, it pays to be different, and in the world of fast hybrid sports cars, the rear-drive only M2 CS is gloriously analogue while being the fastest car of its type. You won’t find a more powerful rear-drive-only BMW, and with the 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline six developing 523 horsepower, it is even more powerful than the last M2 CS while being close to the M3 CS.
However, unlike the M3 CS, the M2 CS sends power to the rear wheels only and shuns all-wheel drive. Hence, it ticks more boxes as a bona fide enthusiast car. CS typically means a lairier and a faster BMW, and here the recipe is honed as well as tweaked further. It looks more sinister clad in carbon fiber, and a lovely ducktail spoiler adds a sporty touch too. There has been a lot of carbon being sprinkled all over, and weight has been saved everywhere, including the wheels, plus even the interior.
Amongst all this brutal weight saving, the M2 CS is automatic only since lap times and acceleration have been prioritized over a manual gearbox. While enthusiasts might bemoan the lack of a third pedal, there is not much to complain about elsewhere, as these little sports cars throw a punch with their feisty driving experience. It sits lower, wider, and is the ultimate M2 plus in an era where a compact sports car with a large engine is unheard of; the M2 CS ticks off a lot of boxes. Porsche will soon stop building the Cayman, and the M2 CS is one of the last bastions of old-school driving thrills. The suspension is harder, and the M2 gains a sportier persona while keeping the fun factor alive.
The faster M3 CS could be a sharper tool, but the M2 CS aims to be a German muscle car with a penchant for burning its rear tires with a smoky powerslide. Prices are a lot higher than the standard M2, but you probably would have guessed it, while the CS badge adds more exclusivity. While no longer having a manual gearbox, the M2 CS is a delightful driver’s sports car and builds on the legacy of M Performance, while elsewhere the industry pivots towards electrification. The M2 is compact, feisty, and shows you do not need a car with many zeroes in the price tag to have fun.
