The automotive world is a battlefield. On one side, you have silent, clinically efficient electric cars that shuttle you from point A to point B without a shred of soul. On the other, there’s the BMW M2 CS, a roaring, rear-wheel-drive rocket that flips a bold middle finger at the eco-police. This isn’t a car for people who keep their grocery lists on a tablet or think “dynamic” is a trendy term for a PowerPoint slide. No, this is a machine for those with petrol coursing through their veins, who’d rather hear the wail of a straight-six than the hush of a Tesla.
Let’s start with the looks. The M2 CS doesn’t do subtle. With flared wheel arches, an aggressive diffuser, and a bonnet that looks like it just swallowed a bodybuilder on steroids, this car screams, “I’m here, and I’m angry.” BMW has gone all-in on carbon fibre—bonnet, roof, spoiler, the lot—making it lighter than your grandma’s fruitcake. The result? A weight saving of about 30 kilos compared to the standard M2. That might not sound like much, but in a world where every gram matters, it’s like putting a sumo wrestler on a diet.
Under the bonnet lies the beating heart of this Bavarian brute: a 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six pumping out a colossal 523 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. That’s more than enough to make your neighbours think you’ve parked a jet fighter in your garage. Zero to 62 mph? 3.8 seconds. Zero to 124 mph? 11.7 seconds. Top speed? An electronically limited 188 mph. This isn’t a car; it’s a time machine that hurls you back to your teenage years, when you dreamed of posters of fast cars on your walls.
What makes the M2 CS truly special, though, is its loyalty to its roots. In an era where even sports cars get all-wheel drive to be “more accessible,” BMW sticks with rear-wheel drive. And that’s a godsend. Because, let’s be honest, who wants a car that obediently does what you ask? The M2 CS is a wild child. It challenges you, demands you prove your driving skills, and rewards you with a grin from ear to ear when you nail a corner. With an active limited-slip differential and a suspension lowered by 8 mm compared to the standard M2, this car feels glued to the tarmac—until you floor the throttle and let the rear end do a little dance.
The interior? Pure BMW M: a blend of luxury and sportiness. You get a curved display that looks like it came straight out of a spaceship, with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 15-inch multimedia screen. The sport seats, wrapped in Merino leather with red stitching, hold you tight while you fling the M2 CS through corners. And yes, you can still choose between a manual gearbox—a rarity these days—or an eight-speed Steptronic auto for those who are lazy or want to multitask in traffic.
But let’s not get too romantic. This isn’t a cheap car. With a starting price around £86,800 (or the equivalent of a small mortgage in Belgium), the M2 CS isn’t for the average commuter. And that’s a good thing. This is a car for purists, for those who still know what a combustion engine sounds like and aren’t afraid to burn some fuel for a dose of pure driving joy. BMW is only building a limited number, so if you want one, you’ll need to be quicker than the M2 CS itself to place an order.
There’s a slight catch, though. In a world shifting to electric driving, the M2 CS feels a bit like the last dinosaur. A glorious, roaring dinosaur, mind you, but still. Its CO2 emissions aren’t exactly eco-friendly, and with stricter environmental rules looming, this might be one of the last cars of its kind. But you know what? If the world’s going to hell, you might as well enjoy the ride.
In short, the BMW M2 CS is a love letter to everything that makes driving fun. It’s a car you buy not because you need it, but because you want it. Because you crave the feel of 523 hp under your right foot, the sound of a six-cylinder roaring like a lion, and the idea of taking a corner with a smile that splits your face in two. This isn’t a car for the masses. It’s a car for the rebels, the dreamers, the petrolheads.
And if you’re already daydreaming about having such a beast in your garage, take a look at our marketplace. At https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/, you’ll find a treasure trove of cars to browse and buy—your dream car might just be waiting!
