Why the new BMW M2 CS could be the brand’s best car yet

The original BMW M2 shattered expectations to become a favourite for enthusiasts and one of the most critically acclaimed cars on sale. Now it’s even better.

BMW’s M2 CS follows a near-perfect recipe for a performance car.

Take a small two-door coupe, stuff it full of stonking turbocharged performance, add muscular looks and garnish with the sort of treats enthusiasts love to see.

Powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine, the new M2 CS makes 331kW and 550Nm – 29kW more than the already-potent BMW M2 Competition.

Bright blue paint and gold wheels – a former Subaru staple – are optional on the M2 CS.

It also drives the rear wheels, which shouldn’t be taken for granted as manufacturers move toward all-wheel-drive. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto on the options list for people who want a car that’s easier to live with.

Manual performance cars are a dying breed.

The list of manual performance cars is shorter than ever – you can’t have a Toyota Supra, Nissan GT-R, any Ferrari or even a VW Golf GTI with a clutch pedal. BMW says the manual M2 CS will make it to Australia, but it remains to be seen whether the next-gen BMW M3 and M4 arrive with a clutch pedal.

This could be the last manual BMW performance car. And even if it isn’t, the M2 CS has the ingredients in place to be considered one of BMW’s best.

Inside the 2020 BMW M2 CS.

It’s smaller, lighter and more agile than bigger BMWs such as the M3 or M5.

Details such as forged 19-inch wheels with track-ready Michelin “cup” tyres, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and lightweight bucket seats will be welcomed by enthusiasts.

Carbon fibre on the bonnet, roof, splitter, spoiler and rear diffuser adds motorsport cred while reducing weight. Beefed-up brakes (with the option of carbon composite discs) are present and correct, as is a free-flowing exhaust system and adaptive suspension.

The BMW M2 CS is likely to sell out quickly.

The catch is that the car will arrive in limited numbers next year, and strong demand from existing M2 owners means it won’t be easy – or cheap – to get hold of one.

We don’t know how much the M2 CS will cost in Australia. But European examples start at 95,000 euros ($152,800), around $70,000 than regular M2 models that cost about $117,000 drive-away at local dealerships.

Originally published as Why the new BMW M2 CS could be the brand’s best car yet