BMW M2 CS Smashes Nürburgring Record with Incredible Lap Time

Ford and Chevy have been grabbing most of the attention recently at Germany’s legendary Nürburgring racetrack, but that doesn’t mean local manufacturers aren’t aiming to break records too. The latest contender is BMW M2 CS — a car that might not crack the six-minute barrier but delivers unmatched performance in its size category. Now, it has claimed the title of the fastest compact car around the Nürburgring.

BMW announced today that the M2 CS clocked a lap time of 7:25.534, beating the fastest Audi RS3 time by nearly eight seconds. It’s also an impressive 13 seconds faster than the standard M2’s lap time recorded two years ago.

M2 CS Crushes Audi RS3 and Even the BMW M3

In the compact car category, “compact” used to mean hot hatches like the Golf R, Renault Megane RS, and Honda Civic Type R battling for supremacy. Honda and Renault were separated by less than half a second around the 7:45 mark. However, the fastest four lap times now belong to a blend of Audi and BMW models. The Audi RS3 holds both the fourth and second fastest times, the M2 ranks third, and the new M2 CS has claimed the top spot.

With its blistering 7:25.534 lap time, easily beating the Audi RS3’s 7:33.123, BMW looks poised to dominate the leaderboard for some time. That said, some might argue it’s not a completely level playing field. The most powerful Audi RS3 — a special edition capped at 401 horsepower — still falls short compared to the BMW M2’s S58 inline-six engine, which produces 473 horsepower in its standard form and a hefty 523 hp in the M2 CS. This gives BMW a significant 129-horsepower edge over Audi, a substantial gap in the compact car segment.

The BMW M2 CS isn’t just faster than the Audi RS3 on the Nürburgring—it’s also quicker than the BMW M3 CS. The M3 CS last set a timed lap in 2023, clocking in at 7:28.760. However, the M4 still holds the edge over the M2 in its CS and CSL variants, with the fastest M4 lap recorded at 7:18, making it the quickest BMW Group model on the track to date.

M2 CS: Lighter, More Powerful, and Pricier

All of BMW’s record-setting laps have been piloted by the same ace behind the wheel. Jörg Weidinger, BMW M’s development driver, is the go-to expert for pushing these cars to their limits. When he’s not fine-tuning every detail with the M engineers, he’s behind the wheel delivering the blistering lap times that cars like the M2 CS are now known for.

BMW crafted the M2 CS not only by boosting power but also by cutting weight from the standard M2. It sheds 93 pounds thanks to lightweight components like a carbon fiber roof, diffuser, and a full carbon fiber trunk lid. Despite these reductions, the M2 CS still weighs in at a solid 3,770 pounds—far from a lightweight, but noticeably lighter than its predecessor.

The M2 CS features a revised suspension setup, finely tuned for track performance. BMW M engineers specifically optimized the adaptive dampers, M-spec steering, and M Sport Differential to ensure the CS could deliver its fastest laps. It also offers optional “track tires” and “ultra-track tires”—though BMW hasn’t detailed the exact models, the record-setting car’s aggressive tread pattern in photos hints at serious rubber underneath.

Despite its Nürburgring prowess, the BMW M2 CS will take a little longer to reach showrooms. Priced at $98,600, this high-performance machine is expected to arrive later this year in very limited quantities.