BMW M2 CS: for the brave (and wealthy)
WANT the gist of the story in one paragraph? The BMW M2 CS has been launched in South Africa. It's packed with cool features. It's a stunner to drive. And it's unlikely that you'll be able to buy one.
LIMITED EDITION (LIMITED ACCESS)
Just 30 of the special M2 Coupés have been shipped and 20 of them were auctioned at Kyalami on November 26, with only a small selection of loyal customers being on the guest list.
While the list price is R1.61 million, BMW won't say how much the auctioned cars sold for. As for the other 10, BMW says they will find their way to select dealers.
The media piloted two of the 10, for a few laps around Kyalami on Thursday.
WHY SO SPECIAL?
It's more potent than the M2 Competition, with M engineers having tweaked the 3-litre straight-six turbopetrol engine to produce 331kW at 6250rpm and 550Nm between 2 350 and 5 500rpm.
It has fitted lightweight components to offset the extra weight added by the enhanced cooling system and standard adaptive suspension. As a result, it has an identical kerb weight of 1 550kg. The bonnet, for instance, is made from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), which makes it 50% lighter than a normal hood, and this material is also used for the roof and mirror caps. The vehicle is fitted with the same lightweight M Sport seats found in the M4 CS.
Another M4 inheritance comes in the form of the Adaptive M suspension, while M Sport brakes are part of the deal too.
The adaptive damping system allows drivers to choose between Comfort, Sport and Sport + modes, the latter being designed for track driving, and it's here that you'll also appreciate features like the Active M Differential, which compensates for the different rotational speeds of the back wheels.
A MAGICAL PACKAGE
Dynamic trickery abounds. The CFRP strut brace, for instance, makes the front end of the car stiff, which helps with turn-in response. There's a big aerodynamic bag of tricks too, including a bespoke front splitter, Gurney spoiler lip on the boot lid and a rear diffuser in exposed carbon fibre. The M2 CS has all the ingredients for an exciting track weapon.
Our test cars were equipped with the optional seven-speed M dual
clutch (M DCT) gearbox, but buyers can also opt for a six-speed manual.
Punch- in- the- gut acceleration comes as standard in both, with BMW claiming a 4.0 second 0-100km/h sprint time for the dual-clutch model and 4.2 seconds for the manual. The engine and M DCT gearbox proved to be a responsive combination, allowing for instantaneous acceleration out of corners.
What impressed me the most was the grip of the standard 19-inch Pilot Sport Cup tyres.
For a car that sends so much power to the rear wheels, the M2 CS is superbly planted. I was impressed by the car's sense of balance, and the way the back end can push it through corners with precision, while the front axle has seemingly never heard of understeer. I also enjoyed the beefy feeling of the steering, and the grippy Alcantara covered M Sport steering wheel added to the overall sensation.
WORTH THE PREMIUM PRICE?
While an enticing track toy, BMW also says it's a perfect everyday car too.
It comes with the luxuries that you'd expect, as well as decorative items that make it look and feel like a special edition. These include a centre console and door pulls finished in carbon fibre, door sill plates with M2 CS badging, illuminated M2 badging on the M Competition sports seats, M seat belts and contrast stitching in Fire Red.
The M2 is available in a range of colours including the exclusive Misano Blue, and buyers can also choose between Jet Black and Matt Gold wheels.
This is a special car with everything the modern-day purist could want in a performance machine. It is sure to become a collector's item.