BMW M2 CS Sets Nürburgring Compact Car Record at 7:25.5

BMW’s new M2 CS has raised the bar in its class, clocking a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of 7:25.5 — a full eight seconds quicker than the previous compact car record. It also marks a 13-second improvement over the M2’s best lap from 2023.

The Nordschleife, stretching over 20 kilometres with more than 70 corners, is home turf for BMW’s M division. Every new model is tested there before series production, with times achieved using factory-standard setups. BMW M has been active on the circuit for more than 25 years, earning 21 overall victories in the 24-hour race.

The M2 CS’s technical arsenal is formidable even by M standards: a 3.0-litre straight-six BMW M TwinPower Turbo producing 390 kW/530 hp and 650 Nm, sending power to the rear wheels through an eight-speed M Steptronic. Adaptive M suspension, model-specific engine mounts and M compound brakes all contribute to the quicker lap. Lightweight construction — with CFRP components inside and out — shaves 30 kg, making the M2 CS the lightest of the current M2 generation.

European pricing starts at €141,100. Built at BMW’s San Luis Potosí plant in Mexico, the limited-run model will reach the market in August 2025 — and likely find its way quickly into collectors’ garages, where its Nürburgring time will be as prized as the car itself.