- bmw takes the 444-hp engine from the m4 competition and drops it into the new limited-edition m2 cs.
- only available for 2020, the only 2200 m2 css will be made; bmw hasn't finalized how many are coming stateside, but it'll likely be 500 or so.
- there are only four options: a dual-clutch automatic, carbon-ceramic brakes, michelin pilot sport cup 2 tires, and matte-gold colored wheels.
selling a car with a detuned engine leaves the possibility of more power, which of course comes with a higher asking price. so, when the m2 competition arrived with a 405-hp version of the m3/m4’s twin-turbo inline-six, we suspected sandbagging and an eventual bump in power.
surprise (not really): it’s happened. but, bmw skipped right past the m4’s 425-hp engine and went right on up to the m4 competition’s 444-hp m3/m4 version for the newly christened m2 cs. a six-speed manual transmission is standard and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is optional. the added power reduces bmw’s zero-to-60-mph times by 0.2 second, to 4.0 seconds with the manual and 3.8 seconds with the automatic.
keeping the quicker m2 on the road is the standard m adaptive suspension. this is the first time that bmw has put these electronically controlled adjustable dampers in the m2. as in the m4, there are three settings: comfort, sport, and sport +. tire and wheel sizes are unchanged, but bmw-spec michelin pilot sport cup 2 rubber is optional and should provide track-bound owners with more grip than the standard summer rubber.
the brakes carry over from the m2 competition—15.7-inch steel rotors with six-piston calipers in front and 15.0-inch steel rotors in back with four-piston calipers. for the few that need more stopping ability, carbon-ceramic brakes will be offered on the m2 for the first time.
those optional brakes should lighten the car, and the owner’s bank account, but the good news is that the m2 cs comes with a lot of standard carbon-fiber parts that also drop the weight. a carbon-fiber composite hood has vents that are said to be functional and it weighs about half of what a steel hood weighs according to bmw. to further reduce the weight, and the center of gravity, the roof is also made of carbon fiber. other smaller carbon-fiber bits include the mirror caps, spoiler, chin spoiler, and diffuser.
inside, there’s a carbon-fiber transmission tunnel that sheds six pounds and alcantara all over the place.
bmw initially announced that 500 units would be headed to the us, but then quickly called that claim back. worldwide, there will be 2200 of the little 444-hp critters. whatever the number, we suggest you act fast. the m2 cs will be one-year-and-gone run for 2020.