BMW M2 CS Dethrones Audi RS3 to Set New Nurburgring Record

The all-new G87-gen BMW M2 CS dethrones the Audi RS3 to become the fastest compact car on the Nurburgring.

Just a few months after making its global debut, the all-new BMW M2 CS has already charted a new record, where it dethrones the Audi RS3 to become the fastest compact car to lap the infamous Nurburgring Nordschleife. Set by BMW M development driver Jorg Weidinger back on April 11, the new M2 CS charted a new record of 7:25.25 minutes around the full 20.823-km span of the Green Hell track.

This record-breaking feat sees the M2 CS beating the RS3 by about eight minutes, with the facelifted RS3 saloon charting a 7:33.123 time during its then record-breaking run last year. Besides the RS3, the new M2 CS also beat the standard M2’s ‘Ring record by a healthy margin of 13 seconds.

More impressive is the fact that the new M2 CS becomes the first in its class to break the 7.30-minute time barrier, joining other BMW M models like the M4 CS, M4 CSL, and the M3 CS at the same time. For reference, the M4 CSL still holds the best Nurburgring lap time ever recorded by a production BMW model at 7:18.137 minutes.

In case you missed it, the M2 CS is essentially a hotter, more potent version of the standard G87-gen M2. It retains the same 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six S58 petrol mill as the standard M2, which has been uprated to deliver 530 PS and 650 Nm. Drive is still sent to the rear wheels (RWD) via an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic transmission, enabling a faster 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of 3.8 seconds and a V-max of 302 km/h.

Besides the power-up, the new M2 CS also benefits from a host of mechanical and lightweight parts. This includes bespoke suspension tuning that lowers the car by 8 mm, an extensive use of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) parts that sheds 30 kgfrom the standard M2, a beefier M Compound braking system with an optional M Carbon ceramic brake upgrade, lightweight forged M alloy wheels, and many more.

Starting at around €115,000 (RM571,400) in native Germany, deliveries for the all-new BMW M2 CS are expected to start in late summer this year in limited quantities. Closer to home, BMW Group Malaysia just recently launched the updated 2025 BMW M2 in our market, which will be the closest thing we might ever get to its limited-edition CS twin.