---
title: '2026 BMW M2 CS Review'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=cjwCDiaQgCU'
video_id: 'cjwCDiaQgCU'
date: 2026-06-29
duration_sec: 941
---

# 2026 BMW M2 CS Review

> Source: [2026 BMW M2 CS Review](https://youtube.com/watch?v=cjwCDiaQgCU)

## Summary

The BMW M2 CS is a limited-edition, lighter, and more powerful version of the standard M2, boasting 523 horsepower and sharper dynamics. While it delivers a thrilling, unhinged driving experience, its high price and controversial styling leave the reviewers conflicted.

### Key Points

- **M2 CS Specs** [1:07] — Limited edition, 100 lb lighter, 523 hp (same as M3 Competition), carbon fiber and carbon ceramic brakes.
- **Performance Bump** [3:32] — 0.2 seconds quicker to 60 than normal M2; sharper transmission, stiffer engine mounts, more vibrations.
- **Driving Character** [4:43] — Described as 'unhinged' and 'maniacal' – the CS differential and suspension make the rear end lively and never settled.
- **Major Issues** [7:44] — Price: $140,000 CAD as optioned; styling: front looks like an Ice Age character, rear is messy compared to M4 CSL.
- **Final Verdict** [13:56] — One of the best-driving M cars in a long time, but lack of desirability due to styling and BMW's current brand direction.

### Conclusion

The M2 CS is a brilliant driver's car that proves BMW can still ignite passion, but its high price and divisive looks make it less desirable than its predecessor.

## Transcript

James, it's just how BMW does steering
wheels and M cars. Yeah,
>> but it's a deal breaker.
>> It's not a deal breaker.
>> Why do you want a steering wheel to be
that thick?
>> Because that's just how that's how they
how you know it's a sporty M car. It's
just what they do.
>> Yeah, but this has gone too far. When I
put my hands on this steering wheel, it
looks like a child's hand. No, it
doesn't. Look, watch.
>> Oh, I see.
>> There it is.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Every time.
You're watching Throttle House. I'm
Thomas.
>> And I'm James.
And this is the M2 CS.
CS these days standing for competition
sport. And by now we all know the story.
Limited edition, lower, stiffer,
lighter. 100 lb lighter in fact, thanks
to more carbon fiber and carbon ceramic
brakes. and of course a power bump
taking this stout run of the ml litter
to the same number as an M3 competition
523
horsepower. It's not an unfamiliar
formula, but it is one that in the past
has succeeded in titillating us that
much more, even going so far as to make
us credit the M5's CS treatment as the
reason it went from a car we were mild
about to the best performance sedan of
all time. So, what happens when the new
rearw wheelel drive M2 gets it? A car
that we are also mild about? And what
happens when you drive it on Cup 2 track
tires on a damp Ontario day? Let's find
out.
If you're new to Throttle House,
we do car reviews, track tests,
and quite a lot of messing around.
So, subscribe and enjoy the show
in the CS.
Oh, just got a little jolt of adrenaline
there as I lost traction.
But you're supposed to feel like that.
We humans were not supposed to be inside
doom scrolling. We were meant to hunt.
Not me. Bit of a gatherer vibe, I'll
admit. But this makes me feel the
closest to my ancestors of any M2 I've
driven before it. That M3 power, 523
horsepower. Like the previous one was
444. It's a big jump. It's a bit
heavier, but still a rapid car.
And it's rockous.
0.2 seconds to 60 quicker than the
normal M2. And it's they've sharpened
it. They have sharpened it. And and
they've made it more exciting. The
transmission, for example, has been
reuned.
I now no longer miss the DCT.
pre downshifts and the upshifts upset
the balance of the car enough that it
feels like an M2. It's got stiffer
engine mounts. There's more vibrations
coming through. And yes, if you get the
CS, you're locked into the 8-speed
transmission, but that, and we said it
with the normal M2, is the way to get
this car. This engine is beautifully
matched to this transmission. The manual
is simply not exciting enough to mourn
it. I personally find that to be true in
a lot of new turbocharged cars. My Golf
R, for example, fits the DSG better. I
think the PDK in the turbocharged 911s
is better than a manual option. So, I
don't miss it in this car.
This car is what happens when an M4X
drive goes out for drinks after work and
then accidentally ends the night doing
lines in the bathroom.
All pretense, all control is just gone.
Yeah, this is uh this is about as good
as an M2 on the road can be.
Apart from these stupid pool noodles
that have actually made my hands tired
driving it. Thomas's turn.
Oh, it's it's lively.
The CS cars have always been that little
bit maniacal, a little bit unhinged,
like they've got something to prove. And
this is very, very much that. It's got
that classic BMW eager angryness from
the rear end. It's just it never
settles. The CS has a spicier
differential tune and more aggressive
suspension tuning, and it has more
negative camber in the front, which
should give you more grip. I can't tell
if it has more grip because I'm not on a
racetrack because I'm nowhere near the
limits of the front tires of this car,
but I certainly am near the limits of
the rear tires of this car because any
throttle in any corner and that diff
just goes and locks up the rear.
And that means that it's never settled.
That's a good thing because that's fun.
I don't want a Porsche. I don't want it
to be clinical and cool and just
hunkered down and hush. Shut up. No, I
don't want any of that. I want to be a
little bit afraid in every corner at all
times.
What a stupid car.
When the new M2 came out, I was a bit
disappointed because for me, it removed
the one thing that made the M2
interesting that it was always a very
angry little car. And this one had a
longer wheelbase and it was a little bit
more comfortable, a little bit more
refined, a little bit more capable. I
didn't like that. I want the M2 to be
the
angry red-headed stepchild of the M
lineup.
And
It's been brought back with the CS cuz
this thing's a nut job. And now it's
raining. So, I'm probably going to die.
Jesus Christ.
Not a Porsche. There's nothing like this
right now. Like we're going to have some
choice words to say about a few issues
that it has in a minute, but there's
nothing like this that you can buy. It's
nuts, man. This car is crazy. I really
like it.
>> All right. There are two major issues.
One,
>> the front and the back.
>> Yes. One and two. No. Uh, the first one
is the price,
>> right?
>> It's $140,000 Canadian
>> as optioned, right? If you get rid of
the blue paint,
>> that's not blue.
>> Uh, check the spec sheet, mate. Velvet
blue metallic.
>> What is BMW doing? Are
>> they gaslighting us?
We've never seen a color wheel in our
lives.
>> That's a ridiculous claim.
>> Very purple. And the carbon ceramics.
>> Otherwise, it's 125.
>> Here's the problem is you can get an M4
CSL
with like 5,000 km on it for less. A lot
less.
>> Yes. used. You You've told me about the
the dangers of going into the used
market. Yes, you
>> it goes it get you get nuts. All right.
>> But there's no competitors for this
really. There's the Amira and what else?
>> Um Darkhorse and the Darkhorse
Supercharged.
>> The Dark Horse Super
>> way more power and sound better.
>> That's interesting.
>> But probably
>> and look better. On to problem two.
>> Well, we'll get to that when we film the
Darkhor Supercharged. But I actually
think it's a bit of a botch job.
>> Interesting. I think one question, one
thing about the looks, I think the
profile really, really works.
>> Yes.
>> And I love these wheels almost as much
as I love the previous gen M2CS wheels.
>> These wheels are amazing. You know what
they look like? They look like a fan
vault on a Gothic Cathedral.
Specifically, the Lady Chapel in
Westminster Abbey.
>> What are you laughing at? Look it up.
>> Nothing to say to that. Anyway, the rear
is the problem I have with this car. Cuz
even though they're
>> What do you mean that's the problem?
Have you seen the front?
>> I've seen the front and I I think that
the lack of the the sort of cleaning of
the intakes and the little spoiler on
the front and the fact that it's lower
helps the car.
>> It still looks like the the the ice age
character, right? That's the problem.
The eyes are too far apart.
>> Well, when they when they showed this
for the first time, I I posted a story
of this next to the M4 CSL, which you
just mentioned.
>> Yes.
>> The rears. This looks
so much worse and so much less clean.
>> And and it's it isn't actually helped by
this. It's not like, ooh, they It's just
It's still wrong. The whole thing is
wrong,
>> but it's carbon fiber.
>> Yay. The the front. Okay.
The regular M2.
>> Yeah.
>> My neighbor bought one in black. It's
the most basic one you can get and it
looks really good in black.
>> Okay. Well, here's one thing I'll say
against the dark horse.
>> Yeah.
When you get in this, that's when you
start to feel why you'd go German.
>> Yeah. Know, it's very good looking. I
mean, other than we've all just got used
to this.
>> Got used to it. I got used to it. But
the CS treatment, the the carbon fiber,
this feels
maxed. It's good. I don't even mind that
the CS treatment removes the cup holder
because I think drinks and especially
hot drinks should be illegal in highrung
sports cars. Illegal. James has a
problem with food and in general in cars
and this is one way I have so many
people agreeing with me on this.
>> No, it's not. It's because part of the
experience of being in a car is also
living and enjoying yourself.
>> Yeah. If you're in a Chevy Suburban in
>> I like a I like a cute little drink
every once in a while.
>> Exactly right.
>> That's what I mean.
>> In the car.
>> Not in a sports car and not hot drinks
and stained drinks.
>> Why not? Um
>> don't feel right.
>> I don't like the lack of a cup holder. I
think that's stupid. And it has a
wireless charger instead, I guess,
because you could easily put two cup
holders right there, right?
>> Don't use cup holders. They're illegal.
>> Anyway, here's my take on this. I think
this is more to make you feel special
than it is to actually do any real
weight savings. Because in the grand
scheme of a car that weighs 3,800 lb,
really, what is
>> 40 lb of whatever?
>> Style points.
>> It's style points.
>> Throbbing the
can throb. I like a throbbing the word.
We need a new word. We need a different
word
>> like pulsating.
>> It's almost two syro.
>> It's like a long one. So anyway,
>> um we got sh steering wheel here.
>> Here it is right here.
>> Meant for the biggest hands in the
world.
>> It's just stupid.
>> Visually, it looks great.
>> It looks great. Yeah. It's just so dumb.
What were they thinking? Also, I have a
bit of a gripe with this cuz I recently
drove a Julia Quadrifoglio and the
paddles are big and right there.
>> Yes,
>> these are a bit of a stretch. And now
that the steering wheel is so thick to
be able to shift, my hands genuinely get
tired driving this car.
>> It's like it's like when you have a
guitar and you have to reach for that
one cord.
>> Um
>> I've played music.
>> I think these seats are a triumph.
They're controversial. People suggest
you know the fact that you can adjust
the the bolsters and you can move back
and forth and up and down and you know
people are upset about this thing but as
I am blessed with tiny peen balls and
bum
>> I have no issue with it. In fact if
anything it's just a visual aid to tell
me where to
>> say is # blessed with small man package.
>> The new the new two series is still
stupid because you can't fit adults in
the back.
>> So stupid. One of the beauties of the
previous gen
>> was that you could fit four adults in it
and it was still a small compact car.
>> But speaking of beauties, I think that
is the previous and I don't normally
labor about previous gen of anything,
but the previous M2CS was
>> perfect.
>> Actually, I got a text recently. My
actual M2 that I sold popped up back at
the dealership for a bit of a service.
And
>> bit of a service.
>> Bit of a service. And look at this
thing. Look at that car.
Yeah.
>> Like, come on.
>> And you stole the M2CS wheels as well.
>> I did steal the M2. Like, look, look how
good it looks.
>> And I think even though this drives
better and it's got adaptive dampers and
it's more comfortable.
>> Yep. and it's more aggressive and more
ferocious and more advanced and more
techy.
it it I'm shallow in that the
desiraability drops
>> be below the
>> I was going to say I'm just going to
basically reiterate everything you just
said but from my own words right now
this is one of the better driving M cars
that I in a long time I think it's the
perfect amount of insane with competency
but I don't want one
>> and that feels weird
>> and that feels weird I don't really care
about this car and I think that is a a
lot of that is down to the styling
Unfortunately, it's just the truth.
>> And the rest of it, I think, is down to
just what BMW as a brand is doing these
days.
>> It is bloody good.
>> It's an annoy. It's annoying.
>> It's a fantastic car to drive.
>> In many ways, it's far better built. The
Amira, I would say, is more desirable
from Lotus, but this is a much
>> This is much more
>> more
>> more car. Yeah,
>> we're in a weird place with BMW these
days, but I mean, maybe the Neyasa will
turn things around. Why are you laughing
at me? supposed to say.
>> They've been adding Neyer Classer
faceelifts to things.
>> They have. Yes.
>> I wonder what this would look like. No
class.
>> It could be pretty cool.
>> Styling, as always, is subjective. So,
what really matters then is that this M2
CS has elevated the normal M2 past what
the upgrades alone suggest. So, even
though for us it lacks the desiraability
of the previous M2 and even though it
comes at quite a premium, it shows us
that when BMW wants to, they can still
light our pants on fire, which bodess
well for the future, assuming they
adjust a few things because the world
needs cars like this. We need cars like
this. Thanks for watching.