BMW Unveils The Lighter, More Powerful 2026 M2 CS
The 2026 BMW M2 CS
Despite some uncertainty regarding the future of its current internal combustion engine lineup, BMW has unveiled the most powerful M2 model ever: The 2026 BMW M2 CS. With less weight, more power, and an MSRP of nearly $100,000, all signs point to it being quite the ravenous little coupe.
The previous F87-generation BMW M2 CS was impressive across the board, so, naturally, BMW had to go all out for this latest model. The Bavarian brand cut out a respectable 97 pounds by bolting up lightweight forged wheels (19-inch front, 20-inch rear) and carbon fiber body panels—including a sharp rear ducktail spoiler—and fitting carbon fiber bucket seats as standard, which are optional on the base M2. This drops the curb weight from 3,814 to 3,770 pounds. Then, output from its ravenous, twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six is rated at 523 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, 50 more hp and 36 more lb-ft than standard.
The 2026 BMW M2 CS
When it comes to putting all that power to the ground, this angry M2 is solely available with rear-wheel drive and BMW's venerable eight-speed automatic gearbox—sorry, three-pedal manual enthusiasts. We'll be interested to see how grippy (or not grippy, in a fun oversteer-ready fashion) it feels, as it produces the same amount of power as the all-wheel-drive-equipped M3 and M4 Competition.
To make the most of this bump in power and drop in weight, BMW revised the M2's suspension by upping spring stiffness, re-programming the adaptive dampers, ABS, and traction control systems, as well as revising the throttle mapping and electronically controlled limited-slip differential. Then, for even more focused, lap-time-dropping performance, lightweight carbon ceramic brakes are available. I didn't have much to complain about when I drove a lightly equipped 2024 model year example with a six-speed manual, I can only assume that this will feel significantly more athletic. The specs certainly point to it, too: 0-60 mph takes just 3.7 seconds.
Production is set to begin later this year with pricing starting at $99,775 after destination.
The 2026 BMW M2 CS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Billion-dollar battery plant pauses construction amid electric vehicle and tariff uncertainty
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A Japanese company has halted construction on a $1.6 billion factory in South Carolina to help make batteries for electric BMWs, citing 'policy and market uncertainty.' While Automotive Energy Supply Corp. didn't specify what those problems are, South Carolina's Republican governor said the company is dealing with the potential loss of federal tax breaks for electric vehicle buyers and incentives for EV businesses as well as tariff uncertainties from President Donald Trump's administration. 'What we're doing is urging caution — let things play out because all of the these changes are taking place,' Gov. Henry McMaster said. AESC announced the suspension in construction of its plant in Florence on Thursday, 'Due to policy and market uncertainty, we are pausing construction at our South Carolina facility at this time," the company's statement said. AESC promised to restart construction, although it didn't say when, and vowed to meet its commitment to hire 1,600 workers and invest $1.6 billion. The company said it has already invested $1 billion in the Florence plant. The battery maker based in Japan also has facilities in China, the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Germany. In the U.S., AESC has a plant in Tennessee and is building one in Kentucky. The statement didn't mention any changes with other plants. The South Carolina plant is supposed to sell battery cells to BMW, which is building its own battery assembly site near its giant auto plant in Greer. BMW said the construction pause by AESC doesn't change its plans to open its plant in 2026. AESC has already rolled back its South Carolina plans. They announced a second factory on the Florence site, but then said earlier this year that their first plant should be able to handle BMW's demand. That prompted South Carolina officials to withdraw $111 million in help they planned to provide. The company is still getting $135 million in grants from the South Carolina Department of Commerce and $121 million in bonds and the agency said a construction pause won't prompt them to claw back that offer. South Carolina is investing heavily in electric vehicles. Volkswagen-owned Scout Motors plans to invest more than $4 billion and hire 10,000 people for a plant to build its new electric SUVs scheduled to open in 2027. The state has for decades made big bets on foreign manufacturers like BMW, Michelin and Samsung that have paid off with an economic boom this century, but there is uneasiness that Trump's flirtation with high tariffs might stagger or even ruin those important partnerships. McMaster told people to relax as state and business leaders are talking to Trump's administration and things will work out. 'I think the goal of the president and the administration is to have robust economic growth and prosperity and there is no doubt there has to be changes made in our international trade posture and President Trump is addressing that,' McMaster told reporters Thursday.
Bloomberg
19 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Infiniti Unveils Full-Size Luxury SUV QX80
Nissan's Luxury vehicle division Infiniti recently reset its luxury full-size SUV offering after 14 years by launching the QX80. We got a look at the new unveil with Tiago Castro, Infiniti Group Vice President (Source: Bloomberg)
Bloomberg
24 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
BNP to Cut 200 Branches by End of 2026 to Kick Off Retail Revamp
BNP Paribas SA Chief Executive Officer Jean-Laurent Bonnafe plans to cut hundreds of domestic retail branches in an effort to lift profitability at a business that has struggled for years. In a first step, the French lender plans to close around 80 branches this year and another 120 next, according to people familiar with the matter. Headcount in the branch network is expected to decline by 5% a year, while staff would be added in online and phone banking.
