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• BMW's ultimate performance 2 Series takes on the established rivals in a drag race.
• The M2 CS sits above the Competition model and produces the same 331kW and 550Nm found in the M4.
• Also in the drag race is the Mercedes-AMG A45 S and a tuned Audi RS3.
The BMW M2 CS is arguably one of the most talked-about performance cars in ages. Just 28 units of the flagship M2 will be sold in South Africa.
BMW SA confirmed that examples fitted with a six-speed manual transmission would be available, the other gearbox is a seven-speed dual-clutch M automatic gearbox.
A closer look at the CS reveals power comes from a beefy 3.0-litre, six-cylinder in-line petrol engine equipped with M TwinPower Turbo technology with 331kW and 550Nm, 29kW more than in the M2 Competition.
Yep, it's the same power you get in the outgoing M4.
A dual exhaust system featuring two electrically-controlled flaps lets you control the amount of growl emanating from the rear.
It sheds weight courtesy of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) construction for the bonnet that cuts weight by 50% with the front splitter, Gurney spoiler lip on the boot lid and rear diffuser left unpainted.
The lightweight theme is carried through to the interior with the presence of bucket seats borrowed from the M4 CS. Everything from the seat backrest to the steering wheel is covered in Merino leather or Alcantara.
It makes the 0 – 100km/h sprint in 4.0 seconds with an electronically governed top speed of 280km/h. The manual version's 0-100km/h sprint time is a claimed 4.2 seconds.
In this potentially explosive drag race, the CS lines up next to its rivals from Ingolstadt and Stuttgart in the form of the Audi RS3 Sportback and the world's most powerful production hot hatch: the Mercedes-AMG A45 S.
The BMW is the only rear-wheel-drive powered car of the trio, with the Audi and Merc opting for all-wheel-drive systems.
The Audi is the lowest powered car with 294kW, but this particular model has been tuned to produce 335kW and 750Nm. It uses a seven-speed S Tronic gearbox.
The A45 S' two-litre turbocharged engine makes do with a staggering 310kW and 500Nm. The M139 engine is the most potent two-litre forced induction engine in the world, and Merc claims a sub-four-second 0-100km/h time.
In my opinion, I'm ruling the Audi out purely because it has been fiddled with.
I'm keen to see how the BMW and Mercedes battle on track, with the A45 S' four-wheel-drive system giving it an advantage off the line.
Let's see what happens.
Carwow said: "We’ve finally got our hands on the all-new BMW M2 CS! This absolute beast of an M2 comes equipped with the same 3-litre twin-turbo as found in the M4, and as a result, it can put down 331kW & 550Nm of torque!
As for the competition? Well, it’s lining up against Mat’s latest long-termer, the AMG A45, and a 2016 RS3! The A45 may only have a 2-litre twin-turbo, but it can still produce 313kW & 500Nm! And as for the RS3, well that’s been tuned ,so it now produces an awesome 335kW & 750Nm!"
