The BMW M2 CS Squeezes M3 Power Into A Manual 2-Series

The most exciting M2 ever has arrived - ahead of schedule. It was meant to be unveiled tonight, but details and images have appeared early on Jalopnik.

The M2 CS is a carbon-clothed, limited-edition uber-M2 powered by the S55 twin-turbo 3.0-litre straight-six. Moist palms are guaranteed by 444bhp – as much as the M3 Competition – and 406lb ft, which combine to hurl the M2 CS to 62mph in 4.0 seconds flat, or 3.8 seconds if you tick the dual-clutch gearbox option.

That’s right: as standard, the rear-driven M2 CS is manual. Six glorious cogs need to be shuffled by hand. The gear knob follows the time-honoured M design and should make you feel right at home in the logo-adorned, red-stitched leather and Alcantara interior.

Such is the breadth of the carbonfibre on show, you might not immediately notice the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, nor the vast brake discs and equally beefy M-spec calipers. There’s a naked carbon roof, boot lip spoiler, front splitter, rear diffuser, mirror housings – and that’s just what you can see.

The bonnet is the woven stuff too, and is apparently half the weight of the normal steel item. Even the transmission tunnel is carbonfibre so the overall weight saving – yet to be confirmed – should be significant.

Only 2200 will be built, with individual country allocations undecided at this stage, so the chances of getting your hands on one depend on whether you’re able to put a deposit down ASAP. The price is unknown but assume ‘a lot’. Don’t expect it to depreciate quickly, either.

Further news is that an M2 CS Racing customer competition car is also on the way. So if you want to race or just win all the track days, there’s a more hardcore M2 CS option for you.