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BMW said today that the new BMW M2 CS set a new benchmark on the legendary Nordschleife racetrack of the Nürburgring on 11 April 2025.* Driven by BMW M development engineer Jörg Weidinger, it completed the 12.9-mile Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit in 7:25.5, beating the previous best time for compact cars by eight seconds. In March Audi set a new record lap in the compact vehicle class on the Nordschleife at 7:33.123 minutes. Depending on the ongoing Trump tariff wars, Audi might still retain the lower price entry point for a top Nordschleife runner., depending on who you value – in currency units – the ~8 seconds in elapsed times.
“The BMW M2 CS has achieved a significant milestone with its lap time of 7:25.5 on the Nordschleife, showcasing the potential for combining performance, technology, and exceptional driving dynamics into a single vehicle,” said Franciscus van Meel, the Managing Director of BMW M GmbH. ‘We are proud that the M2 CS has once again set a new benchmark in the compact car class with this lap time.”
The previous best time for a BMW M2 model was set by Weidinger in April 2023, when he completed the course in 7:38.7. Two years later, he beat this time by 13 seconds, breaking the class record of 7:30 for the first time. Previous record runs on the Nordschleife by the BMW M4 CS, the BMW M4 CSL, and the BMW M3 CS, all mid-range vehicles, achieved times under 7:30 minutes. The BMW M4 CSL also holds the best lap time ever recorded for a BMW production car, with an official, notarized time of 7:18.137.
The “Green Hell” myth?
Habitually referred to as the ‘Green Hell’, the Nordschleife racetrack is considered one of the most demanding and challenging racetracks in the world. Measuring 12.9 miles in length with more than 70 turns, it places the extraordinary demands on drivers and vehicles. The Nordschleife lap times are the marketing gold standard for measuring a vehicle’s sporting performance and driving dynamics. Record runs are monitored by a neutral testing organization, and the vehicles are checked to ensure they are in standard condition. This detailed inspection ensures that the record runs are with production vehicles.
The Nürburgring – Home of BMW M.
BMW M says that it has been in partnership and the Nürburgring for more than a quarter of a century. From the BMW M Power Grandstand and BMW M Bridge to the BMW M Driving Experience and BMW M Test Center, as well as test drives on the Nordschleife for M vehicles en route to series production, the partnership between BMW M and the Nürburgring serves as a test track for every M model. The BMW M Test Center is equipped with “cutting-edge workshop facilities” that allow BMW M to put vehicles through rigorous testing on the Nordschleife track even before they reach production, as well as to develop new models.
BMW M Motorsport racing cars have achieved numerous successes in various racing series, including 21 overall victories in the Nürburgring 24-hour race. The M Power showroom, which was redesigned in 2021, is another flagship of the cooperation. The Nürburgring’s position as the home of BMW M has been further strengthened since then.”
Quick Look – BMW M2 CS
- The new BMW M2 CS has an inline 6-cylinder engine with so-called BMW M TwinPower Turbo technology. BMW rates it at 523 horsepower with a maximum torque at 479 lb.-ft.
- Model-specific engine mounts, an Adaptive M suspension, and an M compound brake system add to its performance.
- Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic.
- The BMW M2 CS is the lightest model of the current M2 generation with a number of exterior and interior components made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP), which reduces its weight by ~100 pounds. T
- he BMW M2 CS comes with forged M alloy wheels as standard.
- Manufactured at the BMW Group plant in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, the BMW M2 CS is a limited-edition model with a market launch planned for late summer 2025, priced at $98,600 plus destination and handling.
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About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Nürburgring – BMW M2 CS Beats Audi RS-3 Record
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BMW said today that the new BMW M2 CS set a new benchmark on the legendary Nordschleife racetrack of the Nürburgring on 11 April 2025.* Driven by BMW M development engineer Jörg Weidinger, it completed the 12.9-mile Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit in 7:25.5, beating the previous best time for compact cars by eight seconds. In March Audi set a new record lap in the compact vehicle class on the Nordschleife at 7:33.123 minutes. Depending on the ongoing Trump tariff wars, Audi might still retain the lower price entry point for a top Nordschleife runner., depending on who you value – in currency units – the ~8 seconds in elapsed times.
“The BMW M2 CS has achieved a significant milestone with its lap time of 7:25.5 on the Nordschleife, showcasing the potential for combining performance, technology, and exceptional driving dynamics into a single vehicle,” said Franciscus van Meel, the Managing Director of BMW M GmbH. ‘We are proud that the M2 CS has once again set a new benchmark in the compact car class with this lap time.”
The previous best time for a BMW M2 model was set by Weidinger in April 2023, when he completed the course in 7:38.7. Two years later, he beat this time by 13 seconds, breaking the class record of 7:30 for the first time. Previous record runs on the Nordschleife by the BMW M4 CS, the BMW M4 CSL, and the BMW M3 CS, all mid-range vehicles, achieved times under 7:30 minutes. The BMW M4 CSL also holds the best lap time ever recorded for a BMW production car, with an official, notarized time of 7:18.137.
The “Green Hell” myth?
Habitually referred to as the ‘Green Hell’, the Nordschleife racetrack is considered one of the most demanding and challenging racetracks in the world. Measuring 12.9 miles in length with more than 70 turns, it places the extraordinary demands on drivers and vehicles. The Nordschleife lap times are the marketing gold standard for measuring a vehicle’s sporting performance and driving dynamics. Record runs are monitored by a neutral testing organization, and the vehicles are checked to ensure they are in standard condition. This detailed inspection ensures that the record runs are with production vehicles.
The Nürburgring – Home of BMW M.
BMW M says that it has been in partnership and the Nürburgring for more than a quarter of a century. From the BMW M Power Grandstand and BMW M Bridge to the BMW M Driving Experience and BMW M Test Center, as well as test drives on the Nordschleife for M vehicles en route to series production, the partnership between BMW M and the Nürburgring serves as a test track for every M model. The BMW M Test Center is equipped with “cutting-edge workshop facilities” that allow BMW M to put vehicles through rigorous testing on the Nordschleife track even before they reach production, as well as to develop new models.
BMW M Motorsport racing cars have achieved numerous successes in various racing series, including 21 overall victories in the Nürburgring 24-hour race. The M Power showroom, which was redesigned in 2021, is another flagship of the cooperation. The Nürburgring’s position as the home of BMW M has been further strengthened since then.”
Quick Look – BMW M2 CS
AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.