- The BMW M2 Track Kit beat the M2 CS around the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
- New aero and suspension upgrades focus on serious trackday performance.
- BMW says every component was developed alongside its M division engineers.
The M2 CS is supposed to be the ultimate version of BMW’s smallest M car, but a new factory-backed upgrade package has already managed to outgun it. Armed with a collection of aerodynamic and chassis upgrades, a BMW M2 fitted with the new M Performance Track Kit has set a new Nürburgring Nordschleife record for the model. The craziest part is that the new record could’ve been even quicker had conditions been better.
According to BMW, the lap took place on May 22 and was independently verified by TÜV Rheinland. Importantly, conditions were far from ideal. The automaker says high ambient and track temperatures, along with oil traces in the T13 section of the circuit, made the attempt more challenging than a typical record run.
Even so, the M2 completed the 12.94-mile (20.83-km) Nordschleife in 7:25.068. That puts it half a second ahead of the recently launched M2 CS and establishes a new benchmark for the platform.
No Extra Power, Just Better Hardware
Interestingly, the M2 didn’t achieve this feat by simply adding more power. In fact, it didn’t add any power at all over the standard car. Instead, the M Performance Track Kit centers on a newly developed chassis setup and a comprehensive aerodynamic package designed specifically for trackday enthusiasts.
Key upgrades include an adjustable front splitter, aero flicks, a manually adjustable swan-neck rear wing with a dedicated Race Mode setting, and a new coilover suspension.
Read: This BMW M2 CS Outmuscles An Aventador
BMW says the suspension uses motorsport-derived dampers while still retaining road legality. That’s a big deal because plenty of owners in this segment enjoy being able to drive to and from the track on the day. Owners will also appreciate that the M Division itself played a huge role in the development of the track pack.
BMW M engineers worked alongside the M Performance Parts team, while aerodynamic testing took place in BMW’s wind tunnel. Chassis tuning duties fell to BMW M test engineer and Nürburgring specialist Jörg Weidinger, who helped fine-tune the package for maximum precision and stability at the limit.
Sure, half a second on such a huge course isn’t exactly earth-shattering, but remember that the car had no power upgrades. On top of that, M2 owners now have a new avenue to procure this kind of speed without having to shell out for a special CS trim.
What It Costs
Don’t expect it to be cheap, though. The kit runs €23,500 plus tax and installation in Germany. BMW hasn’t announced official U.S. pricing yet, but that works out to roughly $27,000 before the extra labor.
