2026 BMW M2 CS

In BMW shorthand, CS stands for Competition Sport. To earn that designation, the 2026 M2 CS gets 50 more horsepower than the regular M2, for a total of 523 hp, as well as another 36 lb-ft of torque, bringing the total up to 479 lb-ft. A carbon-fiber roof, trunk lid and rear diffuser, as well as standard carbon-shell front seats, help shave 97 pounds from the standard M2's curb weight. And the CS sits 0.2 inch lower than its more mainstream counterpart on retuned springs and dampers.

All of the M2 CS' closest competitors are fantastic choices. You might save some money and go with a Ford Mustang Dark Horse. The M2's back seat isn't fit for adults anyway, so you could scrap that idea entirely and load up a Chevrolet Corvette with every option you want — or stretch the budget a bit for the 8,600-rpm, 670-hp Z06. The Porsche Cayman GTS is within reach of the CS' sticker too. Shoppers looking for more inclement-weather stability can get the CS' engine with all-wheel drive in the BMW M4 Competition xDrive or with four doors in the M3 Competition xDrive. Stars, all of them.

The M2 is already a pugnacious little coupe, and so visual differences between it and the CS are few. The exposed carbon-fiber roof is an option on the standard car, so onlookers will have to look a little closer. Distinguishing features include the CS' carbon-fiber mirror caps and diffuser, lacy bronze forged wheels, front splitter, ducktail spoiler and a single black bar in the kidney grille instead of the regular M2's three bars. There's an M2 CS badge outlined in red on that single bar, echoed by a similar badge on the trunk. And inside, red CS logos adorn the door panels and center console.