“Where is the evidence?” This is what most of us were wondering when BMW unveiled the M2 CS. It is a true question, given that its predecessor “F87” came with a stick. However, the new “G87” competition is only available with an eight -speed automatic transmission. So what gives? A long short story: Engineers gave a priority to the horse at the expense of the third pedal.
We asked the president of R&D, Dirk Häcker, at the end of last week at Le Mans, why M2 CS exceeds the guide. It is missing because he cannot deal with more than 473 hp and 550 nm (405 fb) and still fulfills the BMW requirements. The new hardline release provides 523 hp and 650 nm (479 pounds), and the output levels that would exceed 6MT limits.
For M2 CS, the company had to choose between either opening the full potential of the engine or limiting its capabilities to keep the three preparation. Choose the previous BMW. Why? According to Häcker, the guide had not allowed the car to be strong enough to earn its CS badge and provide the expected track performance of a competitive sport model.
When BMW updated the standard M2 last year, its six -hp -hp engine gained, as it reached 473 hp, or the maximum that the guide could deal with. However, the torque remained unchanged at 550 nm (405 lb-ft), as the basic version collided only to 600 nm (442 lb-foot). Now we know why.
At this stage, you may think that we have forgotten 3.0 CSL. After all, the special version based on the M4 CS has the title of a six -cylinder production car in BMW. BMW has set the 3.0 -liter “S58” “S58” engine to 553 hp, however he kept manual transmission. Häcker explained that this was possible for several reasons:
“It is almost the same [gearbox used by the M2 and 3.0 CSL]. The thing, we have different requirements. I think everyone knows 3.0 CSL is a very rare and exclusive car. It will not be led every day. Also, not miles. Therefore, we had a special commitment in general to use it there, but it is not an option for the track tool or something like that. “
As for “private commitment”, we can guess some factors. Perhaps the price has played a role since CSL 3.0 costs about 750,000 euros. Honogeneity rules may also play a role, as modern Batmobile was a low model of size, limited to only 50 units. But even in that car, engineers had to reduce the torque to 550 nm (405 pounds), and the M2, M3 and M4 match.
However, we must be grateful for what we have. Mercedes and Audi have long abandoned the manual gearbox. M2 can keep his stick to the end, which was identified for 2029. M3 and M4 will soon bend, but these cars are likely to maintain the guide until production ends. The first BMW car that lost the guide will be the Z4 M40i next year, when Roadster is stopped.