The BMW M2 G87 generation has improved its own Nürburgring record in the compact car class with the recently introduced M Performance Track Kit: the new best time on the Nordschleife is 7 minutes 25.068 seconds.
The previous Nürburgring record in the compact car class belonged to the lightweight BMW M2 CS coupe with the 530-horsepower version of the 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder twin-turbo S58 engine, set in April last year with a result of 7 minutes 25.534 seconds. This and all of BMW's latest records on the Nürburgring Nordschleife were set by factory test driver Jörg Weidinger, who also contributed to the development of the M Performance Track Kit package for the BMW M2, unveiled in March this year.
So, it turns out that a standard rear-wheel-drive BMW M2 with the 480-horsepower S58 engine and the M Performance Track Kit is faster on the Nordschleife than the top-tier BMW M2 CS, albeit only slightly. The new record was set on May 22 of this year under less-than-ideal conditions: the air and asphalt temperatures were too high, and there were oil stains on the T13 section, where the start-finish straight is located. In short, the lap could have been faster, but it was important for BMW to emphasize that the M Performance Track Kit works even in non-ideal conditions.
The M Performance Track Kit is also available for the BMW M2 CS, but production of this version was limited and it is no longer possible to purchase such a model, so the new record was set on a standard BMW M2 with rear-wheel drive and an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Recall that the M Performance Track Kit includes adjustable racing dampers, a front carbon fiber splitter with adjustable overhang, an air intake under the engine's upper oil cooler, side canards on the front bumper, and a suspended adjustable rear wing with an integrated brake light, borrowed from the BMW M4 GT4 and BMW M4 GT3 racing coupes. The wing allows adjustment not only of the angle of attack but also of the overhang beyond the rear perimeter, which can reach up to 50 mm. However, in road mode, the upper side canards must be removed, and the front splitter and rear wing must be retracted within the vehicle's dimensions to comply with road regulations.
In June, the BMW M2 with all-wheel drive M xDrive was introduced, but it is still unclear whether all-wheel drive provides any advantage on the Nürburgring. All-wheel drive increased the curb weight of the BMW M2 by 60 kg to 1790 kg, but it also reduced the acceleration time to 100 km/h from 4.0 to 3.7 seconds. The top speed remains limited to 250 km/h, and with the M Driver's Package, it is increased to 285 km/h.
We believe that in one form or another, the BMW M2 will at least update the Nürburgring record once more, as the full potential of this model has not yet been unlocked.
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