The BMW M2 CS has been making a lot of noise in the news lately, and it looks like it’s a big fan of the attention it’s been getting. Today, the M2 CS is back in the news, only this time, it involves a hot lap video showing the M2 CS rampaging around the Hockenheim race track in Germany. Turns out, the folks over at German magazine Sport Auto got some quality time with the M2 CS ahead of its debut later this year. Without confessing to being jealous that someone else has already driven the M2 CS, I will say that the video of the car’s hot lap in Hockenheim revealed some interesting results that should get a lot of people excited about Bimmer’s new hell-raiser and what it’s capable of on the road and track.

There’s something about a car like the BMW M2 CS that gets people so hyped up. Part of it can be attributed to the excitement surrounding the sports coupé. The rumor mill has been hot and heavy when it comes to the M2 CS, and while the coupé isn’t scheduled to make its debut until the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show in November — that’s the latest word on the street — that hasn’t stopped people from digesting any and all buzz that attaches itself to the M2 CS.

Then there are the lucky ones, which, in this case, includes the people from German publication Sport Auto. Not only did they get a chance to see the BMW M2 CS up close before it’s highly anticipated debut next month, but they also managed to have some fun with it at the Hockenheim race track in Germany. With Uwe Sener behind the wheel of the M2 CS, the high-performance coupé managed to clock a lap time of 1:55. Ok, so it didn’t exactly set Hockenheim on fire, but it didn’t need to because the M2 CS showed what it’s capable of and provide itself worthy of all the buzz that’s circling it.

It’s not as fast as the current BMW F90 M5 Competition, but it’s only 0.2 seconds slower than a car that’s supposed to be a lot faster than its little brother. The Mercedes-AMG GT S is also 0.4 seconds faster than the BMW M2 CS, but again, consider the difference between the two performance beasts and you’ll realize that the M2 CS makes a good account of itself relative to its rival. Really, though, if you need the clearest indication of what the M2 CS is fully capable of, you’re going to have to look at the lap time it posted and compare it to the lap time posted by the BMW M2 Competition, the M2 CS’ slightly less powerful sibling. It’s not so much of an even match as it is a wipeout; the M2 CS is 2.1 seconds Sport Auto than the M2 Competition in the same race track. That’s balls-to-the-wall fast, folks.

A recent private event held in Belgium also revealed a few interesting details about the M2 CS, not the least of which are the technical features that it will come with. Let’s just say that if you’re fans of adaptive suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes, and an M performance exhaust system, you’re going to like the M2 CS. That goes, too, for people who can’t get enough of carbon fiber. The M2 CS will be tricked out in the good stuff, particularly in the hood, roof, mirror caps, front spoiler, rear diffuser, and, of course, the interior.

It does seem strange that for a car that’s supposed to cost close to $100,000 — leaked info suggests a starting price of €95,000, which converts to around $105,000 — the BMW M2 CS is getting the kind of attention normally received for high-priced exotics and supercars. But the sports coupé is so far living up to the hype because it’s generating more hype than the existing hype that’s already there in the first place. Its dalliance at the Hockenheim race track is the latest example of that. It didn’t even post a blistering lap time that’s worthy of headlines from publications all over, but since it’s the M2 CS, it’s a big freakin’ deal!

So far, the M2 CS has lived up to the billing. Here’s to hoping it stays that way when it makes its debut at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show next month, at least if it does debut there.

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Read our full speculative review on the 2021 BMW M2 CS/CSL.

Read our full review on the 2019 BMW M2 Competition.

Read our full review on the 2018 BMW M2.