BMW M2 CS tuned to 592bhp by Manhart Performance
German tuner Manhart has given the BMW M2 CS a makeover, boosting performance and tweaking aesthetics
Having been crowned our overall 2020 evo Car of the Year, the BMW M2 CS is undoubtedly one of the greatest driver’s cars on sale today. Its sublime chassis and highly capable powertrain might suggest, then, its package as almost perfect, but German tuner Manhart clearly has other ideas with its modded MH2 GTR.
As with the standard CS and Competition, under the bonnet lies BMW’s 3-litre twin-turbocharged S55 straight-six, but thanks to the addition of an uprated intercooler, a carbon fibre intake, upgraded turbochargers and an ECU tune, output has been significantly lifted. Manhart quote peak figures of 592bhp and 612lb ft of torque, making it 148bhp and 206lb ft more potent than standard – in fact, this gives it more torque than the all-wheel drive, V8-powered M8 Competition.
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Though Manhart hasn’t disclosed performance figures, it’s expected to yield improvements on the factory 4sec 0-62mph time (when equipped with the DCT) and 174mph top speed, should there be enough traction to put all that power onto the road.
Also contributing to mild performance gains is a new stainless steel exhaust system, with redesigned downpipes and more free-flowing 300-cell catalytic converters. Software tweaks to the ECU have also improved throttle response and finessed the power delivery, with the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission also sharpened through its own software recalibration.
Manhart is also offering new suspension components sourced from H&R, with uprated brakes available too. Sticky 255-section front and 295-section rear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres are fitted to the new 20-inch forged wheels, an inch bigger than standard.
The MH2 GTR also comes with a number of aesthetic modifications to compliment the boost in performance. Similar in design to the M4-based MH4 GTR launched last year, it has been fitted with a handful of carbonfibre aerodynamic components including a stacked rear wing and in the example pictured, a BMW M Performance-inspired livery.
Inside you’ll find a new pair of new Recaro bucket seats, with carbonfibre applied to the steering wheel and gear selector. The centre left air vent on the dash is also now swapped for an Awron data display, providing the driver with important information about the powertrain.
