According to our sources, for model year 2018, the M2 will get the usual BMW Life Cycle Impulse. Production is rumored to kick off in Summer 2017 at the same plant in Leipzig. Additionally, BMW is also planning a CS version of the M2 and judging by the spy photos below, we might have spotted a prototype in Germany.

The sportier M2 CS should be far more than a traditional facelift, with some new technology components and therefore would deserve the badge on its boot.

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Particularly exciting is a possible change in the engine compartment, a new variant of the twin-turbo inline six-cylinder S55 is rumored be under the hood. The previously used engine, and quite elaborately modified N55, could be replaced, in order to obtain more flexibility in terms of power, torque and responsiveness.

Used in the M3 and M4 models, the S55 would be modified for the M2 to produce around 400 horsepower, which would make the M2 of the best compact sports car ever and yet maintain a certain distance from its big brothers.

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 In terms of a further increase in performance, however, additional lightweight measures would be employed, ranging from the one-piece carbon fiber propeller shaft to the carbon roof.

The possible 2018 BMW M2 CS could bring fresh air into the sportscar segment and should not be at a disadvantage in competition with the likes of Audi TT RS – which promises 400 hp from a five-cylinder engine and an acceleration of 3.7 seconds from zero to 100 km/h.

[Photos: Todor Todorov | @todorov5]