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A photo of the BMW M2 CS out on the track.

This Tiny BMW M2 CS Just Beat a $219,000 Bentley Flying Spur

This is one of the most unusual drag races we’ve seen in a while. Only in a YouTube quarter-mile run could a track-focused BMW M2 CS and an ultra-luxurious Bentley Flying Spur ever square up. Despite having boatloads of extra power, this drag race didn’t go quite as planned for the Bentley. Despite being severely …

This is one of the most unusual drag races we’ve seen in a while. Only in a YouTube quarter-mile run could a track-focused BMW M2 CS and an ultra-luxurious Bentley Flying Spur ever square up. Despite having boatloads of extra power, this drag race didn’t go quite as planned for the Bentley. Despite being severely outgunned, the BMW managed to beat it during a run in the airstrip.

How does the BMW M2 stack up against the Bentley?

A photo of the BMW M2 CS out on the track.
BMW M2 CS | BMW

If this race between a BMW M2 CS and a Bentley Flying Spur feels a bit like David vs. Goliath, that’s because it is. According to Car and Driver, under the hood of the $219,000, Bentley lives a twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12. Total output is rated at 626 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque. The real advantage here is that the Bentley develops all of its torque at 1,350 rpm. The result is that the Bentley is capable of reaching 60 mph in around 3.5 seconds. To put that into context, the Flying Spur Weighs around 5,500 lb, according to Car and Driver, making it ridiculously quick. Power makes it to the road via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and an all-wheel-drive system.

In contrast, the BMW M2 CS counts on a 444-hp turbocharged inline-six engine out of the M4 Competition. While a dual-clutch automatic is also available, a six-speed manual comes as standard. Despite having 182-hp less than the Bentley, the BMW is also over 2,000 lb lighter. Unfortunately for the BMW, it counts on rear-wheel-drive, meaning it may struggle to put the power down off the line. According to Car and Driver, the M2 CS should hit 60 mph in around 3.8 seconds, or about .3 seconds slower than the massive Bentley. However, as we all know, racing in real-life conditions is very different.

The Bentley takes the first win over the BMW

After sliding the BMW M2 CS and the Bentley Flying Spur around a bit to warm up its tires, the team over at Carwow lined them up for the first run. As expected, the BMW M2 CS struggled to put down all of its available power to the rear wheels, botching its launch. The all-wheel-drive Bentley, on the other hand, rocketed off the line and into a clear lead. From there, the more powerful Flying Spur held the lead all the way to the finish line at the end of the runway.

However, something important to note is that the BMW M2 CS started to catch up slightly midway through the run. However, the botched start was too much to overcome, and as a result, the Bentley won the first run.

The BMW came back with a vengeance

The 2021 Bentley Flying Spur V8 is a lighter, less powerful and better handling lang-yacht.
Bentley Flying Spur V8 | Bentley

Given the BMW M2 CS’s valiant first effort, the Carwow team decided to run them a couple of extra times. On the third time around, the BMW M2 managed to put down its power and rocket off the line. The Bentley’s all-wheel-drive system meant the BMW couldn’t exactly pull away. As the pair made their way down the drag strip, the BMW began to inch forward slowly. It is important to note that the BMW didn’t just disappear. It had to claw its way to the front slowly.

Upon crossing the finish line, the BMW M2 CS managed to dethrone the Bentley Flying Spur. According to Carwow’s telemetry, both the BMW and the Bentley covered the quarter-mile in 12 seconds. However, Carwow points out that the Flying Spur has previously been capable of covering the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds. Reviewing the video reveals a bit of driver lag, causing the delay in the Bentley’s launch. Regardless, the BMW managed to take the win fair and square, proving that the underdog can always have a chance to win.

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