Comparative test - The BMW M2 CS takes on the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S

- Comparative test carried out by Xavier Brandel, Marius Hanin and Yann Lethuillier

How do you tell a good car journalist from a bad one? The good would never have had the idea to compare a six-cylinder in line to a four, a rear-wheel drive to a four-wheel drive and even less a robotic dual-clutch gearbox to a manual gearbox. The bad guy wouldn't even have asked the question. So become in which category is your servant?

Joking aside, if the engineers at BMW Motorsport are on familiar terms with talent, think about addressing them as you say. And do the same for those from Mercedes-AMG. Because we are going to see it, even if, on reading the technical sheet, the majority of sports car aficionados will turn to the M2 CS, the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S is far from being there to serve as a traveling car. to our favorite photographer. Their approach to sportiness is very different, thus contrasting with very close pure performance.

When one intimidates you as you approach a slightly greasy-wet asphalt bend, the other will make you want to push it even further. When one makes you rediscover the sensations of yesteryear, the other reminds you that today's progress allows you to have access to real sports performances, without changing your underwear as soon as you put on to rain.

These two cars are so close and so different at the same time, that not comparing them would make me a worse journalist than I already am. So on the way, while we still can, let's fire up these two heat engines, while we still can, and go "roll", as my most eminent colleagues say, while we still can.

Small but mighty

It was in 2016 that the BMW M2 arrived, a model with an undeniable sporty character, but an overall relative versatility with suspensions that were much too firm for everyday use. To correct the situation, BMW Motorsport presents, two years later, the M2 Competition, more powerful with the inline six of the M3 and M4, but also paradoxically more comfortable.

The antinomic association between comfort and dynamism being settled, the M2 could have, slowly but surely, waited for a well-deserved retirement. But to close the chapter in style, the Munich firm thought it might be necessary to do something even more special. A BMW M2 CS for example.

On the Mercedes-AMG side, we took advantage of the new generation of the Class A to modify the famous A 45 in depth. In France, we only have the right to the S version of 421 horsepower. A smaller variant of 387 horsepower exists in other markets, but Mercedes did not consider it commercially useful to offer it in France. Never mind, we will do with this S version which inaugurates a new engine, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with … 421 horsepower. This gives us a yield of 211 hp/litre. Wondering how this engine will age over time? U.S. too.

For all tastes

Aesthetically, our BMW puts on a show with its "Misano Blau" color (940 euros) and its 19-inch golden forged rims (510 euros). The styling is like the old sporty BMWs, muscular, with very wide hips just waiting to be roughed up with every curve. As you can see from the photos available, the BMW M2 CS receives some carbon fiber elements, particularly at the level of the front blade, the roof, the mirror caps, the rear spoiler, the diffuser and the hood.

The latter is also half as heavy as the hood of a BMW M2 Competition and receives a hearing to ventilate the mechanics. Despite all these lighter elements, curiously, the BMW M2 CS weighs the same as an M2 Competition, namely 1550 kilos. Blame it on the particulate filters added to the M2 CS? Surely.

For its part, our Mercedes-AMG A 45 S would do almost well with its matte "Gris Montagne Magno Designo" color (2450 euros) and its 19-inch forged rims (2100 euros). Without "AMG aerodynamic package" (1900 euros), our A 45 S could almost pass for a Class A diesel. Good news for those who don't want to stand out in a sports car. And if you really want to be an eye-catcher, a nice setup with a "Sun Yellow" (250 euros) and the famous "AMG aerodynamic package" will do the trick.

Two cars sold new, but two eras

Inside, you'd think the M2 was getting a little old. Not really in reality, the infotainment system is still correct, the ergonomics are also quite good and the materials are of good quality, with in particular Alcantara everywhere.

The gearbox control falls perfectly to hand, the needle counters remind us that "it was better before" and the seat cushions are surprisingly comfortable for such a radical car. Special mention also for the steering wheel in Alcantara M (610 euros), unnecessarily essential for this model, with a very thick rim as we like at BMW.

On the side of the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S, it's another world. This large digital panel will delight technophiles and, in general, even if we don't really like the profusion of screens in a sports car, it is clear that the ergonomics are rather well done and the system intuitive. Our test model is equipped with the "AMG Advanced Performance Seats pack" (2650 euros) with multiple settings.

It is then possible to adapt the seat perfectly to your divine body by modifying the lateral supports for example, and even the lumbar support. However, think twice before taking this option, these seats are perfect for sports use but quite uncomfortable for everyday use. In our view, this is not the most indispensable option.

Our two protagonists in a few figures

On the engine side, the BMW M2 CS features an inline six-cylinder (code name: S55) with 3.0 liters of displacement, bi-turbo, developing 450 horsepower and 550 Nm of torque. Its sound, intimidating if not melodious, will probably not delight music lovers of the famous "BMW inline six", but it's not bad either. We find the elasticity of the six-cylinder with a wide range of use, like its hips, a generous torque from 2350 to 5500 rpm and a breaking point at more than 7000 rpm. Exhilarating.

The Mercedes-AMG is entitled to a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo with 421 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque. To compensate for the removal of two cylinders compared to the "behemoth", the four legs of the Mercedes has an armada of sophisticated systems to make this engine the king of performance. It's a small engine, yes, but a real engine of engineers.

Without mentioning them all, we can, for example, mention two-stage fuel injection (firstly, the injectors pour fuel into the combustion chambers at pressures of up to 200 bar and secondly, an injection system in the intake manifold with solenoid valves is added to allow the engine to reach its full power), the addition of a high-efficiency electric water pump or a two-stroke cooling system allowing to cool the cylinder block and the cylinder head to different temperatures.

Sensation machines?

On the chassis side, the BMW M2 CS inherits the controlled suspension of the old M3 and M4, which gives it a much more docile behavior at low speeds than the first M2. The Mercedes-AMG alternates the good and the less good level of comfort, with a caricatural “Comfort” mode, especially with the suspension, falsely comfortable since we noted a phenomenon of rebound after compression.

As a result, the "Comfort" mode is not really optimal, even for conventional use. Better to switch to "Sport" mode and have something firmer and less cartoonish. Except that suddenly, the Mercedes is also firmer than the BMW. A shame since the M2 CS is supposed to be the more track-oriented of the two.

During our comparison, no luck, it was raining. It must be said that we looked for it since we went to Normandy. In rear-wheel drive and with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 semi-slick tyres, it's better not to be reckless with our M2 CS. It skates in one, in two, in three, and even up to four when you set foot in it. It is necessary to carefully dose the accelerator at the exit of the curve, at the risk of seeing the rear axle pass in front more quickly than the blink of an eye.

The Mercedes-AMG A 45 S and its all-wheel drive put on a show in the rain and go faster almost everywhere. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S are imperial, as always, and they drive everywhere, all the time and in all weathers. The Mercedes proves to be incredibly enduring with guns in speed, under an artificially hoarse sound, and brakes with phenomenal endurance for simple steels with discs of 350x34 millimeters at the front and 330x22 millimeters at the rear.

A quick ride in the BMW M2 CS equipped with its ceramic brakes (8000 euros) of 400x38 millimeters at the front and 380x28 millimeters at the rear is enough to remind us that ceramics are still better, especially once temperature, with a fairly impressive attack at the start of the pedal and constant endurance without the risk of overheating. It's good, but it's expensive to buy and especially to maintain, even if they are supposed to last longer than conventional steels. If you have to go on the track with your M2 CS, this "investment" may be justified.

Two different philosophies

Solid and robust on its supports, the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S impresses with the health of its engine, with a fairly impressive extension for a four-cylinder. The eight-speed robotic gearbox is fairly quick and well-managed, although a tad too quick for downshifts under braking. We don't have that kind of problem with the M2 CS and its delicious manual transmission, perfectly guided and delicately gripping on the first gears. It's great, and investing 3950 euros to replace it with the seven-speed DKG would be blasphemy in our eyes. All this to gain 0.2 seconds on the 0 to 100 km/h.

The Mercedes-AMG A 45 S is a formidable performance machine and don't expect to fault it in curves without exceeding the laws of physics. Imperturbable, it can give you some "raw" sensations by activating the "Drift" mode. To do this, after having brilliantly passed your doctorate in "how to make it simple when you can make it complicated", you will have to, in "Sport+" mode or even "Race" mode, switch the gearbox to manual mode, then remove the ESP, press a few seconds on the two paddles behind the steering wheel and then press the right paddle to confirm that you want to use the "Drift" mode.

The Mercedes-AMG A 45 S is one of the few in the category, along with the old Ford Focus RS, to offer this mode which, at first glance, looks quite funny. If that of the Focus RS is very simple to use, but also very unnatural since it will not be necessary to counter-steer when sliding, but to steer well in the direction of the glide, that of the Mercedes-AMG is less permissive and much less considerate. If the Focus RS slips very easily, it will be necessary to push the German a little harder. Above all, it will be necessary to quickly resume the gas when the rear slips away so as not to take a nasty blow from the racket.

No need for all that for the BMW M2. Even if its front axle is incisive and passes very hard in the turns, the M2 CS does not know how to be boring. You will always have to keep in mind that it is propulsion, especially in the rain, and that it is, from time to time, possible to be slightly overwhelmed by the inertia when cornering. It is at this precise moment that it will be necessary to be vigilant and skilfully master the art of counter-steering.

The car is quite communicative, thanks in particular to its brilliantly precise and consistent steering, to warn you that the limits are approaching. Violent stalls Porsche 911 style? Very little for the M2 CS. Thanks to the front engine + rear transmission architecture, an example of balance and pleasure on this type of car.

What conclusion can be drawn from this?

Here are two beautiful thrilling machines, difficult to decide between in terms of performance, but completely poles apart in terms of driving sensations. Despite all the efforts of the world on the side of Affalterbach, the four-cylinder does not come close to the famous six-cylinder BMW, and that does not bode well for Mercedes in view of a future comparison between the BMW M3 (which retains a six-cylinder) and the future Mercedes-AMG C 63 which will be entitled to the four-cylinder of the A 45 S supported by one or more electric motors.

At 99,800 euros the BMW M2 CS, and 112,980 euros for our test model presented in the photo, the pain is very salty for a sports compact, certainly exciting, and certainly limited to 2200 copies in the world. Without forgetting the 30,000 euros penalty in France in 2021. The Mercedes-AMG A 45 S starts from 70,700 euros (80,600 euros for our test model) and is entitled to a penalty of 19 '641 euros in France in 2021. In the end, turnkey, in France, in 2021, "our" BMW M2 CS costs 142,980 euros against 100,241 euros for the Mercedes. Mind-blowing and discouraging.

Not given for two sports compacts therefore, and even if the BMW M2 CS has a more exclusive side than the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S, this certainly does not justify such a salty bill. But we can perfectly understand that this fabulous M2 CS could motivate some customers to break the bank to acquire a piece of BMW history, because even if the future M2 should also have the right to a six-cylinder and a propulsion architecture, the new constraints should surely not give it the charm of the current M2.

The M2 CS is a clever mix of sports cars from before and today, sprinkled with a touch of nostalgia. If the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S is powerful, the BMW M2 CS is brilliant and deserves to enter, without too many problems, the Pantheon of sports cars, and join some BMWs of yesteryear with the “M” logo.

Read also