The new BMW M2 CS is one of several new cars to make its video game debut in The Crew Motorfest.
The new M2 CS is the most hardcore version of BMW’s revered sports coupe. It utilises the same 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six engine as the second-generation (G87) M2, tuned to produce 530hp – an increase from 480hp in the standard car, making it the most powerful rear-wheel-drive M car.
The result is a brisk 0-62 mph time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 188 mph. It’s also around 30kg lighter than the standard car, thanks to its liberal use of carbon-fibre and forged alloy wheels.
With a limited production run, the range-topping M2 will be a rare sight on the road. However, you can drive it virtually in The Crew Motorfest from January next year.
Making its video game debut, the new M2 CS will feature in The Crew Motorfest’s upcoming BMW-centric playlist, launching on 7^th January, 2026, in Season 8.
Across seven events, the playlist will chronicle BMW’s illustrious history, beginning with a prologue featuring cars from multiple eras from the 1970s to the present day. From there, each event will showcase iconic models in chronological order. Alongside the new M2 CS, the original lightweight 3.0 CSL and M Hybrid V8 #15 are among the unlockable BMWs in Season 8.
“It’s our tribute to BMW’s legacy,” said The Crew Motorfest’s Creative Director, Julien Hummer.
“For Season 8, we want to dive deeper into this brand’s DNA. We are unleashing an expansive lineup of BMWs – everything from legendary icons, to modern performance models. 
“We have crafted a dedicated playlist that goes deep into BMW’s legendary history, from its roots in racing to today’s engineering excellence.” 
Throughout the playlist, BMW Group Classic spokesperson Marc Thiesbürger will provide insights into BMW’s history through lavish live-action cut scenes filmed at the BMW Museum in Munich, Germany, alongside Spanish racing driver Anna Simón.    
Ivory Tower has taken a similar approach with other car brands, with dedicated playlists for Porsche, Lamborghini and, most recently, Ferrari.
BMW is also prominent in Season 8’s opening Street Riders playlist, which sees players extensively modify an M3 E46, a new addition to The Crew Motorfest’s roster, to impress an underground street racing gang.
“BMW has always been a brand that the community has pushed,” Ubisoft Ivory Tower’s Managing Director, Stéphane Beley, told Traxion. “So, we decided to form this partnership with BMW and create these two different playlists: one focusing on underground street racing and the other on BMW’s legacy.
“BMW was happy for us to propose these different approaches, and it’s what we want to share with our community.
“We want to represent different car cultures through the guise of BMW. And it’s what The Crew Motorfest is doing perfectly: giving you different stories to tell and letting you enjoy a big open world that is different each time you play with your friends.”
The new BMW M2 CS isn’t the only car to make its video game debut in The Crew Motorfest. Season 7 let players drive the Ferrari F80, Ferrari’s new flagship successor to the LaFerrari, for the first time in a racing game.
This was also the case for the Lamborghini Revuelto, the hybrid replacement for the Aventador, which is also the game’s cover car. Meanwhile, the Ferrari 12Cilindri and Zenvo Aurora Agil are making their first appearances in a PC and console racing game in Season 8 and the Year 3 Pass.  
Securing these exclusive cars before tentpole racing franchises like Gran Turismo and Forza is a commendable achievement. It’s a testament to the close relationships Ivory Tower has fostered with car manufacturers – something that has taken “many years,” according to Beley.
“We now have a great relationship with every brand. They gift us vehicles exclusive to us in the video game industry.”
Although Beley previously worked on Test Drive Unlimited, The Crew was an unproven franchise compared to Forza Horizon and Need for Speed when it launched in 2014, making it difficult to negotiate licensing details.
Now, over ten years later, The Crew Motorfest has a diverse vehicle roster, with more than 600 cars from over 50 brands, with the franchise surpassing 50 million players this year.
“[It’s taken] so many years,” said Beley, reflecting on how far the franchise has come with acquiring exclusive vehicle licenses. “Now, I go to Gamescom and have plenty of meetings with brands that ask to be in the game.”
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