More aggressive coupe is here with 454bhp
BMW M’s final pure-combustion offering comes in the form of the new BMW M2, ending an era with a performance coupe taking aim at the likes of the Porsche 718 Cayman and Alpine’s A110 sports cars. With a strong increase in power, performance and poise, the (G87) M2 ‘entry drug’ should trump its predecessor.
BMW describes the M2 as a spiritual successor to the legendary 2002 Turbo sports coupé and the momentary 1 Series M Coupé). The entry level full fat M car Slots in below the M3 and M4, But does share a version of its older brothers ‘B58’ 3.0-litre straight six powertrain, albeit detuned. From launch, the M2 makes 454bhp and 406lb ft of torque, with an automatic gearbox equipped the coupe can go from 0-62mph in just 4.1sec (the manual adds 0.2sec) and on to a limited 155mph. M bosses though, have not ruled out the possibility of more hardcore additions to the line-up in future, with a firmed up, competition or CSL model set to follow.
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The M2’s design is more overenthusiastic and bold than its predecessor and M car colleagues, weather this will favour customers is yet to be seen, the original model, which finished production in 2020, quickly became the best-selling car in the M line-up and sold 60,000 units globally.
The M2 is separated from the M240i by a more angular and aggressive designed body kit that contains a swollen, bespoke front bumper with horizontal kidney grilles and 02 inspired wide-set headlights and inflamed wings, a rear spoiler, a GT-style rear diffuser, quad-exit exhausts.
The track has also been widened, 38mm at the front and 4mm at the rear to have greater road presence than the M240i. It is also longer than the previous gen M2 by 114mm. Chassis upgrades over the 2 Series consist of new stiffening braces for the front struts and bespoke aluminium subframe, reinforced C-pillars and track-focused, M-specific adaptive suspension and steering calibrations.
As standard the M2 comes with 19in front and 20in rear lightweight alloy wheels, that can be upgraded by 1 inch. These surround the upgraded brakes, 380mm front and 370mm rear discs, gripped by six and single-piston callipers respectively, painted in blue or red. There’s still no four-wheel-drive option as the M2 is committed to keeping the purist M-car formula.
Other possible upgrades comprise of a carbon fibre roof, which saves 6kg and lowers the centre of gravity, but most significantly, the M Race Track package, which adds carbon fibre bucket seats and removes the 155mph speed limiter, giving the M2 a 177mph maximum.
The introduction of the new M2 ends a busy year for BMW, the M division celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022 and debuted some new cars the likes of the M3 Touring, a first ever for BMW, a hardcore M4 CSL, the M Hybrid V8 endurance racer, an update for the M8 and the recent XM SUV.
The M2 will be built in Mexico alongside the standard 2 series, and is due to arrive in the UK next May, priced from £61,495, making it slightly cheaper than the 718 Cayman GTS
