BMW reveals 330kW rear-drive M2 Coupe
Thursday, 13 October 2022
BMW has unleashed the new M2 Coupe upon the world, and it ticks some pretty important boxes.
Those include a straight-six engine up front, with a couple of turbos bolted on for good measure, sending power to the rear wheels, and the option of a manual transmission.
As good as that sounds, let’s talk about the styling first. BMW is currently in the middle of one of its divisive periods of design (remember the Bangle-butt era?) and the M2 looks to continue that.
It’s not quite as wild as the big-grille M3/M4 but those chunky square corner intakes next to the frameless grille will likely draw some comments. It looks a bit like an aftermarket body kit from the early 2000s, which could either be a good or bad thing.
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What are definitely good things are those blown-out arches. The rears in particularly look menacing, highlighting the performance BMW has given the car.
The squiggly lights from the M240i are here, while the bootlid gets a little kick for aerodynamics and style. A traditional M-spec quad-outlet exhaust pokes out between the rear diffuser.
BMW has reduced the overall length of the M2 by 214mm when compared to the M4, with a 110mm shorter wheelbase. It’s the same width though, which should make the baby M car quite playful. Weight wasn’t mentioned, but an optional carbon fibre roof reduces it by around six kilos, while more interior carbon bits drop another 10.8kg.
The engine is a slightly detuned version of the 3.0-litre turbo six found in the M3 and M4, here making 338kW and 550Nm. European buyers will choose from the aforementioned six-speed manual and an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic transmission.
Opting for the manual will hit 100kph in 4.3 seconds while the auto is a bit quicker at 4.1 seconds. Top speed is limited to 250kph but can be bumped to 285kph with the optional M Driver’s Package.
Being a product of the M Division, the new M2 gets a sophisticated traction control system to provide “agility and precision”, which is BMW-speak for better and more controlled skids.
The M Traction Control can set the limit of wheel slip at one of ten stages, working with the Active M Differential on the rear axle. This differential can entirely lock up whenever required to offer different levels of adhesion for the left- and right-hand rear wheels as well as improve power transfer when accelerating hard out of corners.
Factor in plenty of M-specific suspension, steering and brakes (which are the adjustable sort the M3/M4 debuted), and you’ve got a recipe for a seriously fun car.
Inside are carbon M Sports seats, the newly standard curved screen set-up from the iX and refreshed 3 Series, and an M steering wheel with two customisable M buttons. The driver’s screen get M-specific readouts and shift-lights, while the infotainment screen can be set up with widgets for things like vehicle setup and tyre condition.
Sadly, this will also be the last time M creates a purely combustion sports car. M’s boss, Frank van Meel, said earlier this year that upcoming M models will be getting more and more electrification.
“We will see increasing electrification in other vehicles, of course in different forms, starting with the 48-volt electrical system and plug-in hybrids to fully electric drives.
“Seen in this way, the M2 will be the last M with a pure combustion engine drive and also without electrification scope such as a 48-volt on-board network.'
Anyway, we’re still waiting on local confirmation of price and availability, but considering Australia will be getting the M2, there’s a good chance we will too. Here’s hoping the manual makes the cut, although it’s unlikely considering the M3 and M4 are only offered here as automatic models.