BMW will soon launch a more powerful, M-badged version of the new 2 Series. Scheduled for a launch next year, the new M2 will rival performance coupes such as the Porsche Cayman 718 Cayman GTS and the Alpine A110 S.
Judging by these images, we’re expecting BMW’s mechanical revisions for the M2 will be extensive. This development car has wider wheels and tyres, much broader track widths at the front and rear, and a considerably lower ride-height than the standard coupe – and behind the alloys, there’s a set of drilled disc brakes and larger calipers.
Cosmetic tweaks are dramatic, too. To cover the bigger wheels and wider track this M2 prototype sports flared wheel arches, while the front end has been reworked with a deeper splitter. There’s a new diffuser at the rear, too, which houses the M divison’s trademark quad-exit exhaust.
Inside, we’re expecting a similar level of upgrades to set the M2 apart from the regular 2 Series range. Buyers will likely get a pair of supportive sports seats, a new sports steering wheel and some extra M badging – including a reskin of the new car’s infotainment system and digital dashboard.
BMW hasn’t released any official information on the M2’s powertrain, but we’re expecting it’ll use a detuned version of the turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six unit found in the latest M3 and M4. The two cars share the same basic CLAR underpinnings, and the German brand has already confirmed the 2 Series will be available with six-cylinder power, so the engine bay can accommodate a multi-cylinder unit.
The current most powerful version of the 2 Series, the M240i, produces 275kW and 500Nm, while the previous-generation M2 Competition offered up 301kW, so a power output in advance of this is highly likely.
Europe’s entry-level M3 produces 353kW, while the more powerful M3 Competition we get in tAustralia has 375kW, so the M2 could split the difference between its predecessor and the entry-level M3 on the continent.
Like the M240i, the engine will send drive to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The extra grunt should also drop the coupe’s 0-100km/h time below the four-second mark, although top speed will likely still be capped at 250km/h.
It’s not yet known if BMW will offer a standard M2 and a more powerful M2 Competition as it does with other M models. However, in Australia we only receive the more focused, more potent Competition variants, and this would likely be true of any future Competition version of the upcoming M2.
A price tag around $105,000 could be possible when the M2 goes on sale next year.
Luke Wilkinson