- More power and tech than last generation
- Performance tech from M3 and M4 installed
- Yours for the princely sum of £62k
BMW’s M2 is back. This new-generation super-coupe arrives packing more of a punch than ever before, and it keeps the M faithful on board with some classic driver’s car performance engineering.
The M2 has become the de facto small M car since the original model arrived in 2015, and BMW has sold more than 60,000 of them since then. This new model seeks out to prove that – despite the M division going in a rather controversial new direction – BMW’s performance engineers still know what satisfies the car enthusiast.
There is, of course, more of absolutely everything you could ever need with the M2 compared to the last one – so let’s get into it.
It definitely looks… different to a 2-series
Yes, it does. Leaked images of the M2 had been doing the rounds for weeks on social media before the official reveal but, now the covers are off, the look is official.
The front end sees the biggest changes compared to an M240i, with a new bumper arrangement that looks like it’s bulging in all directions around the kidney grille and headlights. At the rear, a carbon diffuser with four tailpipes is standard, as is a carbonfibre roof to keep the centre of gravity low.
It packs more of a punch, you say?
To the tune of 89bhp, yes. The new M2 is powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six developing 454bhp and 406bhp, meaning it’s 89bhp more powerful than the original M2 that launched in 2015. The new power outputs make it more powerful than the M2 Competition and M2 CS versions that followed in later years.
You have a choice of a six-speed manual (which has an auto-blip function you can turn off) or eight-speed automatic gearboxes (with three shift speed settings). BMW says the manual is capable of a 4.3sec 0-62mph sprint time, or a 4.1sec time if you pick the auto – and a limited top speed of 155mph.
CAR drives the 2023 BMW M2
Unlike the M240i coupe, the M2 is purely a rear-wheel drive machine. In order to control all of that shove, the M2 has BMW’s ‘Active M Differential’ equipped as standard, allowing up to 100 per cent of power to be given to either of the rears to control that pesky (perhaps sometimes intentional) oversteer.
On top of that, adaptive suspension is applied here, as are punchy six-piston brakes and mixed diameter wheels (19s at the front, 20s at the rear). BMW says the M2 also has a 50:50 weight distribution.
Good – any performance tech?
BMW also says software tech from the M3 and M4 has been carried across here, too. That means configurable drive modes allowing you to tweak the feel and performance of the powertrain, steering and even the brake feel – as well as a 10-step M traction control system. You can map your preferences to two red thumb paddles on the steering wheel (much like almost every other M car these days) for quick access, too.
Elsewhere, buried deep within the new M-specific, BMW OS 8-programmed curved screen is the M Drift Analyser, which is very much like having your own Len Goodman onboard rating your slides.
What if I want more?
Then you can spec the M Race Track Pack. That throws in M’s carbon bucket seats (yes, the ones with the rather suspect bulges protruding out of the end of the seat bases), track-spec tyres and a raising of the speed limiter from 155mph to 177mph.
Want even more than that? Well, there’ll undoubtedly be a catalogue of M Performance Parts for you to play with and beyond that… who knows? Maybe BMW will do another M2 CS in the years to come. We’ll have to wait and see.
When can I buy the new M2?
BMW UK says the M2 will launch in May 2023, costing a hefty £61,495 before a single option is applied. Which just so happens to be more than £10k than the entry price of the previous generation.