Second-gen BMW M2 Debuts With 460PS And Stick Shift

• New M2 shares the 3-litre twin-turbo engine from the current M3 and M4.

• Offers 460PS and 550Nm with choice of six-speed manual or eight-speed auto, remains RWD.

• Exterior changes include boxy openings and cutaways on front and rear bumpers.

• Features M-specific adaptive suspension, multi-mode traction and stability control as well as an active rear differential.

• Global launches to start in April 2023, could come to India a few months after.

The 50th anniversary celebrations of BMW M continue with the debut of the new generation M2. While the styling is significantly different, the base recipe remains the same - compact proportions, rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission option.

Most Powerful M2 Ever

The 3-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine is borrowed from the current M3 and M4. In the all-new M2, this unit produces 460PS and 550Nm and the power is sent to the rear wheels only. That’s 90PS and 85Nm more than the previous generation stock M2, and 16PS more than the previous M2 CS. Look at it from another perspective, and you’ll realise that’s only 20PS less down on the entry-level M3.

As standard, the engine is mated to an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic but BMW is offering the choice of a six-speed manual as well. The auto is quicker of course, with a claimed 0-100kmph sprint time of 4.1 seconds over the manual’s 4.3 seconds.

Dynamic details

The M2 has a solid base in its design, powertrain, 50:50 weight distribution and size. Those key factors are then accompanied by more performance-oriented parts such as new and more powerful brakes with two settings for pedal feel. It has six-piston brake callipers at the front.

Also Read: Jaguar Hails Sportscar Legacy And Final Year Of F-Type With Special Edition

There’s plenty of clever chassis technology in play. It comes with M-specific adaptive suspension featuring electronically-controlled dampers, stability control, multi-mode traction control and an active rear differential.

Looks Surprisingly Good

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BMW has given the M2 a host of exterior updates over the regular 2 Series Coupe to match the increased performance. It has a relatively normal-sized kidney grille that’s more squared out while the new bumper has large boxy air intakes. Along the sides, you’ll notice the lower ride height, more aggressive side skirts, sharper ORVMs and new M2-specific alloy wheels (19-inch front and 20-inch rear). 

The rear end of the new M2 sports a new bumper design with similar boxy shapes and openings as the front. It also has a contrast black rear diffuser with typical M-style quad exhaust tips. The boot lip spoiler is subtle and well-integrated. Also, the carbon-fibre roof is all-new for the M2 which is part of the diet to make it lighter than the standard 2 Series Coupe.

In terms of proportions, it's over 100mm longer than its predecessor and wider too, with nearly the same width as the M4 Coupe while being 214mm shorter. The bigger size also makes it heavier than the previous M2, wherein the extra power becomes more of a requirement than a bonus.

Changes in the cabin

As expected, the M2 gets M-specific cabin details over the regular model. It has the usual splatter of red highlights, some bits of carbon-fibre and M-coloured details. There is also the choice of sportier bucket seats with carbon-fibre backs to shave off another 11kg. Its dashboard features BMW’s latest curved display setup comprising the 12.3-inch digital driver display and the 14.9-inch touchscreen for the infotainment.

The system also gets M-specific functions such as the Drift Analyser and Laptimer. Comforts on offer include tri-zone climate control, ambient lighting, a premium sound system, and a host of driver-assistance systems.

Launch timeline

BMW will start introducing the new M2 to markets in April 2023 and we expect it to reach our shores a few months after. The outgoing M2 had a starting price of Rs 85 lakh and we expect the new more powerful model to be priced at just over Rs 1 crore (ex-showroom).

Rivals

It has no direct rivals in the country as the nearest competitor, the Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, is a lot pricier. Other similarly priced alternatives could be the less powerful, but more practical, AMG A45 S hatchback or the Audi S5 Sportback.