√2023 BMW M2 revealed

Due in showrooms next year, the new BMW M2’s bold styling has already divided opinion in leaked photos – but it promises to be the most powerful baby M car yet, and the best to drive.

The new 2023 BMW M2 has been revealed – the last all-new BMW M car without hybrid or electric power – ahead of an Australian launch expected in the first half of next year.

The second generation of BMW’s smallest M car has undergone a radical overhaul in line with its larger M3 and M4 siblings, with a bold new look, the company’s latest interior technology, more power than any previous-generation M2, and a choice of manual and automatic transmissions.

Australian launch timing is yet to be confirmed, however global production is expected to begin in December 2022 – correlating to first local deliveries before the middle of next year.

Powering the new M2 is a version of the 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine from the M3 and M4, tuned to develop 338kW and 550Nm – 7kW/20Nm less than the base M3, but 7kW more than the most powerful version of the old M2, the limited-run CS.

BMW claims a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.3 seconds with the standard six-speed manual transmission, or 4.1 seconds with the optional eight-speed automatic – all sent to the rear wheels only, with no sign of an all-wheel-drive option in the works.

Tick the right option boxes and BMW claims a top speed of up to 285km/h (or 250km/h without options).

The M2 will be the last all-new model from BMW M without hybrid or electric power – and likely one of its last, if not the last with a manual transmission.

But the new M2’s larger body – about 120mm longer, 15mm wider and 10mm lower than its predecessor, with the same wheel track as the larger M4 – has come at the cost of weight, as even the lighter manual version tips the scales at 1710kg.

That’s about 150kg heavier than the previous-generation M2 Competition manual – and on par with the standard M240i xDrive, despite lacking that car’s all-wheel-drive system. The automatic M2 weighs a claimed 1725kg.

While it’s heavier, BMW says the M2 retains a 50:50 front to rear weight distribution – and additional body stiffening and a 60mm-wider front track (vs the regular 2 Series) are said to make the car sharper in corners.

Other highlights of the chassis include an electronically-locking rear differential, 10 stages of traction control intervention, adaptive suspension, variable-ratio sports steering, and overhauled suspension with more aluminium components and revised tuning.

Wheels measure 19 inches up front and 20 inches at the rear as standard (with 275/35 front and 285/30 rear tyres), hiding 380mm six-piston front and 370mm single-piston rear steel brakes with two brake-by-wire driving modes to vary the feel of the pedal.

The carbon-ceramic brake discs from the M3 and M4 aren’t available, but a carbon-fibre roof is – albeit as an option.

The new BMW M2’s styling is more overt and aggressive than the car it replaces, with a bold front end home to squared-off kidney grilles – though they’re a similar size to the standard car’s, rather than the M3 and M4’s ‘nostrils’ – and rectangular air intakes below.

Small black air inlets feature in the corner of the headlights, the front and rear wheel arches are noticeably wider than the standard car (with pronounced side skirts that blend into the rear arches), and the M division’s signature winged mirror caps are present.

Four exhaust tips, a more aggressive rear bumper and a subtle boot lid spoiler can be seen at the rear.

Five colours are available, including the metallic Toronto Red seen in these photos, and the Zandvoort Blue hue shown in the leaked photos. BMW M traditionally names its colours after race tracks – such as the M3 and M4’s Sao Paulo Yellow, after the location of Brazil’s F1 circuit.

Inside, the curved dashboard now standard in the regular 2 Series is fitted, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen in one curved panel. Both run unique M screens with performance driving readouts.

In Europe there’s a choice of a standard seat design with synthetic leather and Alcantara trim, which can be upgraded to M Sport seats with Vernasca genuine leather and ‘Sensatec’ synthetic leather as an option.

M Carbon bucket seats from the M3 and M4 are available – which shave 10.8kg off the weight, thanks to cut-outs in the side bolsters and headrests – as part of an M Race Track package, which also includes the carbon roof, higher top speed, carbon-fibre interior accent and track tyres.

The infotainment screen includes a race track lap timer, the M3/M4’s ‘M Drift Analyser’ program to rate the driver’s powerslides on the race track, and menus to customise the car’s driving modes and assistance systems.

Standard features include three-zone climate control, satellite navigation, ambient lighting, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control and lane centring assist are optional in Europe.

The international launch for the 2023 BMW M2 is due in April next year – with Australia likely to coincide with Europe’s launch timing, as it did with the M3 and M4 range in 2021.

Pricing is yet to be confirmed, however expect a higher base price than the $102,900 plus on-road costs of the old M2 Competition manual, to account for the larger body, new technology and more potent mechanicals.

The post 2023 BMW M2 revealed appeared first on Drive.

Share :