√Video: 2023 BMW M2 walkaround, in showrooms in April

BMW’s bigger, bolder and more powerful second-generation M2 is due in showrooms this April – with a higher price than its predecessor.

The second-generation BMW M2 is due to arrive in Australian showrooms from April.

Drive has had a first glimpse at an example of the new M2 – based on the latest 2 Series coupe – after select visitors of Melbourne’s Motorclassica event were given a preview behind closed doors in October 2022.

Speaking with Drive, a BMW Australia spokesperson said “we are doing everything we can to get the new M2 into dealerships from April, with customers able to order a car now.”

The G87-generation 2023 BMW M2 is powered by a ‘S58’ 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder twin-turbocharged petrol engine, which is the same unit found in the current BMW M3 and M4 – albeit with slightly lower outputs in the M2.

The M2 offers 338kW and 550Nm, which is lower than the manual M3’s 353kW and 550Nm, but higher than the previous range-topping F87-generation M2 CS at 331kW and 550Nm.

Car	Power	Torque	Difference to G87 M2	Power-to-weight
2023 BMW M2 (G87)	338kW	550Nm	–	195.9kW/t
2021 BMW M2 Competition (F87)	302kW	550Nm	-36kW	195.7kW/t
2020 BMW M2 CS (F87)	331kW	550Nm	-7kW	214.5kW/t
2023 BMW M3 manual (G80)	353kW	550Nm	+15kW	211.6kW/t
2023 BMW M3 Competition (G80)	375kW	650Nm	+37kW / 100Nm	221.5kW/t

The new car’s added size and weight improve its power-to-weight ratio over the previous F87-generation M2, but still gives the M3 and M4 the edge.

Based on BMW’s ‘CLAR’ architecture – which underpins nearly all of its models, including the larger 3 Series – the new M2 is bigger than the old car in every way except height, where it sits 7mm lower. It is also 150kg heavier.

	2023 G87 M2 (auto)	2021 F87 M2 (Competition auto)	Difference
Length	4580mm	4461mm	119mm
Width	1887mm	1854mm	33mm
Height	1403mm	1410mm	-7mm
Wheelbase	2747mm	2693mm	54mm
Weight (kerb)	1725kg	1575kg	150kg

As well as being the last BMW M-car to be developed without hybrid or electric power, the G87 M2 is expected to be the last M-car engineered with a manual transmission.

While buyer interest has been strong for the new car, there is no indication of how many customers have ordered a three-pedal car.

To add some context, a BMW Australia spokesperson noted “the take-up for a manual transmission on the previous-generation M2 was around 30 per cent.”

The 2023 BMW M2 is priced from $119,900 before on-road costs. You can read a full breakdown of specifications here.

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