The New BMW M2: A New Engine With The Classic Manual Transmission and Rear-Wheel Drive Recipe

With the all-new M2, those who desire the sheer driving pleasure of a BMW now have a faster, more powerful, and more muscular looking option.

With the launch of the the new G87 M2, BMW has finally replaced the venerable F87 M2. Compared to its predecessor, it brings a raft of aesthetic changes, yet retains the elements that made its predecessor successful.

The new M2 introduces a new and more muscular design, accentuated with redesigned headlights, a more aggressive front fascia, boxy lower air intakes, side skirts with increased flare and more muscular wheel arches. The rear receives a new lip spoiler and newly designed taillights, complemented by quad-exhaust tips.

Additionally, it has gained 112mm in length, 33mm in width, and 53mm for its wheelbase. Its height is shorter than before though, by 8mm. Depending on the transmission, weight comes in at 1,710kg for the manual and 1,725kg for the automatic.

Technology from the M3 and M4 have trickled down to the M2, with its engine being almost identical to those in its bigger brothers, save for a few changes and lesser power. With a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six producing 460 horsepower, 550 Nm of torque and a 7,200 rpm redline, it's a 90 horsepower increase over the previous M2. 

Rear-wheel drive has always been a hallmark of BMW, and the new M2 is no different. Power is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic, or an optional six-speed manual should you wish to row through the gears yourself, with the century sprint taking 4.1 seconds with the automatic, and 4.3 seconds with the manual. Top speed is limited to 250 km/h, but this can be raised to 285 km/h with the optional M-Driver's Package.

A 10-stage traction control system is now standard, allowing drivers the option to choose between varying levels of slip depending on how confident they are. Also standard is a torque vectoring rear differential, which helps to optimise power delivery to the wheels on varying road surfaces or when under hard acceleration.

The performance enhancements are not just limited to the engine, with the new M2 benefitting from a stiffer chassis and additional chassis bracing. With standard equipment like electronically controlled adaptive dampers, variable ratio steering and six piston front brake callipers, you know the new M2 means business. Larger wheels are new as well, measuring 19-inches at the front and 20-inches at the rear, with grippier track-day tyres available as an option.

Inside, the new M2 receives sport seats as standard, with M Sport seats or M Carbon bucket seats available as an option. A driver-centric cockpit design is a one-piece digital display, with a 12.3-inch screen for the gauge cluster and a 14.9-inch screen for the infotainment, which runs the latest BMW Operating System 8. With an e-SIM, the M2 can have 5G connectivity enabled, allowing it to act as a mobile hotspot. 

Safety systems like forward-collision warning with automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control and all-around parking sensors come as standard, while units fitted with the automatic transmission will receive a stop-and-go function as an addition for their adaptive cruise control.

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