Next month will mark the beginning of the end for BMW M cars powered only by combustion engines as the new M2 (G87) will be the last model from the performance division to eliminate electrification. Teased extensively in recent months, the sports coupe has returned in a new official preview depicting a high-end version with M Performance Parts. Notable upgrades include a rear wing, center-mounted exhaust tips, and 1000M bronze wheels.
Our friends in BMWBLOG have good authority, the world premiere is locked for October 11 (October 12 in Europe) ahead of the 2023 market launch. The sport coupe will be assembled only in Mexico at the BMW San Luis Potosi Plant and first customer deliveries are scheduled for next spring. We’ll have to wait and see if the rumors of an xDrive-equipped M2 will work, so for now, only a rear-wheel-drive setup will be offered.
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The next M2 will be a dream come true for fans by combining the M4 engine and gearbox with a smaller and therefore lighter car. Needless to say, it won’t be as powerful as its bigger sibling, so look for somewhere in the 450 hp region to avoid stepping on the M4’s base foot. A potential CS and/or CSL could increase strength, but hotter derivatives are not expected to land until around the middle of this decade.
The teaser image has hinted at some design changes to the M240i and lower Series 2 Coupe models, with the most obvious being the square air intakes. It also gets a new kidney grille with horizontal slats along with the usual upgrades you’d expect from a full-fat M4 car: wider fenders, a lower ride height, wider track, and a quad exhaust.
The standard 2 Series coupe has been switched to the iDrive 8 for the 2023 model year and the prototype provided by BMW for initial testing with reporters has a newer infotainment system. We’ve heard there will be a new body color to choose from – Zandvoort Blue – along with at least three other colors: Black Sapphire, Brooklyn Grey, and Toronto Red.
The M2 will soon be followed by other S58-engined cars by the end of the year as BMW is working on the 3.0 CSL award. This will essentially be an M4 CSL with a retro body, manual gearbox, RWD and more power – all for a rumored price tag of €750,000.
