BMW M2 revealed

BMW has revealed the production-spec version of its latest performance car, the M2. A direct successor to the limited-production 1-series M coupé, the M2 will become the smallest model to be offered by BMW’s M division when it goes on sale internationally in 2016.

Unlike its four-wheel-drive rivals such as the Mercedes-AMG A45 4Matic and the Audi RS3 Sportback, the M2 is strictly a rear-wheel drive and sticks to the M division's tradition of coupé models. BMW M division boss, Franciscus Van Meel also considers the Porsche Cayman S to be a rival for the performance division’s latest offering.

In terms of styling, the M2 gets a new heavily structured front bumper with winglets to channel air into the prominent air vent, a modified grille, widened wheel arches, a boot-lip spoiler, a prominent rear bumper with integrated spoiler and quad exhaust. The company claims that the body kit has reduced drag by about five percent along with reducing lift by around 30 percent.
Inside, the car gets unique instrument graphics, a BMW M sport steering with paddle shifters for the automatic model, sports seats with adjustable side bolstering, an aluminium footrest and knee padding on the centre console for the driver.

The M2 draws power from a heavily reworked version of the 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-petrol N55 engine that featured under the hood of the 1-series M coupé. The reworked engine uses the pistons, crankshaft bearing shells, exhaust system elements and other as yet unspecified components from the twin-turbo S55 engine seen in the M3/M4. This means that the engine develops 365bhp, which is 30bhp more than its predecessor and 60bhp less than the larger M3. Torque output is rated at 47.42kgm with an overboost function that pushes torque to 51.02kgm.
The M2 will be offered with a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic unit launch control, three drive modes – Comfort, Sport and Sport+, paddle shifters and a so-called Smoky Burnout function that allows for wheelspin off the line. As with other M models an electronic limited-slip differential is standard.

In terms of performance, the manual M2 has a claimed 0-100kph sprint time of 4.5 seconds with its automatic counterpart doing the same in 4.2 seconds. Top speed is limited to 250kph but can be raised to 270kph.

The M2 features a front and rear track almost identical to the M3/M4 with the track having been increased in width by 64mm at the front and 71mm at the rear over the current top-spec 2-series model. The manufacturer has also included additional bracings between suspension towers to boost rigidity. For suspension, the car gets MacPherson struts up front and a five-link arrangement at the rear with the use of lightweight materials to reduce weight.

Braking duties are handles by 370mm discs with four-piston callipers up front and 360mm discs with two-piston callipers at the rear.

With a length of 4,468mm, width of 1,854mm and height of 1,410mm, the M2 is the smallest model in the BMW M line-up with the car being 202mm shorter, 21mm narrower and 10mm lower than the M3. In terms of wheelbase, the car is 117mm shorter than the M3/M4 at 2,693mm.

The M2 will make its public debut at the Detroit motor show in January 2016 before being launched internationally. It is also expected to become a springboard for a number of racing variants including a track-only GT4 model.

BMW M2 photo gallery