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The long wait it over; the smallest M car you’ll be able to buy has finally been revealed by BMW: the 2016 BMW M2.
You could say we’ve been waiting for this baby ever since the new 2 Series was revealed in 2014, but I’d go back even further than that: to 2013, when we bid adieu to the last micro M—the 1 Series M Coupé. So, while it’s been three model years since that spicy little number, it looks like it will have been well worth the wait.
Design-wise, you can immediately see the affiliation with both the M4 and M6. In order to accommodate the M2’s wider track and for better aero performance, the bumpers have been completely redesigned. They especially recall the items seen on the muscular M4, thanks to the numerous creases and cuts adorning the corners. The fenders have also been enlarged in order to accommodate the bigger 19-inch wheels and fat Michelin Super Sport tires.
It looks a little calmer from the rear, the addition of an integrated rear diffuser finished in carbon fibre replacing the black plastic item from other 2 Series models. The M2 also sees the addition of four exhaust outlets finished in chrome.
Inside, you’ll definitely see a resemblance with the rest of the 2 Series family, but spiced up in the name of M. There are plenty of carbon fibre appliques, “M” plaques and surfaces finished in Alcantara suede.
Of course, all that is nice, but what everybody wants to know is: how is it going to perform?
Chassis-wise, aluminum suspension components, vented aluminum brake discs and Active M differential should have the M2 keeping pace on the track with the likes of the Porsche Cayman and Audi S3. Under the hood, the M2 gets a newly-fettled version of the TwinPower twin-turbo inline-6; it makes 356 horsepower and 343 lb.-ft. of torque, but thanks to a little black turbo magic, it’s temporarily capable of delivering 369 lb.-ft. of torque. All of that power can be transferred to the rear wheels either via a six-speed manual transmission (hallelujah!) or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The 0-100 km/h sprint, meanwhile, is a claimed 4.2 seconds, on to a 250 km/h top speed.
The 2016 BMW M2 will start hitting dealers in spring 2016, after its official reveal at the Los Angeles International Auto Show in November. No prices have yet been announced, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see it climb past the $55,00 mark.
