With about a year left before
its official debut, the hype around the BMW M2 is increasing. Just like the 1M
created so much buzz before its world premiere, with countless teasers by BMW,
the M2 seems to be stepping down the path.
Prototypes
are out in the open with camouflage that barely covers any body panels. We
could say that the final design is about 95% known with small details being
kept under the wraps. The performance figures are also slowly starting “to
leak”, either by controlled-information released by BMW, or inside sources that
now have access to the M2 circle of trust.
Just like the 1M, the final
power output is being whispered to be within reasonable limits, in this case,
anywhere from 360 to around 380 horsepower. Our guess is that BMW will give the
little hot rod about 370 hp.
The
engine is a tweaked/improved N55 3.0 liter TwinPower with torque levels
around 520 Newton meters of torque (384 lb-ft).
The
chassis is based of the M235i Coupe, but with extra M work done to it. So
expect a stiffer chassis, more dynamic and raw ride, along with some body work
to turn the M2 into a little bulldog. Add to these the active limited slip
differential and the new “baby-M” is ready to conquer the track. Or take
you to work in style.
Rumormill
churns out a price point around 56,500 euros, about 10,000 euros more than
the M235i and
considerably less than the 71,500 euros for M3 F80 or
72,200 euros for BMW F82 M4.
If we map those figures to the U.S. market, then we expect the BMW M2 to sell
on this side of the pond for around $55,000.
Will
BMW M2 become the darling of the bimmer community? Time will tell, but on
paper, it certainly has the pedigree needed.
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