Purists can still be thankful that BMW still offers a range of coupes with the tradition of fun-to-drive in mind, that is, with a six-cylinder engine up front and rear-wheel drive. Now, with the advent of BMW M2 2023, the offer improves thanks to more compact dimensions and the availability of enjoying a gear lever and a clutch pedal. A perfect balance, you could say, that’s it available from 91,250 euros in nu
Although BMW defines the new M2 as a “compact” sports car, the truth is that it is significantly larger than its predecessor. It has 4,575 millimeters (+114 mm) from nose to tail, 1,887mm wide (+16 mm) and 1,403mm high (-11 mm). That makes it 219mm shorter than the M4. The extended wheelbase to 2,747mm (+54mm) will grant a space buff on board. Relative to a 2 Series Coupe, the 2023 BMW M2 is 49mm wider, with front and rear track increased by 44 and 18mm, respectively.
Under the hood hides the same engine present in the M3 and M4: a block is 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six (S58). It develops healthy 460 hp at 6,250 revolutions per minute and 550Nm between 2,650 and 5,870 rpm, while the red line stands at 7,200 rpm. That’s an extra 90bhp compared to the outgoing M2 (49bhp with the M2 Competition), and torque is maintained. This block has 0.4mm more stroke, a reduced compression ratio (from 10.2:1 to 9.3:1) and more injection pressure (200 to 350 bar).
Unlike the M3 and M4, which can only be fitted with the automatic gearbox in the Spanish market, the new M2 comes with the option of a six speed manual. BMW has equipped the gearbox with a “gearshift assist” that evens out the revs when downshifting, commonly known as a gearshift system. “rev-matching”. If it is more important for you to make the best times, go to the automatic transmissiona torque converter type unit and a single shift clutch. eight relations; the same as his older brother.
Regardless of transmission choice, the M2’s dynamics also come to fruition in its rear-wheel drive condition. The function of traction control standard is also designed to allow the driver to carefully experience the car’s grip limits by setting individual intervention thresholds for wheel slip limitation, with a 10 stage selection. For his part, he differential M active can have an effect of lock up to 100% when necessary.
The set sits on 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels shod in 275/35 and 285/30 tires. Behind them are hidden brakes with six-piston calipers and discs of 380mm on the front wheels and their single-piston floating caliper and disc disc counterparts. 370mm in the rear The brake calipers are painted red as standard, with a blue finish available as an option, and as standard they carry the M logo. exhaust system with electronically controlled butterfly valves.
At a structural level, the suspension has a deformable parallelogram front configuration and five arms at the rear. This varies its degree of firmness thanks to the electronically controlled dampers(M Adaptive Suspension). Similarly, steering has been recalibrated (no more physical connection) with a greater emphasis on speed-sensitive electric assistance and a variable steering ratio. Through the infotainment system you can choose between two settings to modify its response: Comfort and Sport.
Since the 2023 BMW M2 is more than 11 centimeters longer and almost 2 cm wider than the model it replaces, the wheels are also further apart than before. The track width is now exactly the same as that offered by the M4. Unfortunately, when you make a vehicle bigger, you usually make it heavier as well. That is exactly what has happened to the new M2. With manual box, brand 1,700 kilograms on the scaleand with the automatic 1,725kg. They are 100 kg overweight compared to the M2.
Of course, the distribution of weights is 50:50 between both axes. And even so, the declared performance figures are by no means detrimental: with three pedals, the race to 100 km/h takes 4.3 seconds, while with the eight-speed transmission it covers the same. sprint in 4.1 seconds. Likewise, the new BMW M2 accelerates from 0 to 200 km/h in 14.3 seconds (13.5 s the automatic). The tip is electronically limited to 250 km/h, although it can be increased to 280 km/h with the package M Driver’s Package optional.
Speaking of optional packages, the M Race Track Package adds grippy tires mounted on 19-inch and 20-inch double-spoke lightweight alloy wheels, and individual seats M Carbon for the driver and his co-driver. Of the semi-buquet type, they use carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) in their structural elements, which saves 10.8 kg compared to standard seats. And that while maintaining comfort details such as that they are fully electric and heated, and with an illuminated badge.
Another element that contributes to not increasing the weight more is the light roof of the same material, as standard. With its dark color, it blends perfectly with the five colors available: Alpine White solid, Sapphire Black metallic, brooklyn gray metallic, Toronto Network metallic and, finally, and Zandvoort Blue solid, available exclusively for this model. These shades seek to enhance a striking exterior dominated by the flared double kidney grille and the generous air intakes that flank it in the lower section of the bumper.
Turning to the side view, the most characteristic are its muscular fins, maintaining the odd tradition already lost in the M4, such as the Hofmeister curve of the second window. And the M mirrors are already a classic. On the perhaps very angular rear is a design of quad tailpipes, integrated into a lower part of the bumper that mounts the reflectors in a vertical position. A small spoiler integrated into the edge of the tailgate and a deep-looking and not very functional diffuser finish off the aesthetics.
As for the passenger compartment, the driver-oriented cabin stands out for the 12.3-inch instrument panel display and 14.9-inch multimedia system. These feature the various menus and dedicated graphics as the M division model, and can be combined with a Head Up Display (HUD) checking out. As standard, the sports seats feature a specific design with Sensatec/Alcantara or perforated surfaces in Vernasca/Sensatec leather. Another detail to appreciate is the three-zone climate control, so that everyone is comfortable.
However, the detail that most attracts attention with respect to the “mundane” Series 2 range are the different specific buttons. The first of them, present in the center console, provides direct access to configuration options for the engine, chassis, steering, brakes and traction control, as well as the gear change assistant, if it is manual. Using the M buttons on the steering wheel, you can store two general settings. In addition, from the center console you can adjust the driver assistance in three modes: road, Sport and tracks.
The BMW M2 is manufactured alongside the 2 Series Coupé at the brand’s plant in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. It is already available at dealers for the price of 91,250 euros that we mentioned earlier and there is a curiosity. And that rate is exactly the same for the manual version and for the automatic versionthere is no difference between the two despite the fact that the manual is usually cheaper than the automatic.
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