BMW has taken the wraps off the 2023 M2, half a year before the model’s scheduled global launch. The second generation of the high-performance subcompact executive car is ready to do justice to its nameplate with 453 horsepower under the hood.
Its arrival comes seven years after the original iteration’s first public appearance in 2015, which built on the BMW tradition of small yet ultra-sporty models harking all the way back to the 2002 turbo in 1973. The new M2 has some rather large (or small) shoes to fill, as the outgoing version was widely acclaimed both for its design and performance.
Exterior
Dimensions for the new M2 comprise a length of 4,580mm, a width of 1,887mm, and a height of 1,403mm on a 2,747mm wheelbase. This effectively makes it longer, wider, and lower than its predecessor, with front and rear tracks that match those on the larger M4.
A blockier front end headlines the new M2
The wider stance complements the sports coupe’s powerfully sculpted aesthetics. Headlining the design is a new and blockier front end comprising LED headlamps that flank a more angular version of the trademark kidney grille. The three-section lower air intake is surrounded by squared-off vents at the front corners.
The rear features distinctive LED tail lamps and M exhaust tips
Prominent side skirts and muscular wheel arches enhance the new M2’s sporty character, accompanied by the long hood and short overhangs. Available in optional M Carbon guise, the roofline swoops down from the B-pillar to terminate in an abrupt trunk with a pronounced spoiler lip, hovering over M-specific quad tailpipes and distinctive rear tail lamps. Front 19-inch and rear 20-inch alloy wheels complete the look.
Interior
Four occupants will experience a more spacious cabin on the new M2 compared to its predecessor, thanks to the longer wheelbase. They will be surrounded by copious amounts of leather and carbon fiber, accented with the trademark BMW M tri-color motif.
Occupants will be surrounded by leather and carbon fiber with touches of the M tri-colors
Sport seats rendered in Sensatec and Alcantara material are standard with the embossed M2 badge, optional heating, and electric backrest adjustment with memory. Also available is a choice of either newly designed M Sport seats dressed in Vernasca and Sensatec with larger side bolsters and an illuminated M logo on the headrest, or M Carbon bucket seats in Merino leather that can be configured to accommodate five-point harnesses in lieu of the standard seatbelts.
Access to the trunk area is granted through the 40:20:40 split-fold rear backrest. All occupants can bask in sunlight brought about by the available glass slide/tilt sunroof, while the interior ambient lighting takes over when the sun sets. Three-zone automatic climate control enhances interior comfort whatever the weather is outside.
Tech & Safety
Beyond the multi-function steering wheel lies the BMW Curved Display with M-specific controls, fusing a 12.3-inch digital screen and a 14.9-inch display together to surround the driver. The BMW Live Cockpit Plus, based on the brand’s Operating System 8, brings new-generation software with powerful connectivity and data processing.
BMW Live Cockpit Plus comes to the new M2
This is accompanied by a new BMW iDrive system that offers a wide range of controls for communications, infotainment, navigation, vehicle functions, and digital services. Connectivity options include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, music streaming services, and WhatsApp. Wireless charging is also standard, along with over-the-air (OTA) software updates.
The new M2 boasts a suite of driver-assist features such as Cruise Control with brake function, Front Collision Warning with brake intervention, Lane Departure Warning with lane return, and front and rear Park Distance Control. Available enhancements on the optional Driving Assistant include Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Rear Crossing Traffic Warning, and Rear Collision Prevention.
Engine & Drivetrain
Powering the new M2 is a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-6 that kicks up 453 horsepower and 550 Nm of pull. The output is routed to the rear wheels in a choice of a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with optional Drivelogic.
A 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline 6 allows the new M4 to deliver monster performance
By default, BMW caps the new M2’s top speed at 250 kilometers per hour. An upper limit of 284 kilometers per hour can be unlocked with the optional M Driver’s Package. The integrated braking system comes with two settings for pedal feel.
An Active M Differential at the rear axle optimizes traction by providing up to 100 percent lock when needed, working with the Dynamic Stability Control system. M-specific bracing and chassis components, with an aluminum front axle subframe, provide lightweight yet surefooted handling along with the M Servotronic steering.
Price
The 2023 BMW M2 comes with a starting price of $63,195 (over Php 3.7 million). It will be officially launched worldwide in April 2023, with Germany and the U.S. as priority markets followed by Great Britain, China, and Japan. The model will be produced at BMW’s Luis Potosi plant in Mexico alongside the new 2-Series Coupe.
The new M2 makes its world debut in April 2023
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