BMW'S 2ND GENERATION M2 ARRIVES AFTER LOSING A FIGHT WITH AN UGLY STICK
Here at SXdrv we love how BMW creates cars with questionable styling that upsets the world’s BMW fanbase but they’re like “take it or leave it” and that’s that. While that monstrous front grille that takes up the car’s whole front end is only now starting to be accepted by BMW fanatics, BMW’s M division has given the M2 a complete makeover and the results are, well, different. The first generation BMW M2 is arguably one of the coolest cars to leave the M factory, it had the right shape and size for an M car, more so than the rest of the M range and the power on tap made it the perfect fast streetcar or weekend track toy. The driving dynamics and power are no doubt improved even though it’s all wrapped up in a rather odd package. The car has only just been officially unveiled and there are already thousands of social media posts and memes about the car’s looks, some even posting that BMW should bring back Chris Bangle to head up the design team. His work was also controversial, so that may not be a good idea…
This new second-generation BMW M2 remains a compact 2-door high-performance
sportscar powered by a twin-turbocharged inline 6-cylinder lump that directs power to the rear wheels via an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission, so the recipe hasn’t changed. That angular styling makes the car easy to differentiate from the regular 2-Series models and includes a large, frameless BMW kidney grille a lower air intake in the M-typical three-section design, wider arches and an angular rear end with a diffuser insert in rear apron and a pair fat quad tailpipes. This can all be had in a choice of two solid and three metallic paint finishes, including Zandvoort Blue and Toronto Red - shades exclusive to the BMW M2. There’s also an optional M Carbon roof that can save 6 kg from the total weight. The BMW M2 sees fitment of combination wheels that are 19-inch up front and 20-inch at the rear, and these perfectly frame the large M Compound 6-piston calipers and large floating discs.
Inside there are new-look sport seats in a combination Sensatec/Alcantara upholstery and there’s also optional and exclusive M Sport seats featuring integrated head restraints and perforated surfaces in Vernasca leather/Sensatec, or for those who would use the car as intended there’s the option of some rather tasty M Carbon bucket seats that save a decent 10.8 kg. There’s plenty more to the interior in terms of tech and features, it’s all typical BMW M. To power the all-new 2nd-generation BMW M2 that’s that expected twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre 6-cylinder that’s touted to produce a very healthy 338 kW with 550 Nm of torque. This is claimed to afford the compact M Car a 0-100 km/h dash of just 4.1-seconds and can hit a top speed of 285 km/h if the optional M Driver’s package is taken. For those who’ll race the car, there’s an optional M Race Track Package that sees the car kitted out with an M Carbon roof, M Carbon bucket seats, carbon fibre interior trim strips and it also includes the aforementioned M Driver’s Package too.
Take a look at the YouTube video showing off the all-new and controversially-styled second-generation BMW M2 and all the good things about it, if you can squint your eyes so the car looks a bit better: THE M2 (2023) | BMW M
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