We expected it: the new BMW M2 retains its gasoline with 460 HP, manual transmission and rear-wheel drive

At the end! This is the second generation of the  BMW M2 , a coupe-bodied compact car that is set to be one of the only pure and genuine cars to survive the age of electrification. Some data to whet your appetite: 6-cylinder in-line engine,  460 hp , 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds and maintenance of the six-speed manual gearbox. But there is much more...

The BMW M2 Coupé has been a favorite of driving enthusiasts for many years. This car is called to be the modern reincarnation of the old BMW 2002 turbo that made the brand so happy in the 70s, to the later BMW 1 Series M Coupé that we had the opportunity to test at Motorpasión at the time and, why not say it, to the previous BMW M2 Coupé which unleashed so many passions.

From this model we tried everything there was and to have. M2 Coupé ,  M2 Coupé M Performance ,  M2 Competition ,  M2 Competition M Performance ,  M2 CS ... and it was hard to get tired of driving what has undoubtedly been one of the greatest successes of BMW M GmbH in all the history of BMW's sports division. We even  went around the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring  in one.

Now, with the arrival of this new generation, the question arises whether they have managed to keep the essence of this model, especially since the new one uses  the base  of the BMW M3/M4 and is therefore a larger model than its predecessor. And of course, bigger also means heavier and generally clumsier.

To check whether the wheel is still perceived as a BMW M2, we will have to wait until  April 2023,  when the first units will start to be delivered.

What changes in the new BMW M2?

A lot. As we said before, the new model uses the chassis adapted from the BMW M3 and M4, hence  the length, width and track width   have increased significantly compared to the previous model.

This is something that happens in most models. A BMW X3 today is as big as the previous-generation BMW X5, while the BMW X1 already hitting dealerships is as big as the previous-generation BMW X3.

This trend of making bigger cars to sell "more cars" has a  component of risk  when talking about compact sports cars like this, as they can lose their meaning and become gentrified. Thankfully, that doesn't seem to be happening in the new BMW M2, which retains its athletic appearance with muscular coupé proportions. It also helps that the height is the only dimension that has been reduced from the predecessor.

Thus, the new M2 is 214 millimeters shorter than the BMW M4 Coupé and has a   110 millimeter shorter  wheelbase . Will that be enough to make it faster, more agile and more dynamic than its big brothers? We will see it.

What is certain is that its exterior design  will be debated . It's something that's inevitable whenever BMW brings a new model to market, even in this case where they haven't risked as much as they did with the M3 and M4 with their characteristic vertical front kidneys acting as grilles.

The differentiation of this model with the Series 2 Coupé from which it derives is obvious. The front is marked by a frameless BMW grille with  horizontal bars  , which have contained dimensions compared to the models mentioned above.

Also noteworthy is the  lower air intake  in typical BMW M design, divided into three sections with almost rectangular contours.

If you look at the sides, the shapes are  quite clean  and the fenders have prominent prominences to give it that muscular and powerful look on the asphalt.

The rear, as is the tradition of the current BMW M, is very powerful thanks to the  striking spoiler integrated  into the shapes of the trunk lid and the combination of this with the vertically arranged reflectors.

The diffuser, meanwhile, is integrated into the rear apron, retaining its purist design and naturally welcoming the  two dual exhaust outlets  which are located in a fairly central position.

As an option, the customer can equip the car with  a carbon fiber roof , which in the previous BMW M2 was only available in the case of the CS version. By equipping it, six kilos are saved compared to the model with a classic roof.

The M wheels measure  19 inches at the front and 20 inches  at the rear, an inch wider than those fitted as standard on the BMW M3 and BMW M4. As an option there are circuit tyres.

The color variety is made up of two plain and three metallic paint finishes, including the colors  Zandvoort Blue  and  Toronto Red  exclusive to the new BMW M2.

Inside, digitization meets sportiness

Inside, they've managed to mix things with  apparent good judgment  that don't always go well, like the screens with the carbon fiber M bucket seats.

The dashboard brings up the 12.3-inch information screen  behind the steering wheel  , with new specific graphics including warning lights that indicate the optimal moment to change gear as the ignition is approaching switching off.

The central information screen measures  14.9 inches  and has a curved shape, joining the screen behind the steering wheel. All are managed from the BMW iDrive based on the  BMW ID8 operating system .

The car is also ready to use thanks to  touch and voice control , increasingly sophisticated systems as seen in its older brothers of the last generation, such as the BMW i4 and iX.

As standard, three-zone automatic climate control,  BMW Live Cockpit Plus with BMW Maps  navigation system  , among others, while  glass sunroof  and Harman Kardon surround sound system are on the options list.

In any self-respecting sports car, the  seats  are a key element. In the first BMW M2 it was criticized that the seats were the same as in the 2 Series Coupé, but in this new design sports seats with Sensatec/Alcantara surfaces are coming.

Those looking for something more have  two options  : either the exclusive M Sport seats with integrated head restraints and perforated surfaces in Vernasca/Sensatec leather, or the carbon fiber M bucket seats designed primarily for track use, with which the overall weight is reduced by  10.8 kilos .

Traditional mechanics up to expectations

As for the mechanics, there is  good news . There's no trace of hybridization and heavy batteries here, in order to keep the car pure and authentic.

Under the hood is the 3.0-liter straight-six engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology which now delivers  90 hp more than before at 460 hp .

The maximum torque is  550 Nm,  it is delivered between 2,650 and 5,870 rpm and the maximum power is reached at 6,250 rpm. It revs up to a maximum of 7,200 rpm. According to BMW, it meets classic M characteristics, with instantaneous response and  linear power  throughout the rev range.

The  oil supply and cooling systems  have been designed to withstand extremely high longitudinal and lateral forces in the circuit.

They also speak of an exciting soundtrack thanks to the  M-specific exhaust system  with electronically controlled valves, which is difficult to achieve today.

The standard car is equipped with the  eight-speed M Steptronic gearbox  with Drivelogic, which includes three shift modes, a new M lever and paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

Purists can instead order the  six-speed manual transmission  with shift assistant, which can be deactivated. Standard is also the active M differential on the rear axle.

All this results in a car with compact dimensions, with a short wheelbase, excellent longitudinal and torsion rigidity aided by the specific M reinforcements. The weight distribution is perfect, since it goes to  50:50 .

Nürburgring Nordschleife as proving ground

Engineers and development drivers spent a lot of time on the Nürburgring Nordschleife fine-tuning this car, focusing on  maximum agility .

Adaptive  M suspension  with electronically controlled dampers and variable-ratio M Servotronic steering are standard.

Logically with the increase in performance and power, the brakes must be up to the task. We find the  M Compound brakes  with six-piston calipers at the front and single-piston brakes and floating caliper at the rear.

The system allows you to switch between two settings for pedal feel and response.

For its part, the Dynamic Stability Control DSC integrates the M Dynamic mode and the integrated wheel slip limitation system. The M Drive Professional system includes M traction control as standard, which allows the intervention of the wheel slip limitation system to be set in up to ten levels.

The  M Drift Analyzer  and the  M Laptimer  are also part of the standard equipment.

The steering wheel includes installed M buttons to activate two pre-customized settings. If you wish, you can also modify the various elements using specific buttons for engine, chassis, steering, braking system and M traction control settings.