Get Hotcars Premium. Start your free trial today
The BMW M2 is one of the most iconic modern BMWs that every gearhead needs to take for a drive.
BMW is known for making sporty cars that you can use as daily drivers. The German automaker has a rich history in motorsport and leverages this to create some of the most powerful sedans on the market. However, they are not too bad at making two-door coupes as well.
The BMW M2 was designed to be the ultimate performance version of the new 2 Series. This was an entirely new line for BMW, essentially replacing the 1 Series Coupe of the past. This was part of BMW’s larger plan to simplify their lineup and move the two-door versions of cars into their one unique segment. The M2 was built on the 1 Series Coupe but also made BMW fans reminisce about smaller M3s of the past.
Interested in learning more about the M2? Here are 10 things all gearheads should know about BMW’s smallest M car.
BMW created an all-new range back in 2014. This line was designed to help simplify and extend its range of vehicles as the new 2 Series was a direct successor to the 1 Series Coupe. The 2 Series was an instant hit, leading to gearheads around the world accepting it as a compact and nimble sports coupe.
The 2 Series took design inspiration from the previous 1 Series but was a completely unique offering in the market. BMW extended its lead on the competition by creating a performance version of the 2 Series, the BMW M2. This took the design of the 2 Series and maxed out the performance to create the ultimate sports coupe.
The BMW M2 was a genuine M car. However, BMW did release something very similar a few years before the M2 when they launched the 1 Series M Coupe. The 1 Series M Coupe was the performance version of the 1 Series Coupe but was not listed as a true M car.
The 1 Series M Coupe was sold under the BMW M Performance brand and included a 340 HP engine that came with a turbocharger and optimized direct injection. The 1 Series M Coupe was also limited to only 2,700 units worldwide. This made the sports coupe powerful and rare amongst BMW fans around the world.
Related: AC Schnitzer Lights A Fire Under The BMW 2 Series Coupe
Regardless of what review you read on the BMW M2, the comparison to the E46 M3 is always mentioned. There is no debate that the M3 was one of the most iconic cars BMW has ever made. Over the years, the BMW M3 has evolved to become more efficient and comfortable.
These improvements also meant that the size of the M3 has grown substantially, making the car less nimble on track compared to M3s of the past. This is why many believe that the M2 is the modern E46 M3 as it has similar dimensions. While the M2 is more powerful, the drive and feel of the two cars are incredibly similar.
Related: Big Tires Require Big Wheels On This Beefed Up BMW M3 E46
BMW knew exactly what it was doing when developing the M2. While most other sports cars are coming with sophisticated gearboxes for maximum efficiency, the M2 still offered a manual option for hardcore racing enthusiasts.
The manual gearbox in the BMW M2 is a 6-speed. If you go with the automatic gearbox, BMW offers an incredibly efficient 7-speed transmission. The BMW M2 also comes with dynamic driver modes that will speed up the automatic shifts for maximum performance in sports mode.
The M2 did not just look aggressive, it had the performance to match. The M2 came with a 3-liter straight-six engine that could produce 365 HP and 343 lb-ft of torque with ease. The car also had an overboost function that could produce 369 lb-ft of torque on demand.
This impressive hardware allowed the M2 to accelerate to 62 miles an hour in just 4.3 seconds. Manual versions of the car could expect a slightly slower time of 4.5 seconds. The top speed of the M2 was electronically limited to 155 miles per hour but the M Driver’s Package could extend that to 168 miles per hour.
Related: Check Out The 2022 BMW M2 CS Racing MotoGP Safety Car
The M2 was built to be a pocket rocket. Everything about the car was designed to feel compact, sporty, and powerful both on the road and on track. However, the M2 is still a BMW at the end of the day. This means it comes with all the luxury and comfort you can expect from any modern BMW.
The M2 comes with soft-touch materials throughout the cabin and even offers heated seats. While you can option your M2 to come with carbon-fiber bucket seats, the infotainment system and center console remain as practical as the rest of the 2 Series range. This makes the M2 perfect to act as a daily driver.
The M2 Competition was introduced back in 2018 at the Beijing Auto Show. This was designed as the successor to the standard M2 and came with more power than the standard model. The new powertrain was fairly similar to the standard M2 but was able to produce 405 Hp and 406 lb-ft of torque.
This was a significant improvement of 40 HP from the standard model. However, the Competition model also came with a few exterior upgrades as well. The most notable is the use of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic for the strut bar to lighten and stiffen the car. The Competition model also came with larger brakes and a larger kidney grille for better airflow.
Related: 5 Sports Cars We'd Buy Over The BMW M2 Competition (5 We Wouldn't)
The M2 Competition was a massive upgrade from the standard M2. Despite the success and popularity of the Competition, BMW decided to give the M2 another performance upgrade. This led to the development and launch of the high-performance M2 CS.
The CS model was developed to be a track-focused version of the M2. This version of the car came with a 444 HP engine that could produce around 406 lb-ft of torque. This model was the most powerful M2 as it could accelerate to 62 in just 4 seconds and 4.2 seconds for the manual version of the M2 CS.
While developing the M2 CS, BMW had its engineers develop two separate track-focused M2s. One team went ahead and created a slightly more powerful version of the M2, the M2 CS. However, a second team went ahead and developed a V8 version of the M2, the M2 CSL.
The one-off prototype of the M2 was said to produce around 470 HP to 490 HP, a massive upgrade from the M2 Competition. The CSL was also said to have impressive track performance due to massive weight savings throughout the car as well.
The M2 came with an exhaust feature that won fans over around the world. This was the ability to control the exhaust system of the M2 with just the click of a button. The M2 allowed owners to open and close the valves as they wish, allowing for epic cold starts.
The M2 did not shy away from making a noise as the engineers created an exhaust system that showcased the full might of the powertrain. This is a feature that many gearheads value as regulations are slowly clamping down on how loud a car’s exhaust can be.
Nicholas is an avid motorsport lover from South Africa. He has been obsessed with all things automotive from an early age and managed to learn about the industry directly during his time at Mercedes-Benz. Nicholas also studied and worked in Germany, where he accumulated over five years of experience in the marketing and automotive industry. Nicholas is also a passionate Formula 1 fan, patiently awaiting Lewis Hamilton's 9th World Championship.