BMW M2 is here and it’s heavy
BMW is on a roll the last few weeks with releasing performance models, the X4 M40i, the M4 GTS and now they have presented us with the long anticipated M2.
The development of the M2 has been going on for a while and it was clear that this car was to be positioned above the M235i from the beginning. And that’s exactly what the M2 is, the top model of the 2 series range. Look-wise, handling-wise and downright power-wise, all is one step up.
Looks
The M2 has got the full BMW Motorsport look package and it looks menacing. Its bodywork has grown sideways with 5 centimeters at the front and 7 centimeters at the rear leaving the bodywork with a aggressive stance. These arches now house 19 inch forged rims that are equipped by BMW with Michelin Super Sport tires. At the front end the M2 gets a reworked bumper with bigger air inlets to accommodate the bigger need for cooling and the rear end shows the typical M diffuser and four exhaust tips. BMW is implementing a new design trade on their latest Motorsport models like the X6 M, being 2 vertically placed rearlights, this accentuates the width of the Motorsport models even more.
Power
Six cylinders and a 3 liters of displacement? Yup it’s another version of the much praised straight 6 from BMW. Now pushing out 370 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and the maximum rotational force of 465 nm is at your disposal from only 1400 rotations a minute. This high output is achieved via BMW Motorsport crank bearings, pistons and an optimized combustion and injection. The M2 launches itself to a hundred in 4,4 seconds with the six speed manual and with the dual-clutch it needs 2 tenths of a second less. The Vmax is electronically limited to 250 kilometers an hour, as expected.
Handling
‘The x-factor’ or the ‘keystone’ of BMW is handling and that is also a level up from the M235i. Main difference between the two is the differential, where the M235i has a limited slip unit the M2 has an active multi-plate unit. This offers far more control of the rear wheels and that means better powersliding! What should also aid the drivability of this car is rev-matching technology for the manual gearbox: “An engagement speed control function, which blips the throttle on downshifts and lowers the engine's revs on upshifts”. All this sounds like a charm, but there’s still the massive weight of 1495 kilograms to haul around, yes only 2 less than the M4, which has 60 more horsepower at its disposal.Order books have opened, but the first cars won’t be on the streets till the spring of 2016.
