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BMW’s latest turbo rocket is the two-door six-cylinder turbocharged 2023 M2 with more than 450 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque.
An Anticipated Arrival
The second generation of the beloved BMW M2 is finally upon us and like the 4 series it has a face only a mother could love. Before we dive too deeply into this sports coupe’s devisive styling, let’s talk about some of the most essential facts. This little car starts at $63,195 or some $3,300 more than the outgoing M2 Competition. On top of that, it comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission. Staggered wheels (19s up front and 20s out back) are standard across the lineup too. From everything we’re seeing, this is by far the most aggressive and focused M2 ever.
2023 BMW M2 Styling
To put it lightly, opinions are split with regard to the styling of the 2023 BMW M2. Its frameless kidney grilles feature hard edges and rounded curves while large gaping air inlets at each corner of the bumper are mostly just square. Beyond its brash front end, the rest of the M2 seems a little more traditional albeit more muscular. Where a car like the 8-Series leans into its curves, the M2 goes the other way.
The side profile features notable flares on the fenders. Most notably, a hardened and somewhat squared off rear fender harkens back to the days of the E30 and E36 M3 generations. The rear end has a similar set of proportions as well. A ducktail spoiler juts off of the rear trunk lid while large vents bookend a rear diffuser and a quad-pipe exhaust.
Performance for The New BMW M2
Under the hood of the all-new BMW M2 is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine with 453 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. It sends that power straight to the rear wheels through a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional eight-speed automatic gearbox. Unlike in other BMW models, xDrive AWD is not available on the M2 and we think it’s better off for it.
BMW says that this M2 weighs anywhere between 3,814 and 3,876 pounds. To put that into perspective, the Porsche 718 Cayman weighs less than 3,300 pounds and has almost as much horsepower. A 1990 BMW 750il weighs only a few hundred pounds more than this new M2. And the M2s closest competition in America, the Audi RS3 features four-doors, Quattro AWD, is faster from 0-60 and still weighs less. For a comparison between the CT5-V Blackwing and the BMW M5, see this article. It will be very fast, but no amount of technology can cancel out physics.
Technology
Thankfully, BMW has imbued the 2023 M2 with a lot of technology to keep buyers content between power slides. Two different seat options are available including standard leather M Sport seats with power adjustability. Ride comfort is also improved through BMW’s adaptive suspension which is standard.
Braking feel is also adjustable through the main M setup menu. In addition, a software suite called M Drive Professional is standard and it allows for a lot of fun. Drivers can select one of 10 different traction control modes to help one fine-tune their drifting abilities. An Active M Differential can lock up to 100 percent for seriously spirited slides.
On top of all that, BMW’s iDrive 8 user interface is standard with a 12.3-inch driver information display and a 14.9-inch curved infotainment display. It’s as complete a package as there’s ever been on an M2.
