BMW M2: A Masterpiece Befuddled by Tech Overload
M2’s compact dimensions, short wheelbase, and poised 50:50 weight distribution lay a splendid foundation for excellence.
Aah, the BMW M2. We waited so patiently for it. The excitement grew as we counted the sleeps. And then it arrived. Yes, there were butterflies. My kind of a car, M2 is at its best with that 453 horsepower, biturbo straight-six howling, its M-differential happily laying rubber flat out sideways as it issues a plume of spent rubber.
It’s deeper than that for me. I grew up with its great grandfather. My old man had a hot, orange Alpina 2002ti. I was later privileged to drive it from a young age. It was still quicker than most in ‘79 and taught me all about driving. From understanding the limit to, well, laying rubber like hell (sorry, Dad!)
BMW roots the thrill-a-minute experience of the M2 on the 2002ti. Some say its bezerk 453 horsepower is overkill-but the 2002ti only needed 130 HP to rewrite the record books back then, after all. “Overkill,” probably because so much power seems too big for its compact, yet powerful, proportions–seven inches shorter than an M4, M2 certainly looks the part.
‘Stormtrooper Evil’ M2 Is a Bit of a Thief
Squared off black BMW grill kidneys, muscular, “M kit,” and splendid stepped alloys help define a brutal Stormtrooper evil stance. Especially in our “Zandvoort Blue.” Delving a little deeper under the bonnet reveals that the M2 is also a bit of a thief. Why? Well, its steals most of its innards from big brothers M3 and M4.
Urgent and rev-hungry, it may not sound or seem like it’s turbocharged. Yet, that straight-six delivers linear, next level power throughout the range. Delightfully responsive, it has a mad appetite for revs. It ought to with that 453 HP powerplant–never mind 406 lb.-ft of torque all the way from 2,650 to 5,870 rpm.
The M2 also makes a brilliant noise with its M-specific exhaust, can even be made to bark–but it sounds just as sexy at its lowest revs and at idle, too. Only an M-aficionado will appreciate those ticks and whirrs. The M2 also ditches the old DSC for the M4’s eight-speed M Steptronic automatic. Or a slick optional six-speed manual (ours is auto for this demonstration).
Uncouth 8-speed Auto Defies Slush Box Roots
Just as uncouth as the engine, the Drivelogic auto defies its slush box roots. It responds to paddle shifts instantly, as much as it reads your mind in auto mode. M2 is of course rear-wheel drive, so its M Traction Control and Active M Differential are essential against AWD rivals. Add drift mode. If you’re so desperate to drive those Pilots to an early grave.
M2’s compact dimensions, short wheelbase, and poised 50:50 weight distribution lay a splendid foundation. But its underpinnings drive those epic road manners home. M adaptive damper M-kinematic double-joint strut front and five-link rear suspension benefits M Servotronic steering and M Dynamic Mode … damn, they love that letter!
All complemented by, wait for it… integrated M Compound six-piston fixed front and single-piston floating-caliper rear brakes. With two M pedal feel settings. Light-alloy stepped 19-inch front and 20” rear, of course, M wheels transfer that brute power to the tarmac via a set of Michelin Pilots. M offers a track rubber option too.
We Beat M2 0-100 claim–with Difficulty
BMW M claims four seconds zero to 60 mph for the 2. We did it in under four seconds but hold your horses just yet. 155 mph is standard, and you can add 25 mph by specifying the optional M Driver’s package. Refer to the data below for 6SpeedOnline’s actual road test data.
The perfect car to bring the devil out in you, the BMW M2 is head and shoulders above anything else we’ve tested recently when it comes down to sheer driving pleasure. Best of all, it touches that sweet little 2002ti spot so beautifully for me, too.
Room for Improvement
As brilliant as it may be to drive, the BMW M2 does falls short elsewhere. Slip into the bolstered M seats (this one has even cooler, if tricky to access, M Carbon pews) and everything starts to fall apart from there.
For starters, the M2’s M-specific Curved Display Operating System 8 iDrive with M-specific widgets and BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant may sound right out of the future. As clever and as beautiful as all that infotainment may be, it’s utterly useless.
The cheek of it is that BMW labels it “driver-centric.” However, this latest iDrive makes it is almost impossible access certain feautres with its maze of cyber levels when navigating the menu. Ultimately, this takes the driver’s attention away from the road for longer than we’re comfortble, and we have to give this a red mark.
Things like trying to change the AC via the touchscreen can be frustating– you almost always end up bump something you least wanted to, and even more difficult to back out of. Physical buttons, like knobs for instance, don’t do that. Should also mention that Euro NCAP will dock safety stars from cars without real buttons and knobs from 2026.
Nannies Make ‘Driver’s M2’ Drive You
Other performance related features, like launch control, seem buried into the software. If you’re anything like us, you’ll eventually just give up and do use the old-fashioned “brake stand” method.
Last but not least, BMW merrily boasts its advanced automated driving, control and supernanny and systems. Sure’ they’re all welcome in any car. But must M2 really default to an assistant that destroys its fabled driving talent within the first mile? To make this “driver’s car” drive you?
Of course, in time you’ll eventually come to know all your BMW M2 traits, good and bad. However, we can’t help but point out the duality of the vehicle. On one hand, it boasts some of the best German auto engineering in a smaller platform. Yet in the other, its infotainment solution begets frustration and consternation, even for simple tasks.
ROAD TESTED: BMW M2 auto Engine: 453 HP 406 lb.-ft 3-litre biturbo petrol I6 Drive: 8-speed automatic RWD TESTED: 0-40 mph: 1.98 sec 0-60 mph: 3.96 sec 0-80 mph: 5.37 sec 0-100 mph: 8.10 sec ¼-mile: 12.0 sec @ 119 mph 50-75 mph: 2.27 sec 75-100 mph: 2.99 sec CLAIMED: VMax: 180 mph Fuel: 19 mpg Range: 330 miles LIST PRICE: $63,200
Photos: Michele Lupini