The new BMW 2-Series is one of the many culprits
of the brand’s confusingly revamped naming system, but that doesn’t stop it
from being a very fun little luxury sports coupe—particularly
in M235i form. Soon, however, the most potent version of the 2-Series
should be on the road: the M2. It’s been known since mid-2013 that an M2 was a
solid bet for production, and recently we learned that that production will be starting
by the fall of 2015. That means we may see the cars in showrooms by the end
of the year and probably no later than the spring of 2016. A debut is expected
at September's 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show.
Last year, details on the possible direction BMW
would take with the M2 were divulged, including hints at up to 300
pounds of weight savings as well as more power. At 425 horsepower and 406
pound-feet of torque, the S55 turbocharged 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder from
the M3/M4 might
be overkill for the M2—or at the least might step on the toes of the larger,
more expensive models. Thus, it's more likely we'll see an updated version of
the M235i’s N55 engine fitted to the car. This 320-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter
six never feels like it’s lacking despite the 3,555-pound curb weight it has to
lug around; in the M2 we'd expect the engine's final output to lie somewhere
between 350 and 400 horses.
Other upgrades will include wider wheels and tires,
factors hinted at by the camouflage over the fender flares on the car seen in
the spy photographs. Some of the shots also reveal the new bumper designs for
the car, with the front featuring the complex aero elements typical of the
latest M cars. Upgraded suspension, M Division traction and stability control calibration,
and, likely, a mechanical limited-slip rear differential could all further
enhance the M2’s performance over the capable but still restrained M235i.
For anyone that’s been thinking BMW has lost its way with cars
like the oddly-shaped Gran Turismos and the blasphemous front-driving 2-Series
Active Tourer, we think the M2 will be the car that restores your faith in the
blue and white roundel. Pricing should start at just over $50k.
source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1091986_2016-bmw-m2-spy-shots-and-video
by Nelson Ireson
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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