The BMW M32 will be offered with a good ol’ stick shift — yay!
BMW recently teased the market with its last pure combustion engine-powered model, the BMW M2. The new model should offer driving thrills at a lower price than the M3 or M4, with a more agile handling thanks to the lower weight.
However, the really interesting point here is that, according to the German manufacturer, the M2 will be offered with two transmission options: an 8-speed M Steptronic gearbox ensuring dynamic power application, and a 6-speed manual gearbox for nostalgic ones who still prefer to drive stick. It might not be faster; it might not become the bestselling model either, but will sure make some people happy!
Moreover, the new M2 won’t be short on power; BMW still hasn’t disclosed official numbers, but it said the engine would produce similar power to the current M2 CS, so about 444 hp and 406 lb-ft, thanks to the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter M3/M4-source engine. Those numbers are not that bad but understandably a bit lower than the base variants of the donor cars, churning out a pretty good 473 HP.
On the other hand, we’re still unsure if the M2 carries a twin-turbo version of the 3.0-liter S58 engine, like in the M3/M4, or if BMW will opt for only one turbocharger, like in the Z4/Supra. Nonetheless, the new M2 is expected to reach 60 mph from a standstill in just 3.7 seconds, which would be even faster than the base 2022 BMW M3, and a similar top speed of 155 mph.
A camouflaged M2 was test-driven in Austria before rains intervened and the stint was cut short. Despite the bad weather, few exterior details have surfaced, including that the new M2’s wheelbase will be 2-inch longer and the body will be 2-inch wider than the 2022 M240i. The styling also appears much more aggressive compared to the standard 2 series. Moreover, the lower bumper comes with a new design allowing for greater airflow to the cooling system, hopefully addressing the M240i’s overheating problems.
Speed freaks will be happy to hear that the BMW M2 will allow for three driving modes: Road, Sport, and Track. Sport will be sharp enough for spirited driving on public streets, with Road working best if you want a comfortable drive. Meanwhile, Track will do exactly what it says and amp up everything to 11!
There’s not much else to report at this point aside from the fact that the manual transmission model will feature base seats while the automatic model will have carbon fiber sports models as a no-cost option — a much better choice if you are looking for a sportier driving experience.
The BMW M2 is all set to launch in October 2022, followed by a widespread release in April 2023. If rumors are to be believed, it should be priced just above $60,000. With a decently powerful inline six-cylinder and rear-wheel drive, the BMW M2 promises to be quite a ride!
More details are expected closer to the official reveal — we’ll keep you posted!
Gallery: 2023 BMW M2
