Automotive

BMW gives 2 Series the M division treatment with new M2 coupe

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The new BMW M2 coupe takes an already agile machine and boosts its power, performance, aerodynamics and handling
An optional seven-speed dual clutch DCT transmission is available in place of the standard 6-speed manual
BMW says the M2 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.5 seconds
The top speed of the M2 is ordinarily limited to 250 km/h
The M2's chassis is increased in width substantially over the standard model
Extra bracing between the suspension towers helps the M2's structural rigidity
The rear axle sub-frame if the M2 is bolted directly to the body for added strength
The M2 motors on 9.0J x 19-inch front and 10.0J x 19-inch rear wheels
The M2 side view belies the amount of width added to allow for the substantial new tires
The exterior design changes are claimed to have significantly reduced aerodynamic drag
The M2 has a claimed 1,495 kg (3,295 lb) kerb weight
The new BMW M2 coupe takes an already agile machine and boosts its power, performance, aerodynamics and handling
The suspension has MacPherson struts up front and a five-link arrangement at the rear
The M2 has 245/35 Michelin Pilot super Sport tires up front and 265/35 versions of the same out the back
The M badge is on just about everything, including the brake calipers
Just in case you didn't notice all the other M2 badges adorning the car, there's another on the grill
These big ducts direct air for cooling
The wheels house 380 mm disc brakes up front and 370 mm in the rear
The M2 will be initially launched in coupe variants only
The front of the new M2 is all rounded curves and purposeful-looking air intakes
Launch control functions are available on the 7-speed automatic gearbox option
The front of the new M2 is all rounded curves and purposeful-looking air intakes
The front of the new M2 is all rounded curves and purposeful-looking air intakes
The quad exhaust pipes and bulging wheel arches certainly differentiate the M2 from its lowlier-powered brethren
A small boot lip spoiler and a large integral diffuser are two new aspects of the M2
All of the suspension has been upgraded, redesigned, lightened, or tweaked in one way or another on the M2
The front of the new M2 is all rounded curves and purposeful-looking air intakes
The front of the new M2 is all rounded curves and purposeful-looking air intakes
The rear 265/35 Michelin Pilot super Sport tires certainly fill out the wheel arches
The front of the new M2 is all rounded curves and purposeful-looking air intakes
Four exhausts, rather than the standard two, show that this is an M2, just in case you missed all the badges saying so all over the bodywork
BMW like to make sure that there are enough M badges on the car so that, no matter the angle, you know what car it is you are looking at
There is little bright-work to be had on the M2, but it does get its own M badge
The M2 is the smallest of all BMW M division models
The front bumper has pronounced winglets to channel air
The M2 comes as standard with a standard six-speed manual gearbox
An electronic limited slip M-differential comes as standard
The front of the new M2 is all rounded curves and purposeful-looking air intakes
Wide rear haunches differentiate this BMW from the pack
The new BMW M2 has body bulges that make it much more muscular than standard BMW models
Huge disc brakes are obvious on the M2
Specifically-cast M2-specific alloy wheels prop up each corner
Four exhaust pipes and an M2 badge may be the only part of this BMW other road users may see most of the time
The aggressive looking stance of the M2 is accentuated by the large air intakes
M2 badges adorn everything, including the air exits
Sports seats, and an M sports steering wheel round out the sumptuous interior of the new BMW M2
Sports seats, and an M sports steering wheel round out the sumptuous interior of the new BMW M2
Leather seats and all the usual M-series accoutrements adorn the M2 cabin
Blue contrast stitching and M embossing on selected details
An M gearshift lever tells you this is a sporty BMW M2
Sports seats, and an M sports steering wheel round out the sumptuous interior of the new BMW M2
Sports seats in leather for the new M2
Sports seats, an M sports steering wheel and an M gearshift lever in the new M2
The M2's 3.0-liter turbo inline six unit produces 272 kW (370 hp) and 465 Nm (343 lb-ft) of torque
The M2's 3.0-liter turbo inline six unit produces 272 kW (370 hp) and 465 Nm (343 lb-ft) of torque
A number of pre-production design sketches show the evolution of the M2's styling
A number of pre-production design sketches show the evolution of the M2's styling
A number of pre-production design sketches show the evolution of the M2's styling
A number of pre-production design sketches show the evolution of the M2's styling
View gallery - 58 images

The BMW 2 Series has been with us for a while now, proving to be a popular model in the BMW stable with its agile performance and responsive handling. With the usual sporty variants including a coupe and a convertible, the 2 Series has been a prime candidate for the M-treatment already applied to others in the BMW line-up. This has finally come to fruition with the launch of the all-new BMW M2 that, with a traditional rear-wheel drive layout, increased engine power, uprated handling capabilities, and improved aerodynamics, will sit neatly below the M3 as the new entry-level vehicle in BMW's M-division vehicle array.

A fitting replacement for the gap left behind when the short-lived 1 Series M was discontinued, the new M2 finds it's niche just above the 1 Series M in terms of performance, but not too far below its bigger and heavier stablemate, the mighty BMW M3. Much of this is due to the fact that the M2 uses the N55 direct-injection engine of the 1 Series (a longitudinally mounted, twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder), but incorporates the same pistons, crank bearings, variable exhaust valve control, and variable camshaft control elements as those found in the M3 engine.

As a result, the new M2 powerplant produces 272 kW (370 hp) at 6,500 rpm, which is 22 kW (30 hp) more than when it motivated the 1 Series M, and an extra 15 Nm (11 ft/lb) of torque to up the ante to 465 Nm (343 lb-ft). And, just to make things interesting, BMW says that there is a full 500 Nm (368 ft/lb) of torque on tap for short bursts of mayhem when the pedal is mashed down to full throttle (and when RPMs are between 1,450 and 4,750) in "overboost."

In terms of size, at 4,468mm (176 in) long and 1,854mm (73 in) wide, the new M2 is shorter and narrower than its big brother the M3, and also sits about 10 mm (1/4 in) lower to the ground. However, in comparison to a standard M2 coupe, the M2 is significantly wider in stance with fenders that add an extra 55 mm (2.2 in) to its width at the front and another 80 mm (3.1 in) at the rear. The most obvious change from standard, however, are the enormous "winglets" that adorn the heavy-looking front bumper and direct air into the engine and brake cooling ducts.

The front of the new M2 is all rounded curves and purposeful-looking air intakes

At the rear of the M2 there is the addition of a small boot lip spoiler and a distinctive rear bumper replete with an integral diffuser and the M-Series signature four exhaust outlets. Along with other subtle, and not so subtle, body changes BMW claims to have reduced aerodynamic drag around five percent, and cut lift by approximately 35 percent compared to a standard 2-series coupe.

Supplied standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, buyers can also opt for a seven-speed M double clutch transmission (M DCT) that provides a selection of manual and automatic modes, three distinct driving settings, and launch control. Coupled with the electronically controlled Active M Differential and a selectable M Dynamic Mode (MDM) in the Dynamic Stability Control system, the M2, will also happily allow a degree of wheel slip to provide for the increasingly popular ability to perform high-speed wheel drifts (on a racetrack, of course).

With the standard manual gearbox in situ, BMW claims that the M2 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.5 seconds. By comparison, the DCT-equipped version – despite being some 75 kg (165 lb) heavier than the manual gearbox model – drops this time to 4.3 seconds. According to BMW, this is not a mistake; apparently a numerically-higher (physically lower) ratio on all of the first four gears in the M DCT combined with the efficacy of its launch control function account for this improved time despite the increased weight.

The rear axle sub-frame if the M2 is bolted directly to the body for added strength

With a curb weight of around 1,495 kg (3,295 lb) for the standard manual vehicle (and about 1,570 kg (3,460 lb) for the M DCT version), the M2 is no featherweight. In fact, it is some 40 kg (88 lb) heavier than the original M235i to which it owes many of its original underpinnings. Despite this, the M2 easily achieves an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). And, fork out a little extra for the optional driver's package, and upgraded engine management software allows for a new top speed up to 270 km/h (168 mph).

Putting all of the power to the ground are M-Series bespoke 19-inch cast alloy wheels shod with 245/35 ZR19 and 265/35 ZR19 tires front and rear, respectively. To counteract all of this speed and acceleration, the disc brakes have two-piston calipers in the rear and four-piston units up front, hauling down on some very large vented disc rotors.

Vehicle tracks are also increased in width over a standard Series 2 by 64 mm (2.5 in) at the front and 71 mm (2.8 in) at the rear, whilst additional bracing has been bolted between the strut towers for extra torsional rigidity. The struts themselves are MacPherson, and many of the front suspension components have been replaced with forged aluminum units to save weight, including control arms and wheel carriers. The rest of the components have all also been specifically tuned and adjusted to suit the dynamic characteristics of the new M2.

The M2's 3.0-liter turbo inline six unit produces 272 kW (370 hp) and 465 Nm (343 lb-ft) of torque

The economic result of all of this power output is a claimed fuel consumption of 8.5 l/100 km (28 US mpg) for the standard manual and 7.9 l/100 km (30 US mpg) for the M DCT on a combined urban/highway driving cycle, with CO2 emissions of 199 g/km and 185 g/km, respectively.

The interior of the M2 includes much of what one would expect in a modern M-car, including leather seats with bespoke stitching and adjustable side bolsters, a kneepad on the console for the driver to brace against in sharp corners, a specially-designed M-Series leather-bound steering wheel and gear selector, along with a range of unique instruments and modern electronic connectivity. Included in this are a number of BMW-specific apps, including those that allow driver performance studies via the M Laptimer or fat lap recording via an inbuilt GoPro camera connection app. All of the results can, of course, be collated and shared via e-mail or social networks.

At pains to point out that the new M2 does seem to embody much of the original M-Series mantra of lighter weight, increased handling, and better performance, BMW does seem to have a point – this vehicle clearly aims to please the sportier BMW aficionados with its purposeful improvements and aggressive styling. Set for launch in coupe version only, with no word on when (or if) a cabriolet version may follow, customers can order a new BMW M2 in Europe from October 15, with prices slated to start at around € 54,000 (US$ 62,000).

The video below shows the M2 carving it up with some of its BMW brethren on the race track.

Source: BMW

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1 comment
Don Duncan
Lower drag, but heavier? One step ahead, one back. Lowered drag to what coefficient? Are they kidding? 28/30 mpg tells me all I need to know. That's the bottom line. At $62K I would buy a Tesla which would be cheaper overall. Or just wait for the Model 3 in 2017 which will be faster and about half the cost.