Meet the new BMW M2 sports coupe, which has appeared in leaked photos online ahead of its debut next month, with twin-turbo M3 and M4 power.
Photos of the new 2023 BMW M2 have leaked online, ahead of its global unveiling next month, and first international deliveries expected in the first half of next year.
The images posted to the Bimmerpost forum confirm leaked images and speculation from spy photos over the last 18 months, with bold styling to differentiate the M2 from BMW’s standard 2 Series range.
The front end swaps the triangular air intakes and broad ‘kidney’ grilles of the lesser M240i for a squared-off look, with rectangular outboard intakes, inset grilles and small black air inlets in the inner corners of the headlights.
The front and rear wheel arches are wider than the regular 2 Series, with side skirts that blend into the body, and the M division’s trademark ‘winged’ side mirrors. A carbon-fibre roof is visible – though unusually for a full BMW M car, the bonnet is shared with the standard M240i.
There’s a new rear bumper that’s more aggressive than any current BMW M sports coupe, with a signature set of four exhaust outlets, and pronounced vertical reflector strips.
The car appears to ride on 19-inch front and 20-inch rear alloy wheels, with performance brake discs clamped by red M-branded calipers hiding behind.
It’s finished in what’s expected to be the new M2’s flagship colour, M Zandvoort Blue, which continues BMW M’s tradition of naming hero colours after race tracks – such Isle of Man Green, after the UK island famous for motorcycle racing, or Sao Paulo Yellow, the location of Brazil’s F1 circuit.
Other available exterior colours for the new M2 are rumoured to include Black Sapphire, Brooklyn Grey and Toronto Red – while inside, BMW insiders claim buyers will be able to choose from tan leather, black Alcantara and faux leather, and other genuine leather options.
Visible through the windows are the M Carbon sports bucket seats from the larger M3 and M4 – expected to be optional extras – and the twin-screen dashboard from BMW’s latest models (and seen in past M2 spy photos), running the company’s newest iDrive 8 software.
As reported by Drive last week, powering the new BMW M2 is a 3.0-litre ‘S58’ twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine from the M3 and M4, developing 338kW – 7kW more than the most potent previous-generation M2, the 331kW CS, and down 16kW on the base M3/M4 duo.
It will send power to the rear wheels through a choice of six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmissions. For more details on what to expect, click here to read Drive’s most recent story on the new M2.
The new M2 will be BMW M’s last brand-new model – excluding facelifts or model-year updates – to go without hybrid or electric power.
The 2023 BMW M2 will be revealed next month (October), ahead of first European deliveries previously earmarked for April 2023.
With production set to commence in Mexico in December, expect the first cars to arrive in Australian showrooms in the first half of next year, in line with European deliveries.
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