The new BMW M2 sports coupe is the quickest ever built, but its looks and weight have divided opinion online. Here’s how the Drive team would option theirs.
Customisation is in vogue at the moment, but choice can be seriously confusing. In our configurator challenge, we let the Drive team loose on a manufacturer’s website to create their ideal combination for a certain model.
This week’s challenge covers the new BMW M2 coupe, revealed on Wednesday with twin-turbo inline-six power, manual or automatic transmissions, and more technology than ever – but a controversial new look that’s divided opinion on social media.
Tell us what your ideal BMW M2 would look like in the comments below (build yours here), and the cars you’d like us to configure next.
MORE: 2023 BMW M2 revealed, coming to Australia – the most powerful yet!
James Ward, Director of Content
To take a somewhat controversial position, I’m a bit of a fan of the new M2 because of its bold and blocky styling.
The outgoing car was a wicked-looking ‘jacked’ 2er, and while I don’t think the new car is as attractive in a traditional sense, it wins me over by offering a modernised look at the original, boxy, E30 M3 – a car I still aspire to own at some point.
So, to that end, I’m ignoring the ‘i30 N blue’ and going down a retro-spec path, ticking as many boxes as I can along the way.
Starting with a manual transmission, I’ve opted for Toronto (Tomato) Red and the bi-colour wheels with track rubber, over unorthodox Cognac leather trim to really connect to the original compact M-car.
The Comfort Package (in the UK; standard on Australian cars) and M Driver’s Package options have been ticked – naturally – with a waitlist on the forthcoming M Performance front splitter, spats and roof aero – because you never grow out of being a hooligan!
Kez Casey, Production Editor
If this is the jumping-off point for the new M2, things are only going to get better once Competition and CS models arrive. Right now though, I don’t think I could want for more.
BMW has some awesome colours available, but for now they’re not offered on the M2. That makes things tricky (and hard not to have FOMO when you look at the M3 and M4 colour range.
Until the situation improves, a coat of the M Zandvoort Blue hero colour feels appropriate. Because I’m not a fan of all-black wheels, the available two-tone rims provide a nice offset.
As much as I like the idea of carbon bucket seats, I know they’d be hard to live with, so the pragmatist in me has opted for the standard sports seats, trimmed in Cognac leather.
The pale blue and tan look gives off a decidedly retro vibe, and given the compact, high-powered coupe feel like a car from another era with no hint of electrification or SUV styling cues, I’m happy with that.
Emma Notarfrancesco, Senior Journalist
My M2 is a manual, finished in Brooklyn Grey Metallic with black wheels and a leather and carbon interior.
Option boxes ticked in the UK configurator include the Comfort Package and the pricey M Race Track Package, which will set you back $AU11,000. The total cost of my spec is £70,860 in the UK, or $134,400 before on-road costs for the same car in Australia.
Tom Fraser, Journalist
Another day, another BMW I can’t stand the look of…
Trying to clean it up with spec choices, I’ve selected a black-on-black example which hides the guppy mouth and odd-shaped square rear bumper.
Although they look cool I’ve decided not to go with the M Carbon bucket seats which would be a pain to live with daily due to the extreme bolstering.
The manual transmission would be an excellent pairing in something as small and nimble as the M2, that was a must-have.
Ben Zachariah, Journalist
The M2 has been the enthusiast’s choice since it first joined the range as the awkwardly-named BMW 1 Series M Coupe. It’s nice to see BMW’s M division hasn’t altered the recipe: Small(ish) coupe, a mildly-detuned engine from the M3/M4, bolstered guards, and the option of a six-speed gearbox.
A lot of people aren’t a fan of the new M2’s style, but I personally think it’s the best looking model from BMW, with the rest of the range either boring to the point of being non-descript or outright bold and ugly.
If I was building an M2, I’d keep it simple – Black Sapphire metallic, black wheels, and contrasted against Cognac leather with Mocca contrast stitching, optioned with a manual transmission. Delightful.
Alex Misoyannis, Journalist
BMW’s official launch photos show the new M2 in a much better light than the leaked photos from a few weeks ago did – but I still don’t find it particularly appealing, so my build tries to make that bold styling palatable for the $119,900 plus on-road costs you’re charged for it.
I’m a big fan of the M Zandvoort Blue and M Toronto Red hero colours, and they may look even better in the metal – but on paper Sapphire Black is ultimately my only choice, if I want to disguise those controversial squared-off front grilles and air intakes.
I prefer the two-tone machined and black ‘930M’ alloy wheels over the black alloys in the launch images, which I’ve optioned with road tyres around them, and the optional red brake calipers behind.
Inside, the M Sport seats standard in Australia are my pick over the optional M Carbon buckets, which aren’t as forgiving and place a lump of carbon in an awkward spot between your legs that’s likely to annoy on a long drive.
And yes, that’s a six-speed manual shifter between the front passengers. This new M2 is the last new BMW M car without hybrid or electric power – and probably one of the last, if not the last, to have the option of three pedals.
My build on the UK configurator has been comprehensively optioned, with carbon-fibre interior trim, a head-up display, auto climate control, Harman Kardon audio, and more (but no M Driver’s Package).
Fortunately, all of these options – including the gearbox, colour, wheels and seats – are included as standard in Australia’s $119,900 plus on-road costs base price.
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