BMW M2: Full Of Competition

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 05:39

The M2 is dead. Long live the M2 Competition. Due to future exhaust and consumption laws, BMW let the old six-cylinder turbo die.

Better things will be submitted later: the S55 engine from the M3 / M4. Difference? First of all, more power, 410 instead of 370 hp. The M-Freak wonders why not the 450 HP from the M3 when it's the identical engine? Frank van Meel, head of M GmbH, answers this with less space under the hood.

spoods.de

With the high output it would get too hot there. Even with 410 HP, the M2 Competition needs larger air inlets and special cooling management at the front.

BMW M2 Competition keeps a respectful distance

The slightly reduced power has another, perhaps more important reason. You want to keep a certain respect distance to the M3 / M4. Otherwise you would also get into difficulties with the bigger brother in terms of price. Speaking of prices: The M2 Competition starts at 61,900 Eu

ro, that's only 2400 euros more than the normal M2.

The extra power is paid for comparatively cheaply, especially since the competition version has an elaborate dome strut that makes the entire front end significantly stiffer. This in turn leads to better steering precision and more agile handling. The chassis, which also comes from the M3 / M4, has been further optimized.

Qualities on the racetrack

The M2 Competition was able to put its true qualities on the asphalt on the Ascari race track in southern Spain, which was rented exclusively by BMW. The pure numerical values may not adequately describe what happens when the accelerator is depressed. Sure, 4.2 seconds from zero to 100 km / h is a nice round table announcement, as is the top of 280 km / h. But it is much more impressive how quickly, how sensitively and how easily the car can be driven around the course, even by non-professionals. The six-cylinder turbo delivers plenty of pressure in every situation and sends a full 550 Newton meters of torque to the rear axle from just over 2000 revolutions per minute.

The latter, on the other hand, makes the M2 Competition a confident everyday car and a relaxed glider. Despite the rather sporty suspension setup, the suspension is not annoying with hardness. In addition, several modes can still be set via the driving experience switch, just as you like it.

Also with classic manual transmission

The customer can also choose the transmission. Yes, the M2 Competition is still available with a classic manual transmission. The gears can be changed precisely and crisply, but this "old-school version" is not really recommended, if only because of the added convenience of the optional dual clutch transmission in traffic jams. But that remains a matter of opinion. The paradox: especially in America, which is spoiled by automatics, the largest market for the M2, the manual gearbox is particularly sporty. The rate here is over 50 percent.

While the M2 could not previously be ordered with other wheels or larger brakes, BMW has taken the criticism of many customers to heart. For the first time, the price list now includes optional 19-inch wheels and special M brakes with front discs measuring a generous 400 millimeters in diameter.

BMW's tuning subsidiary has sold more than 25,000 M2 since the series premiere in 2016. The model is the brand's bestseller, which is not really surprising, since the M2 offers performance at Porsche Carrera level, but costs more than 50,000 euros less than the Stuttgart coupé.