2023 BMW M2 price and specs

The second-generation BMW M2 coupe is on track to land in Australia from the second quarter of 2023, priced from $119,900 before on-road costs with either the manual or auto transmission.

That’s $28,000 more than the current range-topping BMW M240i xDrive, $10,000 more than the previous M2 Competition, but about $65,000 cheaper than the bigger M4 Competition.

Designed to, in BMW’s words, “encapsulate the pure joy of driving”, the new M2 offers all the ingredients: there’s an inline six, a manual gearbox option as well as an auto, and rear-wheel drive.

It’s not just the successor to the old M2 which found 60,000 buyers worldwide, but also plays the same role as the 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe, the iconic 2000 E46 BMW M3, and even the 1973 BMW 2002 turbo.

Design-wise, there’s a frameless horizontal take on the kidney grille, a three-section lower intake, headlight units with single circular LED lights, prominent skirts and lip spoiler, broad and muscular wheel arches, and the classic long-bonnet and cab-rearward silhouette.

The new BMW M2 will be built for buyers in every world market alongside the 2 Series coupe at the BMW Group’s San Luis Potosí plant in Mexico.

The company says its most important sales markets will be Germany and the USA, followed by Great Britain, China and Japan. However, Australia remains one of the strongest markets in the world for BMW M, with one in five BMW models sold here wearing the M badge.

Between 2016 and 2022, BMW Australia claims to have sold around 2600 M2s in various incarnations.

Pricing

2023 BMW M2: $119,900

Price excludes on-road costs

For a little context, the base Porsche 718 Cayman 2.0 kicks off at $122,000 before on-roads, while the updated Toyota Supra will cost $97,000.

Drivetrains

The 3.0-litre TwinPower turbo inline-six punches out 338kW of power and 550Nm peak torque (from 2650rpm), while the engine revs to 7200rpm. The peak power is up 36kW on the old M2 Competition.

BMW claims the M2’s new engine “differs only in a small number of details from the engine employed in the BMW M3/BMW M4”, though the M4 Competition offers 375kW and 650Nm.

There’s an exhaust system with electrically actuated flaps and four tailpipes.

While the standard transmission is an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic with paddle shifters and shift characteristics linked to driving modes, there’s also a six-speed manual gearbox option – just as BMW promised.

The auto is a touch quicker: the 0-100km/h claim is just 4.1 seconds, versus 4.3sec for the manual. For some context the outgoing M2 Comp claimed 4.2sec. BMW says top speed is 250km/h with a limiter, but this can be raised to 285km/h with the M Driver’s Package.

BMW has quite naturally stuck with rear-wheel drive, with an Active M Differential that can generate a locking effect of up to 100 per cent. It’s all networked with the stability control for maximum cohesion.

Engine: 3.0-litre TwinPower turbo inline-six
Power and torque: 338kW and 550Nm
Driven wheels: Rear
Transmissions: 8AT with paddles or six-speed manual
0-100km/h: 4.1sec top 4.3sec (auto quicker)

Efficiency

BMW Germany quotes WLTP efficiency of 10.2L/100km for the manual and 9.8L/100km for the auto – Australian figures are TBC. The fuel tank is 52L.

Dimensions and dynamics

The new M2 is 119mm longer and 16mm wider than the first generation M2 but 7mm lower. Its wheelbase has grown by 54mm compared with the outgoing model while adding 38mm to the front wheel track and 4mm to the rear.

It’s still 214mm shorter than the M4, on a 110mm shorter wheelbase.

Length: 4580mm
Width: 1887mm
Height: 1403mm
Wheelbase: 2747mm

BMW claims to have improved backseat space, with the rear seats folding 40:20:40. Boot space is a relatively generous 390L, the same as before.

The Bavarian brand claims to have achieved the requisite 50:50 weight distribution, and to have fitted extra suspension linkages and bracing, an M-specific aluminium front axle subframe, plus more body stiffening and reinforcements.

The M Servotronic steering has a variable ratio and two levels of resistance based on Sport and Comfort modes, while the adaptive M suspension sports electronically controlled dampers with three stiffness settings.

Stopping power comes from 380mm front rotors with six-piston fixed callipers, and 370mm rears with single-piston floating callipers, painted in blue metallic. They sit behind 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, wearing 275/35 ZR19 front and 285/30 ZR20 rear tyres.

BMW has also made some tweaks to the M Dynamic Mode which allows extra wheel slip at the push of a button, by integrating it with the engine management and shortening the signal path.

Servicing and Warranty

BMW’s warranty is three years, with roadside assist. Service prices are TBC.

Safety

Safety features will include:

Autonomous emergency braking
Lane departure warning and steering assist
Attentiveness Assistant
Rear-cross traffic alert and braking
Blind-spot monitoring
Active cruise control with stop & go function (auto only)
Parking Assistant software

Standard Equipment

Outside

19- and 20-inch alloy wheels (front/rear)
Adaptive LED headlights including auto high beam
Adaptive dampers
Active M differential
M Compound Brake, Blue (also available with red high gloss callipers)
Alarm system
Comfort Access system
- BMW Digital Key for 8-speed auto only
M high-gloss Shadowline pack
Metallic paintwork
Tyre pressure monitoring system
Tyre repair kit

Inside

Ambient interior lighting
Three-zone climate control
Leather ‘Vernasca’ upholstery
Heated front seats
Electric seat adjustment
Lumbar Support for driver and front passenger
M interior trim finishers in carbon fibre
M-branded seat belts
Steering wheel heating

Multimedia

Head-up display
BMW Live Cockpit Professional
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 14.9-inch touchscreen
- BMW Operating System 8
Cloud-based maps
OTA compatibility
DAB+ digital radio
Harman Kardon surround sound system
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Wireless smartphone charging