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400 HP Engine for the BMW M2? We Don’t Buy it

The latest rumor in the BMW M2 saga claims that the new car will have 400 HP at its disposal to run wild with. While it is a great piece of news apparently, we really, REALLY don’t buy it, not even for a second. Here’s why.
BMW M2 Rendering 6 photos
Photo: theophiluschin.com
BMW M2 RenderignBMW M2 RenderignAutocar ExcerptBMW Codenaming procedureBMW S55 codename explained
Autocar claims that they had a little chat with none other than Mr. Friedrich Nitschke, the current BMW M Division’s boss. Out of context, the only thing they understood was that the upcoming M2 will have a 3-liter turbocharged plant making 400 HP. Here’s what the man actually said:

Four hundred is the magic number. With forced induction it is no trouble to achieve this, but we have to make sure it doesn’t get too close to the power level of the new M4.”

As you can probably tell, in their characteristic fashion, Autocar then went on to speculate every possible thing about this one statement. The truth of the matter is, they are dead wrong.

Hint number 1

First of all, they claim to have ‘insider’ info that the new plant will be wearing the S57B30 codename and that it’s going to be based on the B57 inline 6-cylinder engine that will come out later on. What they don’t realize is that the B57 codename is used for the next-gen 3-liter inline six DIESEL plant from Bavaria.

The new names in the B family go like this: B38 is the 1.5-liter 3-cylinder petrol, B37 is the 1.5-liter 3-cylinder diesel model, B48 is the 2-liter 4-cylinder plant on the 225i Active Tourer while the B47 plant is the same only it uses diesel (now used on the Cooper SD). The upcoming models will be the B58 that's the 3-liter inline 6 petrol one and the B57 that's the diesel. Traditionally, BMW used even numbers for petrol engines and odd for diesels. Only in recent years that habit changed with the N generation.

You see, the B family of engines follows the same codenaming scheme BMW always used only that instead of an 'N' in front of the numerals, they are now using 'B'. It’s that simple. In their traditional way, the first numeral stands for the engine type (5 means inline 6 cylinder), the second numeral for the combustion process.

The second B, the one in the ‘B30’ sequence stands for ‘gasoline, longitudinal installation’ while diesels get the ‘D’ nomination. We attached a photo from BMW’s own brochures that explains how codenames are put together.

Hint number 2

We know for a fact that the new M2 will enter production in November 2015 and that it will be the first car to use this new, rumored engine. The second car to borrow it will be the BMW X4 M40i, an M Performance Automobile and not a proper M model. That means, it surely won’t be using an S engine because the Motorsport division won’t allow it.

On top of that, the new generation of 3-liter 6-cylinder modular plants will be introduced with the G11 7 Series that will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show next autumn and won’t go into production too soon to be borrowing this plant to any other model as well. Codenamed B58B30, these new engines will be used on a variety of models including the new 340i.

Hint number 3

The real codename for the M2 is N55B30T0 which, by using the chart BMW offered us, translates into a 3-liter 6-cylinder (N55) inline petrol (B30) unit from the top performance class (T0) with a new design. It’s an upgraded version of the engine used on all current cars with names that include ’35i’, from 135i to xDrive35i models (and the 640i and 740i). Furthermore, it would be the same approach they used on the 1M Coupe that also had an upgraded N54 plant instead of a new M engine.

The power output will be around 370 HP at max, to stop the smaller, more compact M2 from stepping on the M4’s toes. And that brings us to the last hint

Hint number 4

BMW will purposely keep the M2 in between the M4 and the M235i. Going with a plant that has 400 HP and a lot more torque than the rumored 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) would make the new car simply.... too good! That’s why there will be less carbon fiber used on it and that’s why we’re still not sure if the 7-speed DCT gearbox will be available.

Furthermore, pricing has to be kept in mind and the F87 M2 will have to be cheaper than the M4 as well meaning that a newly developed engine wouldn’t make sense considering how much money would have to be invested into its research.

No, the M2 will come out with an improved version of the N55 plant we’ve all grown to love and will have, at most, 375 HP. The B58 (not B57, as that’s a diesel) engine will be introduced on the upcoming 3 Series LCI 340i and the new 7 Series range.
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