You don't actually think the BMW M240i stands a chance against the M2 in a quarter-mile battle, can you? Well, we didn't, but then again, who are we to make such an assumption? After all, the M2 is more powerful and quicker – wait, that didn't come out right.
You see, the all-new BMW M2 has 453 hp (460 ps/338 kW) and 406 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque to play with. The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with launch control. According to the official spec sheet, this model takes 4.2 seconds to hit 60 mph (97 kph) from a standstill with the auto 'box, tapping out at 155 mph (250 kph).
As for the M240i, it sits in an inferior league with 382 hp (387 ps/285 kW) and 369 pound-feet (500 Nm) produced by the twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six. It, too, packs an eight-speed automatic gearbox with launch control, and it is three-tenths slower to sixty miles an hour than the full-blown M variant. The maximum speed is capped at 130 mph (210 kph), though it can be raised to 155 mph (250 kph) as an option.
Yep, it's the M2 that holds the higher ground here, but it is also the heaviest of the two. According to CarWow, which subjected both of them to a few tests, recording the battles for the internet to watch, the top-of-the-line M car tips the scales at 1,725 kilograms or just over 3,800 pounds. The lesser version, namely the M240i, weighs 1,690 kg or 3,725 lbs. Thus, when factoring in the weight and adding the driver's skills into the equation, it really is anyone's game.
As a matter of fact, with a perfect launch, the M240i can be a bit quicker over the standing quarter mile than the M2, which needs some cooling down before being ready for another straight-line battle, unlike the lesser model. Things are actually a bit more different when it comes to a half-mile race from a rolling start, as the M2 starts showing its superiority here. And since the M240i is lighter than the M2, you do know which one brakes quicker, don't you?
Now, we may have spoiled the video that's embedded right after this paragraph a bit, but we still haven't told you which of the two was declared the big winner on that day. That said, you should hit the play button after scrolling down, and you may want to consider taking a short break for that, as the footage is a little over 12 minutes long. So, has the result, or make that results in fact, surprised you, or did you see it coming? Drop a line below after watching the video, and tell us what you think about it.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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