The 1 Series rolled out in 2004, yet enthusiasts had to wait until 2011 for the M division to deliver the highly glorified 1M Coupe. Based on the 135i, the limited-run special edition uses the N54 twin-turbo I6 the 135i also employed between 2007 and 2010.
In production through June 2012, the 1M Coupe rarely got criticized for packing a non-M engine. 6,309 were offered globally, of which 740 were sold in the United States of America. Its rarity and more compact dimensions than the V8-powered M3 Coupe of that epoch are probably the reasons the most performance-oriented E82 never got lambasted in the fashion the first-generation M2 sports coupe got.
Codenamed F87 as opposed to F22 for lesser coupes and F23 for the 2 Series Convertible, the original gangsta originally sported a punchier version of the N55 twin-scroll turbocharged I6 from the M235i. The black-painted M2 in the video below cranks out a respectable 365 horsepower at 5,500 revolutions per minute and 343 pound-feet (465 Nm) of torque between 1,450 and 4,750 revolutions per minute.
BMW made amends with the M2 Competition of 2018, which upgraded to the S55 twin-turbo I6. The most desirable F87 of the bunch is the later M2 CS that leveled up from the Competition's 405 ponies to 444 at full chatter, improving the 0-100 kph (0-100 mph) stint from 4.3 seconds to 4.0 seconds flat.
This, in turn, brings us to the second-gen M2 that BMW refers to as G87. Much heavier than its predecessor due to the CLAR platform, the CLuster ARchitecture-based heir apparent dropped the Getrag-supplied DCT of the former in favor of a ZF-designed automatic of the torque-converter variety.
The red G87 in the featured clip has the 8HP in question, which enables the standard M2 to complete the sprint to 100 clicks in 4.1 seconds (make that 3.9 seconds to 60 miles per hour). Typical of an M-specific engine, the S58 produces a bit more power and torque than the officially advertised 453 horsepower at 6,250 rpm and 406 pound-feet (550 Nm) of twist from 2,650 through 5,870 rpm.
Tipping the scales at 1,730 kilograms (3,814 pounds) compared to the 1,520 kilograms (3,351 pounds) of the F87, the G87 is ridiculously quick off the line. Not only does it make the first-generation M2 eat its dust all the way to the finish line (1,000 meters away or 0.62 miles), but it clocks 21.5 seconds in the standing kilometer compared to 23.0 for the F87.
Technological advancements in tire, suspension, transmission, and launch control further make the G87 the better pick, although you'll definitely feel its curb weight in the corners. Now available for model year 2024 in the United States market, the M2 starts at $63,200 with either a stick shift or the eight-speed automatic. Over in the United Kingdom, the slick-shifting manual is an optional extra because it's not as efficient as the ZF 8HP torque-converter auto.
How big of a difference are we talking about? At press time, BMW UK lists the two-pedal G87 with a starting price of 64,890 pounds sterling, meaning 80,495 dollars at current exchange rates. Opt for the three-pedal transmission, and you're looking at £66,090 ($81,975) for eight more grams of CO2 emissions per kilometer (228 versus 220 grams).
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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