This Is the Only BMW M2 in the World Painted in Austin Yellow

The Austin Yellow debuted in 2014 with the BMW M4. Later on, the M5 also got the color. But how the first owner of this M2 convinced the people at BMW to paint his car in that color is still a mystery. It was 2016 when BMW took the then-all-new M2 to the North American International Auto Show, after unveiling it in Need for Speed in November 2015. The M2 came as a replacement for the 1 Series M Coupe, becoming the entry-level of the Germans' performance lineup.

The 1 Fries M Coupe was powered by the N54 3.0-liter straight-six engine, mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The predecessor of the M2 was produced only as a coupe. Rolling out a convertible, with all the extra stiffness necessary, would have been too costly.

The BMW M2 entered production in October 2015 with the 3.0-liter N55 straight-six, rated at 365 horsepower (369 PS) and 343 lb-ft (465 Nm) of torque. An overbook function took it to 369 lb-ft (500 Nm). The N55 was linked to either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Those figures were enough for a run from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 kph) in 4.5 seconds with the manual and 4.3 seconds with the auto box. Top speed was electronically limited at 155 mph (250 kph) for both, but the M Driver's package could take it all the way to 168 mph (270 kph).

Reinforced pistons and a lighter aluminum front and rear suspension made it 11 pounds (5 kilograms) lighter. The model was so stiff, so light, so dynamic that it handled its Official Safety Car mission in the 2016 MotoGP season without breaking a sweat.

Built around BMW's F8x platform, the M2 was so versatile that the Bavarians could not help it: they rolled out a limited-run Performance Edition, available in only 150 units, and then the M2 Competition, powered by the S55 engine, which generated 40 horsepower and 63 lb-ft (85 Nm) more than the standard M2.

The top speed of a car equipped with the M Driver's package was 174 mph (280 kph), which was 6 mph (10 kph) more than in the M2. The model with the automatic gearbox only took 4.2 seconds to hit 62 mph (100 kph) from a standstill.

Then, in 2019, BMW came up with the M2 CS, with 444 horsepower and 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque for a run from 0 to 62 mph (100 kph) in 4.0 seconds when equipped with the automatic transmission or 4.2 with the manual.

This example right here is none of the superheroes wearing the Competition or CS badge. It is a standard M2 Coupe, but it comes with its fair share of glory. It rolled off the assembly line in 2017, painted in Austin Yellow Metallic, a vibrant shade so vivid that photos don't tell half the story. Under certain lighting conditions, the Austin Yellow glows into a gold tone. No other M2 would ever drive through the factory gate sporting that color.

The yellow paintwork was combined with a black leather interior with yellow stitching. Furthermore, it sports exclusive options and customizations purchased for over $26,445 back in 2017.

It comes with the seven-speed automatic transmission, the one that equips the fastest versions of the lineup and manages the 365 horsepower output, steering it toward the rear axle.

The car also spots the Executive Package with adaptive Xenon headlights, a heated steering wheel, wireless charging, and a WiFi hotspot, plus driver assistance systems.

The model is an instant head-turner. It rocks carbon fiber side skirt winglets, a rear spoiler, and an M Performance exhaust system for the M-typical sound drama. It is not a V8 in there, but it is BMW's next best thing.

The M2 rides on 19-inch Y-spoke silver light alloy wheels with BMW M ventilated and cross-drilled compound disc brakes with floating brake rotors.

Carbon fiber and black Alcantara are inside the cabin, and so are the heated power buckets seats, the rearview camera, and the automatic climate control, together with the SiriusXM radio.

It now resides in The Michael Fox Collection, but not for long. The model will be auctioned off at the Kissimmee event in January 2024. The odometer only reads 30 miles (48 kilometers). And remember, it is a six-year-old car that we are dealing with. So it is obvious that it has been a garage queen all its life.

The first owner of this F87 BMW M2 paid $114,085 to take home in 2017. A stock BMW could be purchased six years ago for around $50,000. The listing on the Mecum website does not mention the sum that the bidding starts with. Therefore, how much the future owner will pay for this unique BMW M2 in Austin Yellow remains to be seen.