Back in August 2023, the second-generation M2 lapped the most grueling racetrack of them all in 7:33.90 with BMW M development engineer Jorg Weidinger behind the wheel. Seven months later, Sport Auto test driver Christian Gebhardt managed a respectable 7:38.23 on the same type of tire (factory-issue Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber shoes) used in the original BMW-conducted test.
Of course, Sport Auto's lap time is on the 20.6-km configuration of the Green Hell as opposed to the full 20.83 kilometers (12.94 miles). Few automakers and even fewer private parties can drive the entire length at speed because that requires a closed track, which is prohibitively expensive. For the Bridge to Gantry tourist driving configuration, the length is 19.1 kilometers (that'd be 11.9 miles).
The smallest M car in production today rocks 275/35 R19 tires up front and 285/30 R20s for the rear wheels. Obviously enough, both the BMW and Sport Auto tests were conducted with automatic-equipped M2s due to the ZF 8HP's quicker shifts. The manual, however, is the one to have if you prefer driver engagement over tenths of a second.
BMW's car from last year was optioned in Black Sapphire Metallic, which adds $650 to the final price of the rear-drive coupe in the United States market. Only Alpine White and Zandvoort Blue don't cost a single cent over the starting price of $63,200 (plus the $995 destination freight charge).
Sport Auto's car, on the other hand, sports Brooklyn Gray Metallic. It's a $650 option as well, but you can get higher than that with the paint color. Frozen Pure Gray Metallic and Frozen Portimao Blue II Metallic both add $2,350 to the tally for MY2024.
Photo: Sport Auto on YouTube
Speaking of the model year, the 2025 BMW M2 is expected to enter production in August 2024 with slightly more power. Bimmerpost's brigadier general suggests 475 horses, although it's not clear if he's referring to metric or mechanical ponies.
Prior to BMW debuting the updated M4 with 523 horsepower in xDrive form, ynguldyn listed the 2025 model with 530 horsepower on Bimmerpost. In any case, you can definitely expect a bigger punch from the 2025 BMW M2. The brigadier general further understands that Sao Paulo Yellow, Skyscraper Gray, Portimao Blue, and Mineral Red will be added to the couple's paint color palette.
New wheel designs are reportedly in the offing as well, and come August 2025 for model year 2026, the M2 CS is expected to enter production with the ZF-supplied automatic transmission only. It's not clear whether the upcoming M2 Competition Sport will be rear-wheel drive or feature M xDrive.
There's also talk of an M2 xDrive with the same output as the M2 CS. Considering that BMW gifted the M3 and M4 with M xDrive in combination with the automatic transmission, the trick all-wheel-drive system could very well come to the M2 as well.
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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