Today
Bavaria’s worst kept secret, the BMW M2, has appeared in the computer system of US BMW dealers, revealing additional details of the still-to-be-confirmed compact sports coupe.
A screen grab of the dealer production timeline tracker – revealed by BMW enthusiast blog Bimmer Post – shows that production of the M2 coupe for the US market is scheduled to begin in November.
BMW continues to refuse to confirm the existence of the M2, despite spy photographers capturing a number of prototypes testing in Europe numerous times last year.
The revelation suggests we’re likely to see the production M2 coupe – or a thinly veiled concept version – make its debut in the second half of the year, potentially at the Frankfurt motor show in September.
The M2 will sit between the M235i and M3 coupes in BMW’s performance car line-up, giving the Bavarian brand a direct rival for fellow Germans, the Audi RS3 and the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG.
Secrecy still surrounds the M2’s engine. As with the earlier 1 Series M coupe, the M2 will be powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six petrol engine, and it’s guaranteed to peak somewhere between the 240kW/450Nm of the single-turbo M235i and the 317kW/550Nm of the twin-turbo M3/M4 twins.
The most recent reports have estimated its power rating to land somewhere between 270-280kW when the car officially breaks cover in the coming months.
Six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions will be available – the latter with steering wheel paddleshifters – and drive will be sent to the rear wheels. An electronically controlled limited-slip differential, similar to that found in the M3/M4, is also expected to feature.
Autocar claims dual-clutch versions of the M2 will accelerate from 0-100km/h in about 4.4 seconds, knocking half a second off the old 1 Series M’s sprint while still trailing the M4 by two tenths.
Today’s revelation suggests Australian enthusiasts should see the BMW M2 in local showrooms by early 2016, with an anticipated starting price of around $100,000 plus on-road costs. The old 1 Series M coupe cost $99,990.
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