More power, more gear and a higher price! 2023 BMW M2 Coupe gets M4 powertrain tech and keeps rear-drive thrills

BMW has lifted the lid on its new-generation M2 sports coupe, and it gets an extra dollop of power over the old model, as well as a higher price.

The original M2’s combination of rear-wheel drive dynamics, punchy powertrain and lightweight thrills ensured it became a modern classic, while clocking up 60,000 sales worldwide.

BMW is promising just as many thrills for the second-generation M2 which, once again, is based on the new 2 Series Coupe that arrived in Australia earlier this year.

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It will sprint into BMW dealerships in the first half of 2023 and is priced from $119,900 before on-road costs - which is $17,000 more than the previous M2 Competition.

The new M2 maintains the compact dimensions of its predecessor, but after seeing it in the metal ahead of its reveal at Melbourne’s Motorclassica event over the weekend, it still has the chunky look of the old model.

That’s thanks to the flared side skirts and bulging wheel arches. At the rear it has a boot lid spoiler and a big rear diffuser insert with a quad exhaust.

BMW says the new M2 is 214mm shorter and has a 110mm shorter wheelbase than its M4 Coupe stablemate, but it’s a good 53mm wider than the original M2. Compared with the previous M2 Competition, the new one has a 38mm wider front and 4mm wider rear track.

Most importantly it uses the same engine from the M3 and M4 twins, with only minor modifications, so that means a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder twin-turbocharged petrol engine.

This time around, the outputs are 338kW of power at 6250rpm and 550Nm between 2650-5870rpm, that is 36kW more than the previous M2 Competition, but the torque figure is the same.

Unsurprisingly, BMW has ensured that the bigger M3/M4 twins have more power to reflect their status in the M line-up - they both pump out 353kW/550Nm, while the M3/M4 Competition delivers a potent 375kW/650Nm.

The M2 will be available with a six-speed manual transmission and an eight-speed automatic transmission exclusively driving the rear wheels.

BMW says the M2 can race from 0-100km/h in 4.1 seconds in the auto and 4.3sec with the manual.

The coupe’s rear-drive dynamics are aided by standard M Traction Control and the Active M Differential, which generates a locking effect up to 100 per cent when required.

BMW says the sharpened dynamics are further enhanced by the 50:50 weight distribution (it weighs 1725kg), and adaptive M suspension for the double-joint spring strut front axle and five-link rear axle.

It will be fitted with 19-inch M light alloy wheels at the front and 20-inch hoops at the rear.

Inside the M2 features BMW’s curved display which combines a 12.3-inch digital cluster for driving information and a 14.9-inch multimedia screen. It also gets a head-up display with M-specific information.

Owners will have access to the My BMW app and BMW ID.

Other standard gear includes metallic paint, M sports seats, three-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting, harmon/kardon sound system, keyless entry and start, power seat adjustment, heated front seats and steering wheel, wireless smartphone charger and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

An M Carbon Experience package from $14,500 adds carbon bucket seats as seen in the Ms/M4, a higher top speed and a voucher for a BMW Driving Experience course.

The original M2 went on sale in Australia in 2016 and was offered in regular and slightly stripped back Pure guise. However, after the engine in the initial grades fell foul of tightening Euro regulations, it was replaced by the M2 Competition in 2018.