BMW M2 2023: second-generation tyre-smoking coupe set for first half 2023 Australian arrival

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The highly anticipated BMW M2 has been fully revealed at last and we now have a much clearer picture of what is in store for the rear-wheel-driven legend. 

BMW has not held back, pushing the coupe’s power figures up to 338kW, while torque sits at 550Nm. 

Available in both six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmissions, the new M2 is a step ahead of its predecessor, with new styling, interior technologies and engine and chassis enhancements.

The new M2 is coming to Australia in the first half of 2023 and will be priced from $119,900 before on-road costs. 

That makes the second-generation car quite a bit more expensive than the outgoing first-gen M2 competition that cost $102,900 when it first launched in manual guise. 

BMW says that it has sold more than 2600 M2s since its first introduction in 2016 here in Australia.

Powertrains and performance for the M2

The second-generation BMW M2 is fitted with the same engine also found in the M3 sedan and M4 coupe – the S58 twin-turbocharged straight-six petrol engine. 

In the M2, this engine is tuned to produce outputs of 338kW/550Nm, which puts the two-door coupe only slightly behind the outputs of the standard 353kW/550Nm M3. 

What’s new for M2 in 2023?

The new BMW M2 is a larger car than its predecessor, measuring 119mm longer, 16mm wider but also 7mm lower than before. Its wheelbase has grown, too, by 38mm. 

Five colours are available for the new coupe, including two brand new shades: Zandvoort blue and Toronto red metallic.

A big addition to the car will be a carbon-fibre roof that will be sold as standard on all Australian-delivered M2s. BMW says this reduces weight by around six kilograms when compared to common steel. 

Once again, the M2 will be available with two transmission options: a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic transmission.

However, the automatic transmission will not be a dual-clutch unit like the outgoing car. Instead, it will be what BMW calls a ‘Steptronic’ system. In other words, it’ll be the eight-speed ZF unit as used in the M3 and M4 models. 

The automatic M2 is claimed by BMW to be able to reach 100km/h in 4.1 seconds, with the manual variant just 0.2 seconds slower, at 4.3 seconds to 100km/h. 

Also fitted to the new M2 will be an active M differential that’ll be perfect for sideways antics, along with a ten-stage M traction control system that can be tweaked on the go – much like the system fitted to Mercedes-AMGs. 

Other dynamic standard equipment includes adaptive M suspension, M steering, M dynamic drive modes and brakes that measure 380mm at the front and 370mm at the rear. 

Standard tyres are 19-inch at the front, with larger 20-inch units on the rear. Two different wheel design options are available at no-cost.

What about things other than performance?

The BMW M2 has now been fitted with the latest iDrive 8 software that pairs with the new BMW curved display. The display consists of a 14.9-inch touchscreen display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. A head-up display is also standard kit on Australian-delivered M2s. 

For comfort, the M2 comes standard with M sport seats finished in leather, however you can option M carbon seats that weigh in together 10.8kg lighter than the standard pews. 

Other standard niceties include a Harman/Kardon sound system, ambient lighting, adaptive LED headlights, wireless smartphone integration and a wireless phone charger.

The core optional extra on the Australian-delivered M2 is the M carbon experience ($14,500) that includes M carbon bucket seats that can be tailored for five-point harnesses, as well as a BMW driver experience course (advanced 1 and 2) to tweak your skill set on track. 

BMW M2 2023: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-road costs.

• M2: $119,900