The most anticipated M car in years appears to be almost ready for prime time. With an expected reveal at the Frankfurt International Auto Show in September, and production due to begin in November, BMW is still running high-speed tests at the Nürburgring on the first-ever M2 coupe.
The M2 is the car we’ve been waiting for since BMW stopped building the limited-production 1 M Coupe. It is the spiritual successor to the E30 and E36 M3s, when those M3’s were smaller and lighter than their subsequent replacement M3’s and M4s.
In these spy photos, we can see the more pronounced flare in the fenders and the signature quad tail pipes. The wheels pretty much fill the wheel arches and the brakes are obviously larger than a normal 2 Series’.
BMW has not yet revealed the powertrain but industry observers expect an updated N55 turbocharged inline six that produces 365 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque. The M2 is rumored to have the M limited-slip differential from the M3/M4 and the suspension and brakes should be very similar to what is on the M3/M4 as well.
For BMW M enthusiasts, the time between now and the Frankfurt show in September is like trying to go to sleep while waiting for Santa Claus. Judging by these photos and what we expect is under the car’s skin, the M2 is one present we can’t wait to open.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of Bimmerpost.com.]
