BMW M2

Safety features will include:

• Autonomous emergency braking
• Lane departure warning and steering assist
• Attentiveness Assistant
• Rear-cross traffic alert and braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Active cruise control with stop & go function (auto only)
• Parking Assistant software

BMW Germany quotes WLTP efficiency of 10.2L/100km for the manual and 9.8L/100km for the auto – Australian figures are TBC. The fuel tank is 52L.

All BMW M2’s need servicing every 0 Months months or 0,000km km, whichever comes first.

The 3.0-litre TwinPower turbo inline-six punches out 338kW of power and 550Nm peak torque (from 2650rpm), while the engine revs to 7200rpm. The peak power is up 36kW on the old M2 Competition.

BMW claims the M2’s new engine “differs only in a small number of details from the engine employed in the BMW M3/BMW M4”, though the M4 Competition offers 375kW and 650Nm.

There’s an exhaust system with electrically actuated flaps and four tailpipes.

While the standard transmission is an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic with paddle shifters and shift characteristics linked to driving modes, there’s also a six-speed manual gearbox option – just as BMW promised.

The auto is a touch quicker: the 0-100km/h claim is just 4.1 seconds, versus 4.3sec for the manual. For some context the outgoing M2 Comp claimed 4.2sec. BMW says top speed is 250km/h with a limiter, but this can be raised to 285km/h with the M Driver’s Package.

BMW has quite naturally stuck with rear-wheel drive, with an Active M Differential that can generate a locking effect of up to 100 per cent. It’s all networked with the stability control for maximum cohesion.

• Engine: 3.0-litre TwinPower turbo inline-six
• Power and torque: 338kW and 550Nm
• Driven wheels: Rear
• Transmissions: 8AT with paddles or six-speed manual
• 0-100km/h: 4.1sec top 4.3sec (auto quicker)

Stopping power comes from 380mm front rotors with six-piston fixed callipers, and 370mm rears with single-piston floating callipers, painted in blue metallic. They sit behind 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, wearing 275/35 ZR19 front and 285/30 ZR20 rear tyres.

BMW has also made some tweaks to the M Dynamic Mode which allows extra wheel slip at the push of a button, by integrating it with the engine management and shortening the signal path.

You can find more details on all the options and inclusions across the BMW M2 variants on the official website, and within the official BMW M2 specifications page.

There are two solid and three metallic exterior paint choices: Alpine White, Sapphire Black, Brooklyn Grey, Toronto Red, and Zandvoort Blue.

BMW’s warranty is three years, with roadside assist. Service prices are TBC.