Seen driving around the Nürburgring, this 2022 BMW M2 Competition prototype isn’t your typical M2.
Setting it apart from the regular M2 that’s been previously spied are the large, black Competition wheels, the slightly larger exhaust pipes, as well as the BMW carbon bucket seats.
Apart from those items it’s a little hard to distinguish between the regular M2 and M2 Competition so far as both prototypes are still covered in heavy camouflage.
Like the M2, the M2 Competition is expected to be revealed at some stage in 2022 with different prototype versions expected to be spied before then.
As seen in previous spy photos, this M2 has been spared from the polarising kidney grille found on the M3 and M4.
Instead, the M2 will stay true to the previous-generation car and feature slimmer, almost rectangular twin grilles more reminiscent of BMW’s past.
You’ll easily be able to distinguish the M2 from other 2 Series by the quad exhaust pipes – a popular design cue within the M range.
Inside, the M2 as previously spied looks more like the upcoming all-electric i4 than the regular 2 Series.
While the Australian-market 2 Series will offer a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster plus a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, the M2 looks to have the large ‘curved’ display seen in the i4 and iX.
In those cars, the digital instrument cluster still measures 12.3 inches, but blends almost seamlessly with a 14.9-inch touchscreen in one large housing.
The regular 2022 BMW 2 Series coupe has already been revealed with the Australian range kicking off at $59,900 before on-road costs for the rear-wheel drive 220i.
Above this in the current two car line-up is the all-wheel drive M240i xDrive which starts at $89,990 and features a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six petrol engine producing 285kW of power and 500Nm of torque.
Deliveries of these standard 2 Series models are expected before the end of 2021.
Unlike the M240i xDrive that’ll head the local 2 Series range, the M2 is expected to remain rear-wheel drive.
The regular M2 model will reportedly produce more power than the current M2 Competition, which produces 302kW and 550Nm from its 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine.
The outgoing ‘regular’ M2, last seen here in 2018, put out 272kW and 465Nm.
The new-generation M2 is rumoured to see its output increased to 335kW or even 365kW, with a six-speed manual also expected to continue.
This level of power puts the larger M3 and M4 in its crosshairs. They put out 353kW and 550Nm in base, manual guise, with the Competition models pumping out 375kW.
The M2, like the 2 Series, shares a version of the 3 Series and 4 Series model’s CLAR platform.
At the moment the M2 has no direct rivals. Mercedes-Benz doesn’t have a two-door coupe this small, while the Mercedes-AMG CLA45 features four-door coupe styling and but all-wheel drive.
There hasn’t been any local launch timing announced for the upcoming M2 and M2 Competition, but stay tuned to CarExpert for any new updates as they happen.
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2022 BMW M240i
