MUNICH: Mean, powerful and politically incorrect - the final combustion-powered coupe from BMW's M performance division is a classic powerhouse with rear-wheel drive and great handling.
Amid all the upheaval in the industry, the Munich maker presents what division boss Frank van Meel has called "the gateway drug" for petrol-heads addicted to the firm's range of uprated M cars.
The M2 has a wide, edgy look thanks to the prominent front air ducts and the model slots in below the M3 and M4 to lock horns with the Porsche 718 Cayman and cheaper versions of Renault's Alpine A110.
The two-door M2 has a more aggressive design treatment than previous incarnations which fits in well with BMW's current "in-your-face" image seen on saloons and SUVs.
For prices starting at €72,800 (RM331,000) in its home market, the M2 delivers 460hp or 338kW from its turbocharged engine.
The straight six engine can send the M2 streaking from 0 to 100kph in 4.1 seconds (with an automatic gearbox) and on to an electronically-pegged 285kph. The manual gearbox issue is a tad slower off the mark.
Frugal fuel consumption is not uppermost in an M2-driver's mind, so the distinctly un-green official average figure of 9.7 litres per 100 km should be acceptable to most buyers. CO2 emissions are 218 g/km.
The M2 gets three distinct driving modes: Road, sport and track and comes with a taut chassis. The package adds up to spirited road performance and track fun for those who want it.
A firmed-up and even sportier version of the new M2 is in the pipeline, UK car mag Autocar has reported.
SPECIFICATIONS
