Summary
- The 2024 BMW M2 is a masterpiece that offers incredible performance for the middle-of-the-line enthusiast.
- This sports coupe provides a purist driving experience, blending comfort with track-focused technology.
- The M2 boasts a powerful engine, manual transmission option, and a luxurious yet sporty interior design.
If you’re looking for a modern sports coupe, there are tons of options out there that offer incredible performance. Each is custom crafted for a purpose, like a piece of art catering to a specific set of eyes. In this realm, the 2024 BMW M2 is a masterpiece that could easily turn the eyes of just about anyone, a rare instance of a sports car that everyone can appreciate.
The 2024 BMW M2 is a car built for the middle-of-the-line enthusiast. Since the invention of the motor, there has been a debate about which is better, modern or classic sports cars. The BMW M2 caters to those looking for a purist experience devoid of too much interference, while also providing all the comfort and technology associated with the modern age.
We deconstruct BMW’s newest iteration of the M2 and find out just what makes it tick. We uncover the technology and engineering that makes it both a track-focused demon while at the same time being a sophisticated experience that you’ll be delighted to live with day-to-day.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various BMW websites and other authoritative sources, including Car and Driver.
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The 2024 M2 Is A Powerhouse Designed To Dominate The Road And Track
Since its inception, the BMW M2 has always been a weapon. It is a monster with tons of power under the hood that, much like its stablemates, offers blistering acceleration and track-focused technology to boost performance to the extreme. The current M2 carries that ethos forward.
Performance
|
Engine |
3.0-Liter Twin-Turbocharged Inline-Six |
|---|---|
|
Transmission |
6-Speed Manual or 8-Speed Automatic |
|
Horsepower |
453 hp |
|
Torque |
406 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
RWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
4.2 Seconds |
|
Top Speed |
177 MPH |
(Source: BMW)
At the heart of the 2024 M2 is the same powertrain that comes standard in the M3 and the M4. It does make 20 horsepower less in the M2, but its torque is identical. This incredible powertrain makes the M2 blisteringly quick, with Car and Driver beating BMW’s claimed zero to 60 mile per hour claim with a 3.9 second time.
The M2 comes with just about everything that you would expect from a track-focused car and more.
Just about everything has been tweaked to make the M2 more responsive and more agile. You can even tweak and save your preferred driving set-ups or simply choose one of BMW’s presets.
Along with all that power and agility, BMW has also included six-piston 15-inch breaks on the front end and 14.6-inch single piston rear breaks to ensure unrivaled stopping power.
A Six-Speed Manual
One of the M2’s biggest claims to fame, though, is the fact that it still offers a manual transmission. While no one is denying that BMW’s eight-speed automatic can shift faster than any human possibly can, nothing beats the feeling of shifting a car manually. This feature is symbolic of the M2’s entire ethos of being driver-centric.
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On The Inside The M2 Features The Perfect Blend Of Luxury And Sportiness
We’ve established that the BMW M2 is a beast and that it has the power and equipment to beat anything, whether it be around a track or in a zero to 60 pull. Another area that BMW is increasingly priding itself on, though, is technology. The interior of the M2 is packed with all the comfort features that you would expect out of a luxury car with all the sporty design queues that make it feel like the race car that it is.
Tons Of Tech
What is so impressive about the M2 is that while it absolutely dominates on the track, it is one of the easiest sports coupes to live with on a daily basis. This is in part thanks to BMW’s focus on technology and equipment.
Comfort And Design
The 2024 BMW M2 is a 2+2 coupe, which means that while it has two doors, there is an additional row of seating in the rear. Passengers sitting up front are treated to an incredible amount of legroom and headroom alongside the driver. However, those relegated to the back will be wishing that you had bought a BMW M3 instead.
The cabin is littered with upscale materials and hand stitching, which offers a luxury vibe, yet at the same time the design reminds you constantly that this is a BMW M race car and is ready to go at a moment’s notice. You can opt for the carbon fiber package which will replace your seats with more frame-hugging ones that promise to shed some extra weight.
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The M2 Offers A More Raw Experience Than Its Rivals
The BMW M2 is special for a ton of reasons but key among them is its affordability and its purist ideology. It’s a rare combination that is becoming ever rarer as we move forward into a new era of sports cars. Its combination of its price tag and its performance is something that makes it a brilliant track day weapon on the weekends and a thrilling daily driver.
M2 vs Rivals
|
Model |
MSRP |
Horsepower |
Torque |
0 to 60 MPH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
BMW M2 |
$63,200 |
453 hp |
406 lb-ft |
4.2 Seconds |
|
$114,400 |
379 hp |
331 lb-ft |
4 Seconds |
|
|
$62,600 |
385 hp |
384 lb-ft |
4.5 Seconds |
|
|
$73,395 |
650 hp |
650 lb-ft |
3.5 Seconds |
(Source: BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Chevrolet)
When comparing some of its rivals, both its German competitors and American muscle cars, it becomes clear that the 2024 M2 fits a specific niche. It balances power, luxury, and performance in a way that nobody else seems to be able to. Any of its rivals that are quicker are more expensive and any of its rivals that have a similar price tag don’t live up to its performance or its technology.
Circling back again to the six-speed manual, it’s a particular feature that tons of car enthusiasts value. Its rivals in Germany either don’t offer it at all or require you to fork out tons of money for higher tiered trims to gain access to it. While there are cars like the Camaro that offer the manual transmission and rival the M2 off the line, they’re completely stripped-down track cars that offer none of the luxury that the M2 does and come with a higher price tag to boot.
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We Still Patiently Await A New M2 Competition
While you can grab yourself the M Driver’s Package on the M2 and earn yourself a substantial boost in performance, the ultimate next step would be the M2 Competition. Looking across the board at other BMW M sports cars, the Competition version promises to be even more finely tuned and churn out more power.
Is It Necessary?
There are a ton of questions which we still await the answers for when it comes to the M2 Competition. The biggest one by far is whether or not it will still offer the ever-desirable manual transmission. Competition packages usually focus on pure performance and while the automatic transmission is better in that sense, the manual is part of the M2’s more engaging identity. What we can be sure of is that it will offer more power and more features that help it shred corners at an even more ridiculous rate.
All of this begs the question as to whether a Competition package is even necessary. The M2 is the more rambunctious younger sibling to the M3 and the M4. It doesn’t offer as much in the way of track performance and it has less power too. However, its less of a fine scalpel and more of a plaything, with just enough edge to make it that extra bit exciting. Will a more track focused M2 ruin the fine balance it has between performance and fun? This is something that only time will tell.
