Tag Archives: M2

News

BMW M2 Goes All-Paw: xDrive Is Coming for the Baby M

For decades, the smallest M car has clung to a simple, tire-smoking philosophy: two driven wheels, a straight-six up front, and a driver willing to do the rest. Now that changes. BMW is preparing to fit the M2 with all-wheel drive for the first time, aligning its pocket rocket with the traction-maxed ways of the BMW M3, BMW M4, and even the thunderous BMW M5.

The new M2 xDrive—briefly outed on BMW’s U.S. website—will be offered alongside the standard rear-driver. In other words, purists can keep their smoky exits, while the stopwatch set gets a new weapon.

Automatic Only, Attitude Intact

There’s a catch, of course. The all-wheel-drive setup will be paired exclusively with BMW’s eight-speed automatic. That means the six-speed manual—currently a point of pride for the rear-drive car—remains a RWD-only affair. If you want three pedals, you’ll have to do without the extra driveshafts.

But don’t expect the xDrive system to turn the M2 into a nose-heavy snow plow. Like other recent M cars, the setup is expected to be rear-biased, with selectable drive modes and likely a full rear-drive setting for those who want to cosplay as drift heroes. BMW’s modern M xDrive systems have proven adept at walking the line between security and silliness; there’s little reason to think this one will be any different.

More Power to Offset the Pounds

Under the hood, expect the familiar 3.0-liter twin-turbo S58 inline-six to carry over—only with a bump. Current output sits at 480 horsepower, but whispers suggest the xDrive variant could creep closer to 530 horsepower, brushing up against BMW M2 CS territory.

That extra muscle won’t be frivolous. All-wheel drive hardware adds mass—front half-shafts, a transfer case, and reinforced components aren’t weightless. With the scale likely nudging toward 1800 kilograms (just shy of 4000 pounds), the added horsepower should help preserve the M2’s hard-edged punch.

Launch Control, Unleashed

The real payoff will come at the drag strip—or more realistically, at your local stoplight. Extra traction should slash the 0–100 km/h (62 mph) sprint to under four seconds, turning the once-tail-happy scrapper into a repeatable launch-control assassin. Where the rear-drive car demands finesse off the line, the xDrive model should simply hook and go.

Built in Mexico, Aimed at the World

Production is expected to begin mid-year at BMW’s San Luis Potosí plant in Mexico, with market arrival slated for the second half of 2026. That gives enthusiasts time to decide which side of the philosophical fence they stand on.

The M2 has long been the holdout—the last small M car to resist the pull of front-axle assistance. Soon, it’ll join the all-weather, all-surface club. The question isn’t whether it’ll be quicker. It will be.

The real question is whether quicker makes it better—or just different.

Source: BMW

News

BMW M2 Track Package: Munich’s Mini Missile Is About to Get Meaner

BMW M is always cooking. Bavaria’s speed-obsessed skunkworks can’t seem to leave the M2 alone, and honestly, we’re not complaining. The “G87” M2 has already seen a couple of evolutionary tweaks since its debut, but 2026 looks to be a milestone year for BMW’s pocket-sized hooligan. And no, it’s not just because an xDrive version is lurking somewhere in Munich’s future product brief.

Before the inevitable all-wheel-drive variant lands, BMW is turning up the heat with a new Track Package. It’s officially confirmed but shrouded in typical BMW M secrecy. Recent spy shots from the Nürburgring reveal a camouflaged test mule that looks suspiciously like the one teased by the brand — only this time, it’s sporting some very un-M2-like aero hardware.

Aero Goes Aggro

For the first time, we’re seeing large front canards, also known as dive planes or aero flics, jutting from the bumper. Paired with a pronounced rear wing and a subtle front lip spoiler, the package screams “track toy” more than “daily driver.” The prototype, finished in Sao Paulo Yellow, rolls on the familiar 827M wheels, though it’s what’s underneath that really counts.

BMW already sells a range of M Performance parts for the M2 — including coilovers that drop the front and rear axles by 20 and 25 millimeters, respectively — but these spy shots suggest something more bespoke. Expect revised suspension tuning and possibly lightweight components developed specifically for this Track Package.

Street Legal, Track Ready

The company calls it a “street-legal track day package,” hinting that it could be offered both as a retrofit for existing cars and a factory option on new ones. Don’t expect it to debut as a standalone model; this isn’t an M2 CS or CSL successor. Instead, think of it as the sweet spot between the standard M2 and the hardcore limited-edition specials.

By the time the Track Package hits showrooms, the M2 CS will likely have wrapped up its short production run. That raises the obvious question: can a Track Package–equipped M2 outpace the CS around the Nürburgring? The CS set a blistering 7:25.5 lap — not an easy target. With roughly 50 fewer horsepower and potentially more weight, the new kit might not dethrone the CS. Then again, BMW might prefer to leave that crown unchallenged, at least until a full-bore M2 CSL inevitably enters the chat.

Pick Your Poison

Expect the package to be available with both manual and automatic transmissions, since its focus is more on chassis and aero than raw power. Think of it as the enthusiast’s choice for those who drive their M2s to the circuit on Friday and home again on Sunday — tires scuffed, brakes smoking, and grins intact.

Of course, if you’d rather skip the license plate altogether, there’s the M2 Racing — a track-only, €100,000 special powered by the smaller B48 four-cylinder. It sacrifices displacement and civility for lower running costs and lighter weight. The Track Package, on the other hand, aims to be that perfect middle ground: visceral, usable, and just unhinged enough to remind you why BMW M still matters.

BMW’s baby M is growing sharper teeth. With the Track Package on the horizon — and the possible arrival of xDrive after that — the M2’s story is far from over. If this is what Munich calls a “mid-cycle refresh,” we can’t wait to see what happens when they go full CSL.

Source: RingPrototypes via Instagram

Tuning

This Royalty Purple BMW M2 Proves Bold Still Sells

The G87-generation BMW M2 hasn’t exactly been starved of attention since its debut nearly three years ago. Between the internet debates over its design and the flood of tuner builds trying to outdo one another, BMW’s baby M car has become a favorite canvas for customization. Making one stand out in this crowded scene is no small feat—but this Royalty Purple creation manages to do just that, and then some.

Wrapped in a deep, high-gloss purple that seems to shift tone depending on the light, this M2 has undergone a transformation that’s impossible to ignore. The finish polarizes like few others—it’s the sort of color that’ll make some stop dead in admiration and others roll their eyes. Either way, you’re looking.

But the updates here go far beyond color therapy. The stance tells the rest of the story: a KW Variant 3 coilover suspension drops the car closer to the tarmac, dialing out some of the stock wheel gap while sharpening the visual aggression. A full aero kit adds extra menace—front and rear lips, chunkier side skirts, and a ground-hugging posture that hints at intent rather than subtlety.

The factory alloys, fine though they are, have been binned in favor of Barracuda’s Ultralight Series wheels finished in Hyper Silber. They measure 20 inches up front and 21 out back, wrapped in Hankook Ventus S1 evo³ rubber (285/30ZR20 and 295/25ZR21, respectively). The combo not only fills the arches perfectly but also adds an extra dose of motorsport attitude.

It’s the kind of build that would feel right at home parked under the neon lights of the Essen Motor Show, on the polished floors of SEMA, or among the wild machines of the Tokyo Auto Salon. The craftsmanship straddles that fine line between street style and show-car polish.

Of course, if you prefer your modifications with a BMW part number attached, the brand’s M Performance catalog offers no shortage of factory-blessed hardware for the M2—everything from carbon bits to exhaust upgrades. And if purple isn’t your thing, BMW’s Individual program is gradually expanding its color palette. But for those unwilling to wait (or play it safe), a well-executed wrap like this proves there’s still room for personality—even in a sea of customized M cars.

In a world where the G87 M2 continues to divide opinions, this Royalty Purple example leans fully into the controversy—and somehow, it works.

Source: scope_shots via Instagram