The BMW 1M Coupe was one of the greatest and most-loved M cars of all time. Now BMW aims for a hardcore, high-performance repeat with the new 2 Series. After almost two years of anticipation, this is the new BMW M2.
The photos come to us from a leaked copy of the UK car magazine Auto Express, and to us specifically from Kinja user eightythird. Today BMW will unveil the M2 in full over Periscope, but these scans give us an idea what’s coming just a little early.
According to Auto Express, the M2 gets the M235i’s turbo 3.0-liter inline six turned up to 370 horsepower and 343 lb-ft of torque. An additional 25 lb-ft of torque comes from an overboost function.
Now, for the M stuff: the gearboxes, brakes, front and rear axles, crankshaft and pistons come from the M4 and M3, plus it has an extra water cooler to keep things chill. It’s also 78 pounds lighter than the M235i.
You’ll notice I said gearboxes just now. That’s right—the M2 won’t be manual-only, as many expected. Buyers get the option of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox, just like the M4 and M3. Zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) happens in 4.5 seconds with the manual and 4.3 with the DCT. Hey, whatever floats your boat.
Expect to see more from the M2 today. I can’t wait.
Contact the author at patrick@jalopnik.com.