Is This 370-HP BMW M2 the BMW We've Been Dreaming Of?
The newest member to the BMW M family has been unveiled sporting a new six-cylinder inline turbocharged engine.
Powering the new BMW M2 is a newly developed 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine equipped with M TwinPower Turbo technology to provide 370 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque that can be increased to 369 lb-ft in short bursts with overboost. The luxury sports car will come standard with a six-speed manual transmission, although a seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission (M DCT) is available as an option. According to BMW, the M2 does the zero-to-62-mph sprint in 4.5 seconds with the manual transmission and 4.3 seconds with the M DCT, while top speed will be electronically limited to 155 mph. Those opting for the M Driver’s Package will get their top speed increased to 168 mph.
Helping fuel economy for the new turbocharged engine is standard Auto Start Stop and Brake Energy Regeneration, while intelligent energy management of other components also help save fuel. For example, the coolant pump only operates when it’s required and the oil pump is map controlled. In addition, the air conditioning compressor is disconnected when it’s not being used while the Electric Power Steering actually requires no electric energy when the vehicle is simply driving straight ahead.
SEE ALSO: 2015 BMW M235i xDrive Review
As with other BMW M models, the M2 sports more aggressive styling with a wider body compared to the standard 2 Series and will come with lightweight 19-inch forged wheels. Up front is a pair of 19×9-inch wheels paired to 245/35/19 Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires while the rear goes slightly wider with a 19×10-inch setup and 265/35/19 rubber. Braking comes in the form of four-piston calipers up front and two-piston calipers in the rear with 15-inch rotors in the front and 14.5-inch rotors in the back.
The BMW M2 is the successor to the 1 Series M coupe, which packed 340 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, so it’s clear that the German automaker has made numerous improvements in the performance department. The company also confirmed that it clocked a Nurburgring lap time of 7:58, making it seven seconds faster than the previous-generation M3 coupe and quite a bit faster than the 1 Series M coupe that turned in a 8:12 lap time.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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