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BMW

EXCLUSIVE: BMW M2 Australian specifications

BMW M2 Coupe

In addition to our previous post giving you Australian list pricing for the new BMW M2 Coupe, following is a very long list of standard specifications for the local market. Starting with February production we expect local deliveries to follow by around April or May.

The M2 Coupe starts with the manual only M2 Pure model ,priced from $89,900 and is joined by the M2, priced from $98,900.

For the extra nine grand you get the following standard equipment:

  • 7-speed DCT (6-speed manual is a NCO)
  • Alarm system
  • Adaptive headlights
  • BMW Selective Beam
  • Comfort Access System
  • Electric seats
  • Seat heating (driver and passenger)
  • harman/kardon Sound System

Full details can be found after the break.

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BMW

EXCLUSIVE: BMW M2 priced from AU$89,900

BMW M2 Coupe

This is the new BMW M2 Coupe. It’s powered by a 3.0 litre inline six cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine, making 272kW/465Nm. Fitted with a 7-speed DCT it can reach 100km/h in 4.3 seconds, add a couple of tenths for a 6-speed manual. BMW claims the M2 can lap the Nordschleife in 7 minutes 58 seconds.

Officially announced in mid-October the M2 Coupe will be on Australian shores around (or just before) the middle of next year. The best news is the 6-speed manual model will be offered for local sale. And here’s the Australian list pricing:

BMW M2 Coupe Australian list pricing (exclusive)

  • M2 Pure (6-speed manual) – $89,900
  • M2 (7-speed DCT) – $98,900

BMW’s original launch press release and press kit is available after the break.

UPDATE 9 December: It has come to AUSmotive’s attention that there’s some conjecture over the list pricing and what’s included. For example, is LCT included in the prices quoted above? Yes it is, as per the screen grab below from the documentation sighted by AUSmotive.

2016 BMW M2 Australian pricing

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BMW

BMW M2 watch: It’s coming soon, real soon!

BMW M2 prototype at the Nurburgring

The new BMW M2 has been getting out and about lately putting in some good miles at the Nürburgring. And the latest word is that it won’t be too long until we get to see the car without its fancy swirly graphics.

Frank van Meel, BMW M boss, spoke to Dutch publication Autovisie recently and shared a few of his company’s upcoming plans.

First, there was Bad Frank. Boo, we don’t like Bad Frank, because he told us there are no current plans to make an M3 Touring. Bad Frank says there wouldn’t be enough demand for such a car.

“Is this clown f@%king kidding himself!” was the loud exclamation heard at AUSmotive HQ when we first read that news.

But it’s okay, because once Bad Frank mentioned that about an M3 Touring and something else about an M7 being a waste of time, he quickly transformed into Good Frank. Now, Good Frank only deals in the good shit.

Good Frank said the new M2 will be on show at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. And, even gooder, Good Frank reckons the M2 details and photographs will be revealed in full before the car makes it show debut.

So there you have it, indisputable proof that Good Frank is way better than Bad Frank.

For your added viewing pleasure there’s a couple of M2 videos after the break showing a couple of F87 M2 prototypes in action.

[Source: WCF & BimmerPost | Thanks to John for the tip]

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BMW

The BMW M2 and its 275kW power claims

F87 BMW M2 prototype

German publication Autobild predicts the new BMW M2 will boast 374PS (275kW). Further, the article also states maximum torque will be 520Nm.

This is inline with previous reports we’ve posted:

There’s been no change to the predicted power source, which means you can pencil in around 370–380PS (272–280kW) being offered from an N55B30T0 3.0 litre inline six cylinder turbo.

Autobild goes on to suggest the M2 will crack 100km/h in 4.3 seconds and will be priced from €56,500 for a base model with manual transmission, some €8500 more than an M235i.

[Source: Autobild via Bimmerpost | Pic: Bimmerpost | Thanks to John for the tip]

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BMW

BMW M2 development continues

BMW M2 prototype

A new BMW M2 prototype has been spotted testing at the Nürburgring in recent days. It appears as though this new F87 test mule is wearing a bodykit much closer to the final production spec.

At this stage, we can’t really tell you much else about the car’s details or performance expectations to add from the update we brought you in June:

There’s been no change to the predicted power source, which means you can pencil in around 370–380PS (272–280kW) being offered from an N55B30T0 3.0 litre inline six cylinder turbo.

We’ll continue to monitor the M2’s progress, eagerly awaiting its market launch sometime in 2015.

[Source: Carscoops | Pics: CarPix]

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BMW

BMW’s muscular M2 spied on the prowl

BMW M2 prototype

We’re always happy to follow the gestation of a new M product and here’s one of the latest snaps of a BMW M2 prototype in testing.

Obviously all that crazy camouflage makes it hard to see, but if you plant your eyes just behind the front wheel arch you’ll see how much the front guard will be flared. It’s going to give the car a muscular appearance that should leave it as the best looking model in the 2 Series range.

We always liked the look of the E82 135i but once the beefier 1M hit the streets the donor car never quite looked as good. We expect the same to happen with the F87 M2, which will make the otherwise pleasing M235i seem a tad weedy.

There’s not much else we can tell you about the M2 that we haven’t already mentioned, other than that little sensor just above the driver’s door is used when BMW is testing different tyre configurations.

[Source: Bimmerpost]

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BMW

BMW M2 spied making friends with the M3

BMW M2 prototype

The latest batch of BMW M2 spy pics have hit the interwebs and as you can see they brought a new M3 along for the ride.

Despite the use of BMW’s noted camouflage vinyl it’s expected the M2 will get a more aggressive body kit than what we are seeing here, which is basically M235i styling. What we do see for the first time on an F87 M2 test mule are quad exhaust pipes, which are standard fare for M cars these days.

At this stage the expected timeline for the M2 sees production starting in the latter half of next year with a sales launch to follow late in 2015 or early 2016.

There’s been no change to the predicted power source, which means you can pencil in around 370–380PS (272–280kW) being offered from an N55B30T0 3.0 litre inline six cylinder turbo.

[Source: Bimmerpost]

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BMW Video

Watch the BMW M2 in action

BMW M2 prototype

BMW has been testing the new M2 for a while now. But this is one of the first times it’s been caught on video. Alas, the sound coming from the exhaust is not as fruity as one might like. Although, it doesn’t seem like the 3.0 litre straight six turbo in the test mule was working that hard. So there should be room for improvement there.

You do get a small glimpse at how phat those flared guards will look on the final production model though. And they’re something we are looking forward to!

[Source: CarScoops]

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BMW

BMW M2 prototype spied for first time

BMW M2 prototype

See, we told you BMW would make an M2 and here is the proof. The first bona fide M product on the 2 Series platform is expected to commence production in the second half of 2015 for a market launch in 2016 or possibly even late 2015.

BMW will raid the M parts bin to stuff the M2 chock full of goodies. As you can see from this spy pic there’s a genuine LSD in place, just as we saw on the 1M. The camouflage applied to the test mule shows the front and rear wheel arches will be flared, both for aesthetic reasons and to increase the car’s track. Wider wheels and tyres will fill the guards as well.

Insiders say the M2 will be fitted with the N55B30T0 3.0 litre inline six cylinder turbo. Power should top out at around 370–380PS (272–280kW).

[Source: Bimmerpost | Thanks to John for the tip]

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BMW

Pencil in 2016 for BMW M2

BMW M235i Racing

The BMW M235i Racing will inspire the M2 according to a new report which claims the model will be launched in 2016.

Boasting flared guards and other model-specific styling is expected to follow the path of its predecessor, the 1 Series M Coupé, by stuffing a host of M3/M4 parts beneath its finely sculpted exterior.

The majority of speculation so far focuses on the M2 being powered by a 3.0 litre turbocharged straight six-cylinder engine producing around 300kW (400hp). However, we think you should be very open to the idea of the M2 being powered by a four-cylinder.

After all, Porsche reckons they can make 300kW from a four-pot, so why can’t BMW?

[Source: Left Lane News]

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BMW

More BMW M2 speculation

BMW M2 rendering

We all know that BMW will make an M2 when the time is right. So let’s just play along with these little games and pretend that we don’t know it’s coming.

At the recent media launch of the M235i hacks from Auto Express got talking to “BMW insiders” (we love those guys) and were told a range-topping M2 “makes a lot of sense” (no shit, really).

Where it does get a bit more interesting is when the conversation turned to the very cool track-only M235i Racing and a brief flirtation with making a road going version. The insider said BMW decided no to do that because it would “step on the toes of something else higher up the range.”

And what do you think that might be boys and girls? That’s right, the M2!

We know it’s coming, of course it will be, the real question is when? Not in the immediate future, best to place an each-way bet on 2015 and 2016.

[Source: Auto Express | Rendering: Bimmerpost]

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BMW

Of course they’re going to make an M2, right?

BMW M235i Racing

Ever since BMW decided to introduce the 2 Series badge it’s been assumed (by us at least) that would pave the way for the eventual introduction of an M2 as the replacement for the rather clumsily titled 1 Series M Coupé.

According to BimmerFile the official word out of Munich when asked about the M2 is, “There are no plans and we’re not working on it.”

We don’t like the sound of that at all. If nothing else the M235i Racing, with its flared guards, has teased us as to what an M2 might look like. And we like what we see!

As BimmerFile speculates, the willingness of AMG to “age-down” its brand with models like the A45 AMG and CLA 45 AMG should force BMW’s hand on the M2.

That’s if Munich’s hand needs forcing at all. The 2 Series is still very new and with a multi-year life cycle ahead of it we can probably expect BMW to hold off on the release of the M2 for a few years yet. That’s often been the way with the brand’s high-end M products.

Yes, BMW is launching the M4 pretty much straight after the release of the 4 Series Coupe, but we still think BMW will do the right thing and deliver us an M2.

[Source: BimmerFile]