2023 BMW M2: What We Know So Far
The little M car swings for the fences in its second iteration, bulking up on power and tech features.
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The wait is over for BMW fans anticipating the next M2: The Bavarian brand has finally unveiled the 2023 model, and it’s sure to turn heads. Striving to be a realistic daily driver, it has all the tech and safety features you’d expect, but it also stays true to the first-generation M2 (2017-21), which won over critics and enthusiasts alike by emphasizing performance over creature comforts.
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A Different Look for the 2023 BMW M2
BMW’s recent penchant for overstyling continues with the new M2, which strides boldly down the love-it-or-hate-it path with yawning front intakes, bulging, blocky fenders, squiggly light signatures, and a rear end festooned with sharp creases and hard character lines. Then, of course, there’s the new grille, a perennial source of debate and discord among the BMW faithful. Compared with the massive nostrils on the current M3 and M4, the 2023 M2’s squared-off kidneys are positively discreet, featuring understated horizontal slats and zero chrome trim. It could very much be your thing or very much not. The car’s capabilities, however, seem to be undeniable.
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More Power and Tech
This rear-drive Bimmer roars out the gate with a twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline-six producing 453 horsepower, a gain of 48 ponies compared with the previous-gen M2 Competition. Like its forebear, the 2023 M2 comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission and offers an automatic, but instead of a seven-speed dual-clutch, this one uses a torque converter and has eight forward gears. The choice of transmission will affect acceleration, with manual models said to run to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, and automatic M2s, in 3.9.
The standard adaptive suspension boasts sensor-controlled dampers designed to maximize traction by reacting to road conditions and the car’s movement. There’s also an active differential networked to the M2’s stability-control system to minimize wheelslip, which BMW says contributes to faster corner exits.
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Lots of Standard Features
The centerpiece of the 2023 M2’s cockpit is a gigantic curved display consisting of a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen. The latest operating system, called iDrive 8, enables enhanced voice control over the car’s navigation, infotainment, and communication functions, plus drivers can now direct the car to adjust the A/C or open the windows with a verbal command.
Standard driver-assistance systems include adaptive cruise control, forward collision protection with automated emergency braking, front and rear parking sensors, and lane-departure warning. Those who choose the eight-speed automatic over the manual transmission can option a more advanced version of adaptive cruise with stop-and-go functionality — helpful for anyone who regularly suffers through rush-hour traffic.
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2023 BMW M2 Pricing and Availability
When it arrives in April, the 2023 BMW M2 will start at just over $63,000, a $3,000 increase over the M2 Competition in 2021. That’s about 11 grand less than the M3 and about 12 grand less than the M4. No word yet on how much the eight-speed model will cost, but for what it’s worth, the dual-clutch was a $2,900 option on the last-gen model.
