BMW hasn’t even pulled the covers off the 2023 M2 coupe yet, but we’ve already got an idea of what’s in store for owners who won’t be happy with a standard car. Instagram user @berlin_cars in Germany spotted a G87 M2 prototype fitted with some tasty modifications that are likely to be offered via the M Performance upgrade program. The single image captured while the camo-clad M2 waited at traffic lights shows that the M2 will feature a seriously wide rear track to give it space to fit some fat rubber under those swollen arches.
But what makes this prototype stand out form the others we’ve seen is that it’s fitted with a center-mount quad exhaust setup. If this tailpipe treatment looks familiar it’s because BMW already offers a very similar setup on the M3 and M4 through its M Performance catalog. Based on what we know of those cars, the new pipes on the M2 won’t only make it more eye-catching, but should make it more ear-catching, too. Accomodating the new exhaust layout will definitely require a new lower bumper/valance insert, though the rest of the bumper may not need to be changed.
Also visible on this prototype is a fairly
large spoiler that appears to stand tall enough to partially block the driver’s
view rearward. If you’re buying an M2 and planning on spending on an M
Performance rear wing, make sure you leave enough change to invest in a radar
detector. Previous spy shots revealed that the M2 would feature a curved
display accommodating BMW’s latest iDrive 8 infotainment system, plus the now
familiar M1 and M2 buttons on the steering wheel to store your favorite driving
mode presets.
The 2023 M2 will be launched later this
year as part of BMW M’s 50th anniversary celebrations and could deliver upwards
of 400 hp from its turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six in standard guise, with
the option of around 30 hp more in Competition spec. Rumors out of Munich
suggest it will only be available in rear-wheel drive, but buyers will have the
choice of six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.
