The next BMW 2-Series Coupe is expected to launch towards the latter half of 2021, and it seems our spies have spotted a heavily-disguised tester for the most potent 2 to be offered: an early M2 prototype. The 2-Series lineup currently has a confusing number of variants, including a range of front-wheel-drive cars consisting of a four-door “Gran Coupe,” an Active Tourer, and Grand Tourer MPVs. The 2-Series Coupe and Convertible are both rear-wheel drive, with the current car being the darling of enthusiasts the world over.
The good news is that the new 2-Series
Coupe (codenamed G42) and M2 will continue to send power to the back, and
there’s even the possibility of an AWD variant. The new car will be based on
the same CLAR platform that underpins all BMW cars that feature
longitudinally-mounted engines. That means the M2 will likely use an M-engine
already in production, with the prime candidate a de-tuned version of the
turbocharged 3-liter inline-six turbo from the M3.
As seen in these images are wider arches
and the telltale quad-pipes found on M models, features that are markedly
different from the prototypes we’ve already caught. What’s less clear is what
styling direction the new M2 will take. That’s the million dollar question. BMW
has come under fire for its recent polarizing design direction and while the M2
initially appears to avoid the vertical grille arrangement of the M3, we can’t
be sure as the camouflage and cladding leave much to the imagination. What we do
know is that it will draw off the front design of the 2-Series Coupe, leaked
images which supposedly showed off the design of what we believe to be the
M-Performance-branded M240i model in
detail depict slightly smaller grilles, with a uniquely-placed M-badge on the
lower air-intake.
The M2 will have a lot riding on its
shoulders as it fills in the shoes of the outgoing model. The current model has
been one of BMW’s rarer successes, receiving almost universal praise for its
chassis, engine, and design. Expect the 2-Series Coupe to have its official
launch towards the end of 2021, with the M2 following in 2022.