Driven: BMW M2 is fast, grippy, vocal

Published Apr 29, 2016

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Cape Town - The BMW M2 coupé has the kind of presence to hush a saloon when it struts through the doors. It may be the most junior member of the M family, but with its pumped-out fenders and angry curves Beemer’s new gunslinger, which is now on sale in South Africa, leaves you in no doubt it’s fixing for a fight.

The firepower at the other end of those prominent four exhausts is a 3-litre turbocharged six-shooter, borrowed from the BMW 135i but specced-up with some components from the M4 engine to boost its outputs to a healthy 272kW and 465Nm (500Nm with overboost). Unlike the twin-turbo M4 the M2’s straight-six engine makes do with a single turbo, albeit a dual-scroll one which ensures better efficiency and less turbo lag than a single-scroll type.

Successor to the BMW 1 Series M coupé that was introduced back in 2011, the two-door M2 becomes the new flagship of the 2 Series range. With the auto version’s claimed ability to scorch to 100km/h in just 4.3 seconds (4.5 for the manual), along with refettled suspension and brakes to deal with the extra power, the M2 coupé has the Mercedes-AMG CLA45 and Audi RS3 squarely its sights. Top speed is governed at the usual 250km/h.

Pricier than rivals

Like its peers the M2 comes in a double-clutch automatic version. This seven-speed DCT, which has a launch-control system and the obligatory F1-style shift paddles on the steering wheel, sells for R848 310 but the Beemer’s also available as a six-speed manual for R800 006 for drivers who prefer operating three pedals.

The rear-wheel-drive BMW’s pricier than its rivals with the Audi RS3 quattro (270kW and 465Nm) selling for R775 500 and the Mercedes A45 4Matic (280kW and 475Nm) for R794 733 – both the Audi and Merc have all-wheel drive and are available as automatics only.

There was only one BMW M2 demo unit in the country for last week’s media launch – the DCT auto derivative – and we experienced the car for an all-too-brief two laps on the private racetrack of business tycoon Johann Rupert in Franschoek.

Fast, grippy, vocal

It wasn’t enough time to delve into the M2’s handling nuances – this will have to wait until we get the car for a full road test in due course – but the Beemer did demonstrate very good grip, spirited lag-free acceleration and minimum body roll through the racetrack’s curves, not to mention a reasonably vocal war cry.

Lightweight aluminium M Sport suspension on thick 19” tyres delivers the necessary handling agility, but the steel-bodied M2 weighs about the same as the larger and more powerful M4, which has mass-saving carbonfibre and aluminium in its construction.

M Servotronic steering has two settings and the electronically controlled Active M Differential optimises traction, especially out of tight corners. The stability control has an M Dynamic Mode (MDM) which allows some wheel slip for controlled drifts on the track.

I found the car’s general tendency was to understeer on the handling limits, but a tail slide can be induced with suitably aggressive steering and throttle inputs and the stability control disabled. For safety reasons disabling it was verboten to journalists but BMW’s DTM works driver Bruno Spengler was on hand to demonstrate just how much the rear-wheel-drive M2 could tail-slide with the electronic nanny switched off. The answer: a lot.

Sporting ambience inside

Alcantara and carbonfibre trimmings create the necessary sporting ambience in the cockpit, together with sports seats and an M sports steering wheel. A wide selection of driver assistance systems and mobility services from BMW ConnectedDrive is also available for the car, including a GoPro app which allows the driver to record hot laps with a dashboard-mounted camera, using the car’s iDrive Controller and Control Display.

There’s also an M Laptimer app which analyses the driver’s individual style at the wheel, with speed and braking telemetry able to be shared via e-mail or Facebook.

The first South African shipment of M2 coupés has already sold out but more are en route. Unlike the 1 Series M coupé this won’t be a limited-edition model and the M2 will have a regular production run.

Star Motoring

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