Mat Watson opinions the brand new BMW M2: if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it

Mat Watson has been reviewing the up to date BMW M2. It hasn’t modified an enormous quantity, however that’s no dangerous factor as a result of it’s nonetheless a implausible sports activities automobile.

This is the brand new BMW M2 – or so I’m informed. It appears so much like the pre-facelift automobile that I needed to double verify that that is in truth the up to date model.

It might not have modified a lot cosmetically – solely actual BMW nerds will discover the tweaked daytime operating lights and new alloy wheel designs – however it has been given some extra energy.

The 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six engine now places out 480hp, which is 20hp greater than earlier than. This is distributed to the rear wheels by way of an eight-speed computerized gearbox, though a six-speed handbook is out there as an choice.

So what does this imply for efficiency? Well BMW claims that this automobile can do 0-60mph in 4.0 seconds, and my specialist timing gear backed this up after I examined it. That’s solely a tenth of a second faster than the previous M2.

That’s a little bit of an issue, as a result of at virtually £69,000 this up to date M2 is round £5,000 dearer than the outgoing one. And the value isn’t the one annoying factor about this automobile, listed here are three issues which grind my gears.

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Three annoying issues concerning the BMW M2

1. Stopping the bongs

While it’s simple to change off the pace restrict warning by simply urgent a button on the steering wheel, turning off the lane holding help is a little more concerned. It’s buried inside three sub menus on the infotainment display screen, which drives me mad when doing it each time I set off.

2. Optional extras

Not solely has BMW made the brand new M2 dearer, it’s additionally eliminated some customary options and made them paid choices. For instance, the carbon fibre roof used to come back as customary, however now it prices £2,000. You additionally used to have the ability to get any color freed from cost, however now it’s a must to pay further for something apart from white.

3. Another unusual value

Speaking of cash, that is the one automobile I do know of the place it’s a must to pay further for the handbook model. It’s an additional £2,000 to alter gear your self, and I personally want the automated anyway. More on that in a bit.

Driving the brand new BMW M2

Those minor gripes are simple to forgive when you’re out on the street, as a result of the BMW M2 stays one of many best-driving sports activities vehicles on the market. It might share lots of components with the bigger M4 below the pores and skin, however this automobile’s shorter wheelbase and rear-wheel drive format simply make it really feel extra agile and thrilling.

The undeniable fact that the M2 is bodily smaller than the M4 additionally makes it a lot simpler to drive shortly down a slim nation street, and the quick steering makes it simple to put the automobile with confidence. It might not have fairly as a lot feeling as a Porsche Cayman, however it’s not far off.

Then there’s the gearbox. I discussed earlier than that I’d take the automated over the handbook, and that’s as a result of I really feel it’s higher suited to this automobile. You can set it to provide you a correct punch within the again as you alter up. Which simply provides to the theatre. I’m not an enormous fan of BMW’s handbook gearboxes both – they only really feel a bit too rubbery.

I like the way in which you’re sitting again in direction of the rear axle on this automobile, as a result of you’ll be able to really feel when the again finish is struggling for traction. You get a great deal of nice suggestions which lets you drive the automobile on the automobile on the throttle. It’s actually partaking.

New BMW M2: my remaining verdict

So then, what’s my remaining verdict on the brand new BMW M2? Well it might have gone up in worth, however so has each automobile over the previous few years. I’ll say the identical about this new M2 as I did concerning the previous one – it’s an ideal sports activities automobile, so simply go proper forward and purchase it.

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