We have already presented the BMW M2, with a manual transmission and in the version that is sold in the USA. That was really fun (click here for the driving report)! Now it’s the turn of the hot M2 – again in baby blue – with an eight-speed automatic transmission, in the local specification. And that’s exactly where the rub lies…
Whether it is switched manually or automatically is purely a matter of taste. Both have their advantages. The classic, fully analogue driving that petrol brothers and sisters love is still hands-on. That must be worth a good 600 euros extra. However, you can go faster with the fantastic automatic transmission, which you can also change gears manually using paddles. In the corresponding driving mode, every upshift is acknowledged with a “Fump!” deep in the pit of your stomach when you accelerate enough. There is a babble coming from the exhaust when downshifting. Everything is very subtle, not as brutal as it is with an Audi RS3. Fine blade, so to speak. With civilian setup settings, the M2 has a friendly cavalier appearance, providing gentle acoustics with a fine, quiet six-cylinder sound. The standard adaptive chassis can also be gentle. But it can also be sporty and hard, as support for the powerful biturbo engine. Accelerator commands are implemented spontaneously; launch control takes you to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds and to 200 km/h in 13.5 seconds. Torn by hand it takes a few tenths more. If you have also ordered the “M Drivers Package”, you can accelerate further up to 285 km/h. Otherwise up to 250 km/h. By the way: In the test, an average of 11.6 l/100 km flowed through the three liters, only around 1.5 liters more than the standard specification. This is the BMW M2The BMW M2 is the visually pretty splashed sports version of the BMW 2 Series Coupé and the little brother of the BMW M4, with which it essentially shares technology. (Adaptive) chassis, brakes, engine all basically more or less the same. The main differences: The biturbo six-cylinder produces 460 instead of 480 hp, and the M2 is a good 20 centimeters shorter at 4.58 meters and also has a wheelbase that is 11 centimeters shorter (2.75 m). The result: In comparison, it is less spacious and more agile – but also more nervous in terms of driving behavior. The weight corresponds to that of the M4. The M2 with automatic weighs 1725 kg without a driver, the same as the M4 Competition (which also has automatic). The M4 (without Competition) is only available with a manual transmission and weighs 1700 kg – just like the manual M2. The weight can be reduced by a few kilograms if you invest a little money. The test car has the M Race Track package on board, which includes the M Drivers Package on the one hand, but also the carbon roof (-6 kg) and the carbon bucket seats (-5.4 kg each) on the other. Costs a good 16,000 euros. Too much digital. As analogue as the BMW M2 drives, it is otherwise digital. Instead of a classic, sporty cockpit, it has the attached “curved display” that all current BMWs now have (in different versions). Sorry, BMW, that doesn’t fit the character of the car. Not least because the speedometer scale is hard to read. What’s really annoying, however, are the speed limit warning and active lane departure warning – neither of which is available in the US version. This shows that the manufacturer cannot be blamed on this issue. The charges are directed against the new licensing regulations and those who are responsible for them. Both assistance systems can be switched off, but are active again every time the engine is restarted (with the exception of the automatic start-stop system). The limit assistant is deactivated by long-pressing a button on the steering wheel. Both can also be switched off by removing a glitch at the driving settings level. This can be accessed with two taps on the touchscreen. Theoretically you can also save the driving settings as a shortcut – but to do this you have to be logged in with a specially created BMW ID. That’s annoying. Here the blame goes to BMW.FahrzitThe BMW M2 is a wonderfully wild little car that is really fun and triggers reactions on the side of the road. The digital aspect of it slows down the joy of driving somewhat. For a base price of 89,350 euros, you get more than you actually want. Nevertheless, the BMW M2 probably has one thing ahead of most current electric cars: it will be a sought-after classic 30 years after purchase. Why? Sustainable because it will mature into a classic Fine handling Great engine Why not? Too much digital Or maybe …… BMW M4, Audi RS3
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