Like many luxury performance cars, BMW’s vehicles seem to grow larger and more technologically complex each year. However, some of the brand’s most revered products are its smaller, more focused products, like the iconic E30 M3 and the lovable 1M.
If you agree with that last bit, we have good news. According to BMW Blog, the German brand will unveil the new M2 online in October, and it should follow in the footsteps of the aforementioned 1M with a lightweight platform, a waggy tail, and a truly enthusiastic driving experience. The car was originally rumored to be revealed at the Monterey Car Week, which runs until August 16, or perhaps at the Frankfurt Auto Show, which kicks off mid-September, but it looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer for the proverbial sheet to come off. Whenever the range-topping 2 Series touches down, it appears that it will be worth it.
The M2 will likely be powered by the fantastic “N55” straight-six, which won the 2014 International Engine of the Year award for its displacement category. The twin-turbo powerplant makes 365 horsepower and 343 lb-ft of torque and features a trick overboost function to add an extra 25 lb-ft of torque on demand. The car should also feature less weight, a mechanical locking differential, a tighter chassis, and stronger brakes than its M235i relative.
We’ve included a speculative rendering of the M2 above, courtesy of digital artist Theophiluschin. The vehicle is scheduled to be launched in March or April of 2016
There’s news higher up on the BMW ladder as well, as the next-generation 4 Series convertible is expected to ditch its retractable hard top in a quest to shed weight. A more conventional power soft top should take its place, and the car will be wider, lower, and chalk-full of new tech.