2023 BMW M2 is once again better than the M4.
. It puts out 453 hp at 6250 rpm and 406 lb-ft of torque from 2650 rpm to 5870 rpm, making it the least powerful version of the engine. It’s unchanged internally from the M3 and M4, but it’s detuned to put space between the cars in the lineup, a necessity since the M2 and M3/M4 have nearly identical curb weights. Still, 453 hp is more than enough to haul the 3814-pound coupe from 0 to 60 in a claimed 4.2 seconds, or 3.9 seconds with the optional eight-speed ZF automatic.
The M2 feels at least as quick as its 0-60 time suggests on the road, with strong pickup and plenty of grunt through the rev range. There’s a distinct gap in torque under 4000 rpm compared to the M3’s powerband, but it’s not so detrimental as to call it a fault. In fact, it gives the M2’s drivetrain some character compared to its bigger sibling.
BMW says the six-speed manual is a total carryover, all the way from the gearing right down to the shifter linkage. I’d swear the shifter’s throw is slightly shorter and clickier than in the M3’s, but that could come down to the knob’s placement on the dash or my seating position. It could also be my mind playing tricks on me. Either way, it feels like BMW paid more attention to the inputs here.
Still, overall handling is excellent. The previous M2 was a brute. It was fast and fun, but its relatively small footprint meant it was easy to overwhelm the chassis with the engine’s power delivery. No longer. Thanks to a set of 285 section-width rubber at the rear, the 2023 M2’s track width matches the M4 at 63.2 inches. The result is a balanced machine far more capable of putting the power down earlier. That means more driver confidence and more smiles.
The M2’s design is less cohesive. The front end isn’t as outright offensive as it is on the M3 and M4, but it’s an undeniably strange collection of shapes. The kidney grilles are built directly into the front bumper, with no outline and horizontal slats mounted into each cavity. Squared-off openings on the lower fascia match similar outlines on the rear bumper; BMW says these are a nod to the 02 Series saloons of the Sixties. We’re not convinced they do much other than leave us confused.
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