New BMW M2 xDrive adds four-wheel-drive variant for £74k
On sale Late Summer Price from £74,255
The BMW M2 has, in previous years, been a unique offering in that it was the only member of BMW’s high-performance M family to be available exclusively with rear-wheel drive. However, there’s a first time for everything, and buyers can now specify their M2 with a new four-wheel-drive xDrive system.
It uses the same 3.0-litre petrol engine as rear-driven versions of the M2, pumping out 473bhp. However, it is slightly tweaked with new tech derived from BMW’s racing cars, called ‘BMW M Ignite’, designed to reduce fuel consumption and meet new Euro 7 emissions rules. It will also be fitted to all M models later this year.
The M2 xDrive’s four-wheel-drive system is rear-biased, meaning power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels under normal driving conditions. When those wheels can’t put any more power to the road, the system gets the front wheels involved.
With that extra traction, the M2 xDrive can sprint from 0-62mph in 3.7sec – 0.3sec faster than the regular rear-driven M2. Having outlived its closest two-door coupé rivals, including the Alpine A110 and Porsche Cayman, the M2 xDrive will count the four-door Audi RS3 hot hatch as its main competitor, and it outpaces that car on paper too.
The M2 xDrive also comes equipped with BMW’s Active M differential, which distributes power between the rear wheels for better traction. Drivers can opt to deactivate the stability control system and keep the car exclusively in rear-wheel-drive mode – the same as in the larger BMW M3 and M4.
Unlike the rear-driven M2, which has the option of a manual gearbox, the M2 xDrive is available exclusively with an automatic gearbox.
As standard, the M2 xDrive comes with 19in alloys at the front and 20in alloys at the rear, while track tyres are available as an option.
The new BMW M2 xDrive will arrive in the UK late this summer. Prices start at £74,255, which is £2065 more expensive than the manual rear-wheel-drive option. It’s also more than £12,000 pricier than the cheapest Audi RS3.
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