The new generation of the BMW M2 may be getting closer to its official premiere, but the Bavarian automaker is still working hard on its development, on and off the track. A lightly camouflaged prototype of the M2 was spotted by our spy photographers at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, perfecting its chassis and powertrain setup.
The high-performance member of the 2-Series Coupe family made its spy debut a year ago but since then, it has shed most of its camouflage, revealing its M-specific bodykit. The new face is characterized by larger and fully opened bumper intakes, a new grille with vertical slits, a bulged bonnet, and a set of wider fenders. The black wheels, the lip spoiler, and the quad exhaust pipes are rounding up the changes over the lesser but still sporty-looking M240i. Finally, there will be a selection of optional M Performance Parts for added visual drama.
See Also: The New BMW M2 Probably Won’t Look As Good As This Unofficial Render
While the rest of the 2-Series Coupe range features a more basic setup when it comes to screens, the M2 is expected to get the Curved display with the latest BMW Operating System 8 as proven by earlier spy shots. Other interior updates will likely include sports seats, Alcantara upholstery, and carbon fiber accents.
Under the bonnet of the M2 will sit a slightly detuned version of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six from the M3 / M4. According to the latest rumors, the mill could produce something between 430 hp and 450 hp in the more powerful Competition variant. BMW could also offer a more potent version with the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system if rumors are to be believed.
Judging from the lengthy development period and the fact that prototypes are gradually shedding their camouflage, we expect the BMW M2 to debut sometime in the coming months, before production starts in late 2022.
