2023 BMW M2: price, specs and release date

The new BMW M2 super-coupe has been revealed ahead of its 2023 release date. 

A genuine modern classic in the making, it is expected to be the final non-electrified BMW M-car – with all the resultant potential for cult car collectability that brings.

The fast, focused new 2023 BMW M2 is the only six-cylinder car in its class, with rivals including the Porsche 718 Cayman S, Audi TT RS and Audi RS3, Alpine A110, Lotus Emira, Toyota GR Supra and the Mercedes-AMG A45 S.

The new BMW M2 is all set to cause a sensation when it arrives in 2023.

New BMW M2 price and release date

New BMW M2 prices start from £61,495. This compares to around £58,000 for the Porsche 718 Cayman S and just over £60,000 for the Mercedes-AMG A45 S.

The new BMW M2 is already open for online configuration, and BMW is accepting online orders for those keen to get one of the first in the UK. The new BMW M2’s UK release date is from May 2023.

Inside, the new BMW M2 has standard M Sport seats in either Vernasca Black or Cognac leather.

 New BMW M2: exterior and interior

The new BMW M2 has an unmissable appearance on the road. It builds on the powerful presence of its predecessor with an even more muscular look. Those buying or leasing a new 2023 BMW M2 will leave onlookers in no doubt they’ve chosen the most powerful BMW 2 Series Coupe on sale.

It is a relatively compact car overall, measuring 4,575mm long and 1,403mm tall. However, at an ample 1,887mm wide, it is 16mm wider than the old BMW M2 – and a hefty 49mm wider than the regular BMW 2 Series Coupe at the front, and 44mm wider at the rear.

The new BMW M2’s bulging, exaggerated wheelarches reveal this wide-track architecture, and give it a fantastic race-bred appearance on the road. The wide stance is emphasised by M-specific design features that include a unique horizontal frameless BMW kidney grille.

There’s an M-specific three-section lower air intake with almost rectangular contours for maximum cooling; this also underlines the car’s width. It’s clearly differentiated from the BMW 2 Series Coupe, while the Adaptive LED headlights with dark inlays make it appear mean and moody.

The new BMW M2 has an M Carbon roof as standard, complete with fully-exposed carbon fibre-reinforced plastic structure. It contrasts with the body colours and adds a race-bred feel, while the light weight also lowers the car’s centre of gravity.

At the rear, the new BMW M2 has a substantial diffuser that incorporates the trademark BMW M quad exhaust tailpipes, two on each side. There’s a rear spoiler lip to boost downforce, and moody smoked rear lights to complement the LED headlights. Overall, it looks extremely powerful and exceedingly bespoke.

Enhancing this further are exclusive M light alloy wheels that are finished in black as standard, or bi-colour as an option. They measure 19-inches at the front and 20-inches at the rear. Track-day specialists can choose optional track day tyres as part of the M Race Track Package.

The new 2023 BMW M2 offers a choice of three exterior paint colours, two solid and three metallic. Alpine White is joined by a new Zandvoort Blue colour that’s exclusive to the new BMW M2. Sapphire Black, Brooklyn Grey and Toronto Red metallics are also offered.

Inside, the new BMW M2 has standard M Sport seats in either Vernasca Black or Cognac leather. They have chunky side bolsters and detailing in BMW M colours (with matching M seatbelts boasting a woven stripe in BMW M colours). They’re electrically adjustable as standard and the integral head rests feature an illuminated M logo.

Those buying or leasing a new BMW M2 can also option M Carbon bucket seats, with Merino leather and removable head restraints that allow the fitment of a multi-point harness. The M Carbon bucket seats are made from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic and save 10.8kg over the regular M Sport seats.

Standard equipment on the new BMW M2 is suitably high-end. It includes Harman Kardon surround sound audio, three-zone automatic climate control, acoustic glazing for the windscreen, rear-view camera plus front and rear parking sensors. The seats are heated too.

The new BMW M2 features the BMW Curved Display, with a 12.3-inch driver information display boasting M-style content and a 14.9-inch central touchscreen. The BMW Live Cockpit Professional setup has cloud-based BMW Maps navigation, plus standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Meanwhile the BMW head-up display has M-specific readouts and graphics.

The 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine in the BMW M2 produces a whopping 460PS.

New BMW M2: engines and gearboxes

The highlight of the new BMW M2 is its 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine. It is virtually the same engine also used in the BMW M3 and BMW M4; here, it produces a whopping 460PS, which is an eyebrow-raising 90PS more than the outgoing BMW M2.

The engine revs to a 7,200rpm maximum and delivers 550Nm of torque between a broad 2,650-5,870rpm rev range. With the standard eight-speed automatic gearbox, 0-62mph takes 4.1 seconds; tantalisingly, BMW will also offer a six-speed manual gearbox alternative.

The M Steptronic automatic has a new-style selector lever and shift paddles on the steering wheel. Meanwhile, the six-speed manual has a ‘gear shift assistant’ which blips the accelerator during downshifts for slip-free operation (it will make the driver feel like a pro racer). The top speed of both is limited to 155mph, or 177mph with the optional M Driver’s Package.

The rear-wheel drive 2023 BMW M2 has a standard Active M Differential. It delivers maximum traction along with race-bred balance in corners. There’s also M-specific body bracing which gives excellent rigidity for even more integrity and feedback during hard driving.

Adaptive M suspension is standard, with electronically controlled dampers offering a choice of three settings, accessed through the M Setup menu. High-power M Compound brakes, with 380mm six-piston front discs, are also included; they have a red finish as standard, or an optional blue finish that features the BMW M logo.

Fuel economy of up to 29.1mpg is attainable, for those few motorists who have the willpower to drive the new BMW M2 steadily. CO2 emissions start from 218g/km and stretch to 231g/km, according to gearbox choice and included options.

Find a used BMW M2 for sale

The iconic BMW M2 has been on sale since 2017. Today, you can buy an early previous-generation model with around 50,000 miles on the clock for less than £30,000: as these cars still have the sonorous 3.0-litre straight-six turbo engine and wide-track styling, they are seriously tempting alternatives for those not in the market to buy or lease a new BMW M2.

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The new BMW M2 doesn’t simply look the business, but will also sound brilliant. It has an M-specific exhaust system with electronically controlled flaps, plus a large silencer connected to a quarter of tuned tailpipes.

The new BMW M2 has the makings of a real classic. Driving enthusiasts will be delighted to hear it has a perfect 50:50 weight distribution, which BMW says will deliver “precisely controllable, fingertip handling [for] pure driving pleasure”.

The new 2023 BMW M2 has a top speed electronically limited to 155mph. Owners can choose the optional M Race Track package, which raises the top speed to 177mph (and includes carbon seats).

Introducing the all-new BMW M2