BMW's M division has consistently cranked out some of the most entertaining high-performance sports cars for quite some time, with the M2, M3, and M4 — to name a few — capturing the essence of sporting through the ages. This philosophy holds true in the modern age, as M models still sit at or near the pinnacle of sports cars, taking on the best from Germany, Japan, and America. The M2 returns for the 2027 model year with some welcome changes that should take the sports coupe beyond what enthusiasts expect, even from a high-performance BMW. The 2027 BMW M2 With M xDrive Adds AWD Precision To The M2's Arsenal BMW BMW pulled the covers off the 2027 M2 xDrive, which now, for the first time, adds AWD to the M2 recipe. This is big news for the sports coupe, as it gives its rowdy S58 the traction it needs to do more than Hoon. Now, it should be able to carve with the best of them, like the Porsche 911 4S, Nissan GT-R, and Mercedes-AMG GT 55 Coupe, as well as its M xDrive stablemates. The small M2 should make great use of the performance-oriented M xDrive system, thanks not only to its small, relatively lightweight build, but also to the intrinsic dynamism BMW injects into all its chassis.This fundamentally upgraded car lays down the performance generated by its straight-six engine with even greater poise and assurance, and adds maximum control, stability, and acceleration in any conditions to its dynamic repertoire.- Alexander Karajlovic, Vice President for Development at BMW M GmbHFor those who are unaware, xDrive is BMW's special flavor of intelligent AWD that delivers versatile road connection and weather management via a fixed torque split between the front and rear axles. The RWD-biased M xDrive takes that to another level by adjusting the torque distribution based on the driving situation. This ensures a grippy feel and sharp reflexes when you need them, and RWD fun when you don't. This system also works in tandem with BMW's Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), M-specific traction control, and M Active Differential, which are designed to enhance corner carving and resist slippage. Performance Aspects That Make Speed Enthusiasts Perk Up BMW BMW promises faster acceleration, improved agility, sharper cornering, and all-weather capability, which would make it more than just a weekend toy or track weapon. BMW also states that drivers won't sacrifice that special "M feeling"; you just won't go sideways every time it rains. That said, if you want to go sideways, you can simply switch on 2WD mode, which does exactly what its name implies and sends power to the rear wheels exclusively.BMW 473 horsepower from the twin-turbo S58 inline-six gets sent exclusively through an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic transmission with Drivelogic. This allows the M2 with M xDrive to accelerate from zero to 60 MPH in 3.6 seconds, which is slightly faster than its pure RWD counterpart. A one-foot rollout will see you hitting 60 MPH in 3.3 seconds, with 50 to 75 MPH coming in 3.7 seconds; rest to 124 MPH happens in 12.8 seconds, with a top speed of 155 MPH (177 MPH with the M Driver's Package included). The official market launch of the 2027 BMW M2 with M xDrive is set to kick off in late Summer 2026, with production starting in August. Starting prices sit at $73,600 plus a $1,350 destination fee. TopSpeed's Take BMW The M2 with M xDrive is a welcome addition to the sports coupe space, as the M2, as is, already makes a statement when pitted against the current batch of high-performance sports cars. It now has the edge it needs to compete with the six-figure models it regularly faces off with. Its real party trick, though, is being able to provide RWD purity with the safety net of AWD when the road gets tricky, or when you simply want to shave off precious seconds from a hot lap.What remains to be seen is if the M2 with M xDrive will feature BMW's new patented pre-chamber tech, or "M Ignite". BMW states that the M2, along with the M3 and M4, will receive this new tech in mid-2026, which coincides with the release of the M2 with M xDrive. That said, there's no official word from BMW placing M Ignite under the hood of this exact model, so we'll see.Sources: BMW
+13 others
