The new BMW M2 is scheduled to go on sale in South Africa next year, bringing with it a revised interior, overhauled looks, and even better performance.
The M-badged sports car – which made its initial debut at this year’s M Fest – will run on a 3.0-litre twin-turbo powerplant to produce a considerable 338kW and 550Nm, and this will be paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox to deliver power to the rear wheels.
What is known is that the coupe, with its new engine that delivers 66kW more than the old M2, can now deliver a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.1 seconds, while 200km/h is handled in 13.5 seconds.
Its top speed, meanwhile, maxes out at 250km/h, though an optional M Driver’s Package will lift this to a new cap of 285km/h.
Other sporting credentials come in the form of an M Traction Control system with up to 10 different grip settings, M compound brakes, and an M Sport exhaust with electronically-controlled flaps to give it an appropriate soundtrack.
As for the interior, the new M2 boasts a dual-screen driver and infotainment system measuring 14.9 inches and 12.3 inches, respectively, which will allow the driver to check on M-specific functions like vehicle setup, drift analyzer, lap timer, and shift indicator.
Beyond this, occupants will also be able to enjoy three-zone climate control, ambient lighting, Alcantara upholstered seats, parking sensors, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The BMW M2 will launch in South Africa in the third quarter of 2023, and preliminary pricing is pegged at R1.5 million.
The competition
The high-performance cars detailed below will be the new M2’s biggest competitors once it hits our roads next year.
Click on the underlined names for more information.
Power
| Model | Power |
|---|---|
| Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio | 375kW/600Nm |
| Lexus RC F | 351kW/530Nm |
| BMW M2 | 338kW/550Nm |
| Jaguar F-Type 75 coupe | 331kW/580Nm |
| Ford Mustang 5.0 GT California Special Fastback | 330kW/529Nm |
| Mercedes-AMG CLA45 S 4MAtic+ | 310kW/500Nm |
| Audi RS3 sedan quattro | 294kW/500Nm |
| Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 | 294kW/430Nm |
| Toyota GR Supra 3.0T | 250kW/500Nm |
Acceleration
| Model | 0-100km/h acceleration |
|---|---|
| Audi RS3 sedan quattro | 3.8 seconds |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio | 3.9 seconds |
| Mercedes-AMG CLA45 S 4MAtic+ | 4.0 seconds |
| Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 | 4.0 seconds |
| BMW M2 | 4.1 seconds |
| Lexus RC F | 4.3 seconds |
| Toyota GR Supra 3.0T | 4.3 seconds |
| Jaguar F-Type 75 coupe | 4.6 seconds |
| Ford Mustang 5.0 GT California Special Fastback | 4.8 seconds |
Top Speed
| Model | Top speed |
|---|---|
| Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio | 307km/h |
| Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 | 288km/h |
| Jaguar F-Type 75 coupe | 285km/h |
| Lexus RC F | 270km/h |
| Mercedes-AMG CLA45 S 4MAtic+ | 270km/h |
| Audi RS3 sedan quattro | 250km/h |
| BMW M2 | 250km/h |
| Ford Mustang 5.0 GT California Special Fastback | 250km/h |
| Toyota GR Supra 3.0T | 250km/h |
Price
| Model | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Jaguar F-Type 75 coupe | R1,931,000 |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio | R1,805,900 |
| Lexus RC F | R1,583,300 |
| Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 | R1,549,000 |
| BMW M2 | R1,503,975 |
| Mercedes-AMG CLA45 S 4MAtic+ | R1,426,637 |
| Toyota GR Supra 3.0T | R1,275,100 |
| Audi RS3 sedan quattro | R1,245,000 |
| Ford Mustang 5.0 GT California Special Fastback | R1,154,900 |
Keyword: High-performance cars selling for the same price as the new BMW M2