The new BMW M2 has been unveiled and the general consensus thus far has been either you love it or you don’t.
Around half of the M department’s fans are crazy about the new coupe, while the rest are saying that the old M2, which was by some claimed to be the best M car BMW has ever made, can now be considered a bargain.
However, money talks, and until the new model hits the shelves early next year we won’t know exactly who is favoured the most by the M2-buying population.
In the meantime, we can but speculate as to which generation will still be revered decades from now and which one won’t, based on looks, features, and of course, performance.
Spectacular S58
The beating heart of both the old and new M2 is BMW’s battle-tested S58 engine that also calls the M3 and M4 its home.
The 3.0-litre, straight-six, twin-turbocharged powerplant motivated the previous M2 Competition variant where it was paired with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with a seven-speed auto on the options list, the configuration churning out 302kW and 550Nm.
The new M2 makes do with the same power unit, but this time around the manual transmission is optional and an eight-speed automatic comes installed from the factory. It improves upon the old Competition by 36kW for a total of 338kW, though both models send 550Nm to the rear wheels.
The newcomer is also noticeably heavier – 1,700kg vs 1,550kg – and the result is that it’s not that much quicker than its less-powerful predecessor.
| Specification | Old BMW M2 Competition | New BMW M2 |
|---|---|---|
| Power-to-weight ratio | 5.1kg/kW | 5.0kg/kW |
| 0-100km/h | 4.4 seconds (manual) | 4.3 seconds (manual) |
| 0-200km/h | 14.4 seconds (manual) | 14.3 seconds (manual) |
| Top speed | 250km/h (opt. 280km/h) | 250km/h (opt. 285km/h) |
Adding to the allure of the younger M2 is the fact that it brings more sophisticated drivetrain technologies than the outgoing two-door.
Standard fitment now includes the M Traction Control system with ten stages of grip adjustment as well as the adaptive M suspension system, neither of which were available on the older model.
Both generations are equipped with an active M differential, however, which is capable of variably controlling torque between the rear wheels ensuring minimal slippage around corners and off the line.
The Competition, as an uprated version of the previous M2, also gets high-performance M Sport brakes as opposed to the normal M Compound brakes on the newer version, which coupled with its trimmer waist, should serve to achieve better braking performance than its replacement.
The Competition further boasts 19-inch light-alloy wheels all-round whereas the new M2’s measure 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear.
Naturally, both iterations of the M car are also able to emanate an emotionally stirring exhaust note thanks to four tailpipes with electrically-controlled flaps, and both sit on a lightweight M Sport chassis with near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution.
Everything but the kitchen sink
High-performance cars aren’t exactly bought for their amenities, though as an added benefit, these vehicles usually offer the latest technologies at their manufacturer’s disposal.
Whether you’re after the 2018 model or the one coming in 2023, you’ll be glad to know both spoil their owners with adaptive LED headlights, leather/Alcantara upholstery, climate control, keyless entry and start, a reversing camera with park distance sensors, cruise control, heated front seats, a Harman Kardon stereo, and cutting-edge driver assistance features.
While the two models’ nice-to-haves are plentiful, as with the exteriors, the interiors are worlds apart in terms of design.
The Competition sees BMW’s previous-generation design language with slightly more liberal use of plastic, a lone-standing 8.8-inch touchscreen on the dash, and semi-analogue gauge clusters.
The new M2, on the other hand, is the benefactor of more carbon inlays alongside the automaker’s new Live Cockpit Plus which brings a much larger 12.3-inch infotainment display and digital driver’s binnacle coming in at 14.9 inches in one housing.
As an option, it can also be had with carbon-backed bucket seats that save 10.8kg, a step up from the old Sports seats, as well as an all-new M Race Track package that brings a reduction in vehicle weight.
2018 BMW M2 Competition
2023 BMW M2
Keyword: New BMW M2 vs Old BMW M2