If you want the most driver-focused variant of the 2-Series, chances are you’ll be looking at the M2. However, if you want a 2-Series that you can use to race between the lights, the new M240i xDrive could be the one to choose.
To find out whether the new M240i xDrive or an M2 Competition is the better car for red-light drag racing, YouTuber Sam CarLegion brought the duo together for a series of tests. On paper, the two match up quite well.
Powering the M240i xDrive is a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six pumping out 382 hp and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. Importantly, this engine is coupled exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission and an xDrive all-wheel drive system. The car has a curb weight of 3,671 lbs (1,690 kg).
Read Also: Dahler’s Perfect BMW M240i Is The Aftermarket Alternative To An M2
In the other corner is the M2 Competition which also uses a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six but is good for 405 hp and 406 lb-ft (550 Nm). The example tested was also fitted with the available dual-clutch transmission and had a curb weight of around 3,600 lbs (1,632 kg). While it has the power and weight advantages, it is rear-wheel drive, making it more difficult to get off the line.
During the first race, the driver of the M240i xDrive gets the far superior launch, accelerating off into the distance and leaving the M2 for dead. The second race is much more competitive as the guy driving the M2 Competition got off the line just as quickly as the M240i and as the speeds increased, began to pull away.
A pair of rolling races are then held between the two. In the first race, the transmissions are left in their automatic modes and the gearbox of the M2 Competition managed to kick down much more quickly, allowing it to take an easy win.