The jury is still out on the design of the 2023 BMW M2 but we remain confident that it will be a very exciting car to drive and a fitting performance successor to the old model. Now, we have our first chance to see it on the move.
This freshly-released clip from the German car manufacturer shows the 2023 M2 being put through its paces on some lovely mountain roads in Europe, as well as on a racetrack. While the driver clearly wasn’t pushing the car to its absolute limits all of the time, we do get a glimpse at some of the M2’s performance credentials. We can also confidently say that it looks better on the move than it does stationary, perhaps because some of the questionable design choices become less obvious.
Read More: The 2023 BMW M2 Shakes Off Conservative Design, Retains Driver-Oriented Focus
Slotted beneath the hood of the new M2 is BMW’s praised S58 twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine that in this tune is good for 453 hp at 6,250 rpm and 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque between 2,650 and 5,870 rpm. This engine is mated to a six-speed manual as standard, although an eight-speed automatic will also be available. Power is sent exclusively through the rear wheels.
BMW claims that the car can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.1 seconds with the stick shift and 3.9 seconds with the automatic. The top speed sits at 155 mph (248 km/h) as standard but this increases to 177 mph (283 km/h) with the optional M Driver’s Package.
Although this video doesn’t provide us any insight into the handling of the car, it does raise some concerns on whether the engine and exhaust notes are too muted, but we’ll have to see for ourselves when get behind the wheel. In any case, we suspect that many buyers will turn to the aftermarket to add to the aural experience.