Is This The New 2023 BMW M2?

BMW M is celebrating its 50th anniversary by unleashing a barrage of new M-badged models. We’ve already got the lowdown on the M4 CSL and we know what to expect from the first-ever M3 Touring. But the car that arguably has the most people excited is the all-new BMW M2.

BMW hasn’t revealed much about the hot 2-Series so far, but thanks to a leaked image we at least know how the back end of it is shaping up. Appearing on the Instagram account of serial leaker, @wlikoblok, the single image isn’t confirmed beyond question as genuine but appears to show a German-registered blue M2.

You can just about make out the “M2” badging on the right-hand side of the trunk, but even without that telltale, there are plenty of other giveaways that tally with what we’ve seen in spy shots of genuine M2 prototypes testing.

Related: BMW M240i Shows M2 Competition The Power Of All-Wheel Drive

 

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The M240i already features flared arches and an integrated trunk spoiler topped by a lip spoiler. But this car’s track and rear wheels are noticeably wider, the bumper is reshaped, and now has a boxier shape to its lower section plus vertical vents (or possibly dummy vents). And in place of the M240i’s twin triangular/rectangular tailpipes, we can see a hint of a true M-car’s quad exhaust tips.

What this image doesn’t confirm is whether the M2 will get an entirely different front-end treatment to other 2-Series cars, as has been rumored. We also can’t see the interior, but we know the M2 will get BMW’s latest dashboard and iDrive setup featuring a one-piece dashboard display comprising a digital gauge cluster with a touchscreen infotainment screen mounted alongside. That tech has already on updated versions of the ordinary 2-Series.

BMW is playing its powertrain cards close to its chest but the M2 is expected to get a detuned version of the M3’s 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six developing around 450 hp (456 PS), and hooked up to a choice of six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmission. Hopefully, that power will be delivered to the rear wheels only, but we’ll have to wait until later in the year to find out.

What do you think of this alleged M2 image? Do you like what you see, and do you think it’s a real leak, or is BMW playing games with us to build our anticipation? Leave a comment and let us know.