What We Like
Aggressive styling
Extreme agility
Precise and talkative steering
Ample power
Exciting all the time
All the M car you ever need
What We Dislike
Initial bite of the brakes not as sharp as we'd like
I must immediately confess - I adore the M2 Coupe. It's a delightful little car that delivers excitement even on the most casual of drives. It's by no means the fastest nor the sharpest car available in the market, but it's a well-conceived and well-executed package that delivers a fair amount of track-intensity even on normal roads.
The M2 Competition promises to be sharper, faster and more exciting than everAnd so, I had my hesitations about this car - the new BMW M2 Competition. It's a sharper, more powerful and more track focused car, and I'm worried that it'll ruin the everyday driveability. And to be clear, the M2 Competition replaces the M2 Coupe as far as sales go (though it technically sits higher in the model lineup), so moving forward it's not like you have a choice between the two. If you want to buy a new M2, this is it.
So what's changed?
Quite a fair bit, actually. The engine, for one, is a modified version of the S55 power unit you'll find in the M3/M4. It's now a twin-turbo 3.0-litre in-line six delivering 404bhp and 550Nm of torque, a noticeable step up from the 370bhp and 465Nm of torque in the base M2.
The twin-turbo 3.0-litre engine pumps out 404bhp and 550Nm of torqueTo deal with increased cooling requirements, the M2 Competition features an enlarged kidney grille and new front skirt to help increase air flow, while the cooling system is an adjusted version of the one found in the M4 Competition Package.
There's also a new dual-branch exhaust system and four tailpipes, with two electronically-controlled flaps allowing you to adjust the volume of the soundtrack coming out of the back.
BMW M hasn't meddled around with the suspension on the M2. Instead, to improve handling and chassis stiffness, the M2 Competition has a carbon fibre reinforced plastic high-precision strut in the engine compartment, as well as a bulkhead strut. This stiffens up the front of the car to provide a sharper turn in and more front-end control.
The new dual-branch exhaust with four tailpipes delivers a gruff and rousing soundtrackThe steering wheel is also new, now with the M1/M2 mode controls allowing you to adjust the car's dynamic behaviour on the fly. Additionally, the power steering, Active M differential and Dynamic Steering Control (DSC) have all been recalibrated.
That's a long list of changes...
The entire goal is to make the car sharper and more dynamic, and on the Ascari Circuit, it definitely feels that way. On the track, the M2 Competition is ridiculous amounts of fun. With its adjustable chassis, extreme agility and excitable handling, the M2 Competition delivers a pure and direct driving experience. The steering is notably sharper, with greater precision of the front end, allowing you to really attack the apex of corners.
On the track, the M2 Competiton is a joy to pilot, with its accurate steering, adjustable chassis and extreme agilityIt's also not scarily fast or powerful, which is a good thing, thus allowing you to focus more on getting your lines right and finding a good rhythm through corners.
Switch the DSC into M Dynamic Mode, and the M2 Competition becomes livelier at the rear, allowing you to hang its tail out if you so wish. And because the chassis is balanced and talkative, you always feel in control.
So what's changed?
Quite a fair bit, actually. The engine, for one, is a modified version of the S55 power unit you'll find in the M3/M4. It's now a twin-turbo 3.0-litre in-line six delivering 404bhp and 550Nm of torque, a noticeable step up from the 370bhp and 465Nm of torque in the base M2.
There's also a new dual-branch exhaust system and four tailpipes, with two electronically-controlled flaps allowing you to adjust the volume of the soundtrack coming out of the back.
BMW M hasn't meddled around with the suspension on the M2. Instead, to improve handling and chassis stiffness, the M2 Competition has a carbon fibre reinforced plastic high-precision strut in the engine compartment, as well as a bulkhead strut. This stiffens up the front of the car to provide a sharper turn in and more front-end control.
That's a long list of changes...
The entire goal is to make the car sharper and more dynamic, and on the Ascari Circuit, it definitely feels that way. On the track, the M2 Competition is ridiculous amounts of fun. With its adjustable chassis, extreme agility and excitable handling, the M2 Competition delivers a pure and direct driving experience. The steering is notably sharper, with greater precision of the front end, allowing you to really attack the apex of corners.
Switch the DSC into M Dynamic Mode, and the M2 Competition becomes livelier at the rear, allowing you to hang its tail out if you so wish. And because the chassis is balanced and talkative, you always feel in control.
Downsides? The new M Sport brakes aren't the greatest. Yes, they still shed speed readily, but it's a little bit mushy at the top of the travel.
On normal roads, the M2 Competition is still endlessly intoxicating and exciting to drive
Wait, but how does it fare on real roads?
This really is the big question mark. The ride is certainly firm. It's a fixed suspension setup (compared to the M2 Coupe which has three adjustable settings), and not particularly forgiving on bumpy roads.
There was a particular bit of road I drove on that was basically a two kilometres bumpy course, and that did make my stomach churn a little. But get onto properly paved roads and it's not really that much of a problem - firm, but not overly harsh.
The M sports seats offer great lateral support when cornering hard, whilst still providing ample comfort for longer drivesOn the sweeping roads around the Ascari circuit, which are narrow, windy and often blind, the M2 Competition is a joy to drive. It's light on its feet, it's agile, and there's a rhythm to the way it drives that's intoxicating. The steering is direct and honest, with lots of tactile feedback coming through the steering wheel. Its compact size also means it's easy to place.
So has BMW made the M2 better?
Is the M2 Competition a better track car? Absolutely. It's sharper, more agile and quicker. Around the glorious Ascari Circuit with its reproduction of iconic corners from around the globe, the M2 Competition feels right at home. It darts in and out of corners with urgency, intensity and accuracy, and yet can still be playful and tail-happy at a push of a button.
The sharper and more precise front-end means that the car is much more rewarding the harder you push itIs it a better road car, though? I'm not sure it necessarily is, but more importantly, it isn't a worse car by any means, and that assuages my fears. In its pursuit of making the M2 Competition more track-focused, BMW M hasn't gone and ruin the car for road use. The M2 Competition still delivers the same kind of heady excitement as you scamper along windy roads, direct tactile feedback in your hands and the accompanying booming soundtrack in your ears.
So no, BMW M hasn't gone and ruined the M2. Quite the contrary, with the M2 Competition, the company has made it better. It's all of the joyous magic of the original M2, now kicked up a notch. And judging by European and American pricing, it's not going to cost a whole lot more than the standard M2, though there's no word on local pricing as yet. Thank the heavens.
Sharper, more exciting and more dynamic than before, the M2 Competition will delight you every time you drive it, no matter on a track or on the roadIf you want a consummate M car to drive daily, which delivers excitement every time you step in and makes you grin every time you step out, the M2 Competition is undoubtedly the one to have. I know I want one.
Wait, but how does it fare on real roads?
This really is the big question mark. The ride is certainly firm. It's a fixed suspension setup (compared to the M2 Coupe which has three adjustable settings), and not particularly forgiving on bumpy roads.
There was a particular bit of road I drove on that was basically a two kilometres bumpy course, and that did make my stomach churn a little. But get onto properly paved roads and it's not really that much of a problem - firm, but not overly harsh.
So has BMW made the M2 better?
Is the M2 Competition a better track car? Absolutely. It's sharper, more agile and quicker. Around the glorious Ascari Circuit with its reproduction of iconic corners from around the globe, the M2 Competition feels right at home. It darts in and out of corners with urgency, intensity and accuracy, and yet can still be playful and tail-happy at a push of a button.
So no, BMW M hasn't gone and ruined the M2. Quite the contrary, with the M2 Competition, the company has made it better. It's all of the joyous magic of the original M2, now kicked up a notch. And judging by European and American pricing, it's not going to cost a whole lot more than the standard M2, though there's no word on local pricing as yet. Thank the heavens.
