A seat-pressing, banshee of an engine for this BMW

2023 BMW M2

Type: Compact high-performance sports coupe, front-engine, rear-wheel drive

Engine: Three-litre, twin-turbocharged, in-line six-cylinder, producing 453 horsepower and 406 lbs.-ft. of torque

Transmission: Six-speed manual; eight-speed automatic

Fule economy (Premium gas): 14.3 litres/100 km in the city; 10 l/100 km on the highway; 12.4 l/100 km combined

Cargo capacity: 390 litres, or 13.7 cubic feet

Price: $76,500, excl. freight, taxes and fees

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.The BMW M2 makes for a fine driver’s car. I spent about two hours driving a Zandvoort Blue tester from Prescott to Scottsdale over roads that varied between tabletop smooth and pockmarked moon crater, and the M2 felt firmly connected to the tarmac. It was a bit loud and bumpy at times, but always secure.

The twin-turbo, straight-six is a seat-pressing banshee of an engine when pressed hard, as my colleague and I discovered on twisty two-laners, interstates and all sorts of hilly, flat and dust bowl roads in between. It’s the type of engine that howls with delight when wound up near the red line, as shift lights quickly illuminate, as if to say, “is that all you got?”

Great fun!

As for handling, the M2’s 50:50 weight distribution, pinpoint steering, slick-shifting six-speed gearbox and rear-wheel-drive (RWD) format produce the sort of corner-carving, understeer-free dynamic driving that M cars have been renowned for more than 50 years.

If I wasn’t so nervous about the zealousness of Arizona law enforcement, I would have explored the M2’s handling limits further.

If the new M2 coupe is the last BMW M car to be powered solely by an internal combustion engine, then I’d say the era is being closed out with a car that truly captures the ethos of the high-performance brand.

As its predecessor was, the new M2 is powered by a three-litre, twin-turbocharged, in-line, six-cylinder engine (producing 453 horsepower and 406 lbs.-ft. of torque, or motive power) that’s paired with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission, which drive the rear wheels.

The straight-six engine is high-revving (7,200 revolutions per minute (rpm) red line), with peak torque arriving between 2,650 rpm and 5,870 rpm, and the top end of 453 horsepower at 6,250 rpm. Design highlights include a very rigid crankcase, forged crankshaft, and friction-optimized cylinder bores packaged in lightweight form.

On the chassis, the M2 comes standard with an Active M Differential at the rear axle that can variably alter traction independently for the left and right rear wheels to improve grip. The system ensures engine torque isn’t lost when one rear wheel spins, and it helps maintain grip when you are starting out on a slippery surface. The system is networked to the DSC (dynamic stability control) and delivers power variably, via sensor array, depending on driving conditions.

Adaptive M suspension is standard issue, and it includes electronically controlled dampers that adjust variably via sensors that monitor road conditions, body movement and steering inputs. Basic damper characteristics are organized into three settings that can be adjusted through the M Setup menu accessed via a console button.

The new M2 is bigger. It’s a little longer and wider, but has a slightly lower roof height. Because the wheelbase is a bit longer, the car has more legroom for passengers in the front and rear.

The car remains short and stubby. Most edges have been squared, with straight lines running up and down the M2’s surfaces for a contemporary look that still feels very M. The kidney grille is smaller, squared-off and in good proportion to the air intakes and LED lighting that surrounds it. Each headlight has a circular element for both low and high beam.

Because it’s an M, the M2 has wheel arches that flare at both ends to, not only swallow 19-inch (front) and 20-inch (rear) wheels comfortably, but provide a muscular, planted stance. Other details, such as short front and rear overhangs, a black rear diffuser (improves the car’s aerodynamic properties), and quad-tip exhausts hint at the car’s performance. (For owners seeking even more pizzazz, a slew of options, such as a carbon fibre roof and 21-inch wheels, are available.)

On the inside, the M2 has low-set, sport seats that are near impossible to enter or exit gracefully, but fit like a glove once the driver is firmly in place. There are large HD screens for instruments (12.3-inch) and multimedia (14.9-inch), and console and dash switchgear that requires minimal fiddling. The plastics, leathers and other touch points are handsomely designed and well finished, and BMW has integrated some nice details, such as M colour accents in the door panels and M2 logos in the seatbacks.

Adjusting to a comfortable driving position is easy, and despite its low-slung, gun-slit vibe, I find the M2 to be quite comfortable. Not roomy — the back seat is tiny and not a place I’d want to spend any amount of time in — but there’s plenty of leg, head, and shoulder room up front.

The M2 is a driver’s car, so we needn’t be reminded constantly of its abundant electronics. It’s pleasing there isn’t too much to fiddle with. There’s an M Mode button to adjust the car’s chassis settings, the ubiquitous iDrive controller knob, and the rest is where you expect to find it, either on the dashboard or via steering wheel shortcut.

For the record, according to BMW, the M2 can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds when equipped with the six-speed, manual transmission. It’s two tenths quicker with the eight-speed automatic, and its 0-200 km/h time is also noticeably faster with the autobox (13.5 seconds versus 14.3). An electronic governor caps top speed at 250 km/h, but 285 km/h is obtainable with the optional M Driver’s Package.

I was left with the impression that this car captures the essence of BMW’s M brand. Sure, this M2 is bigger and heavier than M3s of yore, but it’s also much more powerful.

And with a $76,500 starting price, a driver might reasonably think, “Who needs an M3?”

Correction — May 16, 2023: The new M2 is powered by a three-litre, twin-turbocharged, in-line, six-cylinder engine that produces 453 horsepower and 406 lbs.-ft. of torque. A previous version of the article misstated these figures.