2016 BMW M2: Glory in its Simplest Form

When the size and girth of the M3 and M4 steadily increased over the past few generations, there were grumblings from BMW traditionalists bemoaning the ever-increasing dimensions of the vehicle and longing for the days of their compact E30 M3s from the early 1990s. BMW did offer the 1 Series M Coupé to keep these people happy in 2011-2012, but from now on, the M2 will be taking over those duties full time.

Now don’t confuse the M2 with the M235i, which is something of an oddball from BMW. It isn't an M car in the traditional sense, but comes with M badges and light performance modifications. Many believe M cars shouldn't be diluted in such a fashion and you can count time among those.

• Also: 2016 BMW M2: Entry-Level M
• Also: 2016 BMW M2 as fast as M4 in sprint from 0 to 100 km/h

The M2 is the real deal, though. Under the hood, BMW has installed their N55 turbocharged inline-six engine from the 3 Series and M235i, albeit it’s been completely reworked to deliver 365 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft. of torque. These modifications include high-compression pistons, crankshaft main bearing shells (both sourced from the M3), a new induction system, and heavy-duty cooling and oil systems for maintaining intense pressure and temperature. The car is built to withstand the extreme stress of heavy track use and can carve up asphalt like almost nothing else.

As you can imagine the acceleration in the 2016 BMW M2 is blistering and cannot be appreciated to the fullest on public roads. Go-kart handling is ensured thanks to 50/50 weight distribution and a stiff suspension. The 19-inch wheels, massive brakes, front and rear sub-frames and active differential are all borrowed from the M3, and there is plenty of driving feel communicated through the steering wheel—something that M3 owners have said is lacking in their cars.

Daily driving the M2 is another story. I suppose one can’t expect a race car to glide over potholes and ridges in the road, so the harsh ride came as no surprise. Then again, compared to my Integra Type R which I daily drove for over a decade, this thing is like a Cadillac, so there will be absolutely no complaints from me here.

I'm also a big fan of the manual transmission which is unfortunately on the endangered species list these days. I didn't think I would get the same sense of pleasure out of driving the M with the dual-clutch transmission, but I liked it much more than I thought. I can even envision myself owning an M car equipped with a DCT—which I couldn't before. The DCT is a bit overkill for daily driving and not quite the same as your standard automatic for those who are unfamiliar with it. It is, after all, a transmission designed for racing.

Looks-wise, the M2 is noticeably smaller than the M3 much as the 1M was. The body kit and wide fender flares give it a beasty look and convey the nastiness that exists under the skin. The test vehicle came in the beautiful Long Beach Blue Metallic which is a $550 option and quite flashy. There were no shortage of turned heads and I was even approached by strangers several times who told me I had a “f-ing sick car man.”

The cabin of the M2 is arguably the least luxurious out of the M fleet, with many panels covered in black plastic. That being said, there are many M accoutrements that remind of you that this isn’t some econobox, from the carbon fibre trim to the blue stitching on the seats, the M logo in the gauges and the fantastic M steering wheel with red and blue stitching. Oh, that steering wheel is a thing of beauty. It’s so pleasant to the touch that I kept both hands on it at all times just to soak up the feeling.

The rear seats are rather tight for adult occupants, but I don’t think anyone is buying this vehicle to haul the family. With the rear seats folded down, there is a fair amount of space thanks to the nicely-sized trunk.

BMW wanted the M2 to be a worthy successor to the compact race cars of its past, namely the 2002 turbo, the 3.0 CSL and the E30 M3. Bimmer die-hards have much to be happy about as I think the new M2 fits this profile well. It won’t be as ultra-rare as the 1M (only 220 were sold in Canada and 740 in the U.S.), but it’s safe to say that these machines will hold their value well and be sought-after items. This is glory in its simplest form.