Extra Energy, Similar Wild Spirit

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The 2026 BMW M2 doesn’t attempt to reinvent itself — and that’s precisely why it’s sensible. This updated LCI (facelift) version retains the wild spirit of the unique alive, including a contact extra energy and some refined design tweaks whereas staying true to what made the M2 particular within the first place. It’s nonetheless the purest, most entertaining driver’s automotive BMW builds at the moment — uncooked, compact, and unapologetically old-school in a digital world.

The M2’s Wild Character and On a regular basis Duality

It’s nonetheless the best-to-drive BMW you could purchase at the moment. For those who maintain the digital nannies on, it’s going to flatter you thru the corners, make you assume you’re higher than you actually are. Disable the aids, although, and the automotive can shortly present that you just nonetheless have quite a bit to study in relation to automotive management. Until you’re a hardcore canyon carver with a number of monitor expertise, one of the simplest ways to expertise it’s with its methods midway disabled in order that they’ll nonetheless drag you again from the sting of catastrophe whereas nonetheless permitting you to mess around with the automotive a bit of.

BMW M2 Facelift: Extra Energy, Acquainted Perspective

This needs to be one of many laziest BMW lifecycle impulses ever—not that I’m complaining. The refreshed M2 will get new paint colours, up to date wheels and darker exhaust ideas, however that’s about it. Inside, it will get the new-design M flat-bottom steering wheel, which in my tester was wrapped in Alcantara and featured a pink heart mark.

Seeing this automotive drive down the street, you wouldn’t know if it was the refreshed mannequin or not, except you knew which colours are new or had been in a position to peek inside and see the brand new steering wheel.

Extra Energy from the S58 Engine

The large information with this so-called LCI is additional energy and torque from the S58 engine. Energy rises by 20 hp to 473 hp and torque goes as much as 443 lb-ft (600 Nm), though solely in vehicles geared up with the automated gearbox. It makes an already bonkers-quick M2 even faster, though you may’t actually inform it has additional energy. I certain couldn’t, because it’s been some time since I drove an M2, however I’m certain that for those who drive them back-to-back, you’ll discover the additional oomph. This automotive has the identical drawback placing all of its energy down within the decrease gears on something apart from an ideal strip of sizzling tarmac.

Driving the pre-refresh M2, one factor I didn’t take into consideration was the automotive needing extra energy. Nonetheless, having extra energy is at all times higher, proper? If this feels as rowdy because it does, I’m wondering what the M2 CS that’s much more highly effective, lighter and extra aggressive goes to really feel like?

Driving Expertise: Why the M2 Nonetheless Feels Like a Pure M Automobile

You don’t purchase an M2 for standing or posing. You purchase it since you completely love driving and also you get pleasure from scaring your self a bit of in your Sunday drive. This automotive delivers thrills like nothing else in its worth bracket. It’s not going to be as fast as a Porsche 718 with comparable energy out on monitor, however you’ll be grinning from ear to ear as you see the mid-engined Porsche pulling away.

Steering Precision and Chassis Steadiness

The steering within the 2026 BMW M2 is pin-sharp, making up for the shortage of really feel that every one BMW steering racks endure from today. The helm doesn’t precisely talk what the entrance tires are doing, however if you assume you’re feeling understeer creeping in, you may at all times right it with a little bit of proper pedal software.

That is the great thing about the M2, facelift, or in any other case. The truth that you may mess around with the automotive, slide its tail out a bit round a superb street, and all with out having to really feel such as you’re significantly exceeding its limits (or yours as a driver). I’ll say that the rear finish in my facelift tester felt tougher to unstick with throttle software alone in comparison with the non-facelift automotive that I drove some time again. This newest automotive had lined some 8,000 miles, and its 285-section Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rear tires had been nonetheless in good situation.

For those who pin the throttle mid-corner, the rear doesn’t explode sideways. It simply type of squirms a bit of bit, even with the nannies off or partly disabled. You possibly can nonetheless get the automotive to swing its tail out, and it’s straightforward sufficient to catch the slide, so you realize there’s some severe chassis tuning making all of it potential. On a dry street on a heat day, it’s a bit too troublesome to get lateral motion out of the rear. Certain, it did rain a bit on one of many days that I had the automotive, and it grew to become immediately straightforward to play with the rear finish, even get some fairly alarming angles, however total, I assumed this automotive was tuned for sheer grip fairly than tail-out naughtiness.

As soon as you compromise into the M2, it begins to really feel extra like a bionic improve to your physique fairly than a automotive. Like every good BMW, it hugs you and feels significantly lighter than it really is. The M2’s shorter wheelbase (in comparison with an M4) helps make it really feel extra nimble and agile, although the burden distinction between the 2 automobiles is lower than 100 lbs. Threading collectively just a few brisk corners in a present M2 is without doubt one of the greatest experiences you may have in a brand new automotive at the moment, no matter worth.

BMW M Efficiency Components: Fashion or Substance?

As a lot as I just like the 2026 BMW M2, I dislike the obtainable carbon fiber M Efficiency components which are hooked up with double-sided tape. My tester actually appeared prefer it had crashed by way of a shed stuffed with M Efficiency bits, and a few of them caught to the automotive in bizarre locations.

For some purpose, a few of the components don’t appear to match the design. Now I perceive that it is a assertion in and of itself, but it surely’s not very visually interesting. The little winglets that stick up from beneath the corners of the entrance bumper and from the rear a part of the aspect skirts don’t make the automotive look any higher in my guide.

Then there are the carbon components from across the wheel arches, which get three strakes to match the design of the rear bumper. That is additionally a bit infantile, and it’s most likely geared toward younger 20-something drivers who would do something to face out. Carbon fiber is meant to make a automotive lighter, however when it’s used like this it makes the automotive ever so barely heavier, which simply doesn’t sit nicely with me.

I did just like the carbon ducktail spoiler, although, in addition to the tasteful graphics alongside the higher a part of the automotive’s beltline. The carbon fiber diffuser within the again can be good, because it replaces a plastic half and it doesn’t appear to be an afterthought. My tester had the optionally available titanium exhaust, which adjustments the way in which the 4 ideas are organized and simply makes the rear of the automotive look much more particular. Additionally they make the automotive a bit of bit louder and add some rasp to the exhaust word.

The carbon air consumption trim helps elevate the look of the outside and it makes the automotive appear much more particular, so I might tick that field, however not together with the carbon splitter, which will get the upturned winglets that don’t match the remainder of the design.

M Race Observe Bundle and Carbon Upgrades

My tester had the M Race Observe Bundle, which provides a carbon roof (which not comes as commonplace within the M2 facelift), carbon trim inside and the M carbon bucket seats. There’s no denying these optionally available seats maintain you nicely by way of the corners and are extra comfy than you’d assume simply by them, however the carbon hump within the seat base is annoying sufficient to make me significantly think about whether or not I’d put these seats in a automotive configured for myself. It limits your legs’ sideward vary of movement and except you wish to match a racing harness (which you most likely aren’t) it’s simply pointless.

Small Adjustments, Similar Huge Thrills

This automotive feels virtually similar to what it did earlier than. Sure, the brand new steering wheel immediately tells you you’re within the new mannequin, however that’s actually all you’re going to note. The additional energy isn’t actually noticeable both, so if you’re pondering of shopping for certainly one of these vehicles, it can save you a couple of dollars and simply get a pre-LCI used instance. For those who actually wish to, you may retrofit the new-style helm to make it really feel extra fashionable, but it surely’s probably not essential.

The M2 is pretty much as good because it’s at all times been and never considerably higher than earlier than. It nonetheless weighs a bit greater than it ought to, particularly if you examine it to the outdated technology, and it’s not as naughty-feeling to drive because the outdated automotive. However the way in which this automotive (nonetheless) makes you’re feeling is unmatched by way of its mixture of a perfectly tuned chassis, a improbable engine and among the best driving positions within the business.

I assumed BMW would change the squared-off particulars on the entrance and rear fascias of the M2 with the facelift. Nonetheless, I’m glad it didn’t, as a result of it’s these particulars that assist give the M2 a novel character, making it stand out from the bigger M4. You should buy a extra conventional-looking aftermarket entrance finish in your M2, however I believe that detracts from the automotive’s visible impression because it comes from the manufacturing unit. These BMW designers actually knew what they had been doing, and I’m completely happy they caught with their concept, enduring waves of preliminary criticism for the automotive’s look.

Remaining Ideas: The M2 Facelift Stays BMW’s Greatest Driver’s Automobile

The one factor that might make the M2 higher is xDrive. Certain, it’s going to make an already too-heavy automotive even heavier, however for those who’ve pushed a brand new M with xDrive, then you know the way it adjustments the automotive for the higher. It’s not solely significantly better at placing (all of) the ability down for a pin-you-to-your-seat launch, however punching it out of a bend, you may nonetheless let the rear hang around a bit of, as powering the entrance axle simply provides a bit of additional stability, reassurance, and functionality.

An M2 with xDrive is one thing I positively wish to expertise when it comes out subsequent yr, and I believe that’s the one I might decide for myself. Even with out driving one.