Since its debut in the middle of the last decade, the BMW M2 has brought the weight of the expectation – perhaps unfair – as the last true “ultimate driving machine”. While its older, larger M-siblings became softer, heavier and digitized, the F87 m2 distilled the BMW formula of the old school in a compact, driven uphill turmoil. It was raw, apologetically and above all. Fun.
Enter the G87 M2, the latest iteration of BMW’s loved baby M Car. Larger, faster and loaded with technology, it promises to build on the legacy of the F87. But did BMW do it better or has it lost the magic that made the M2 of the first generation an immediate classic? Let’s dig in.
Design: evolution or divergence?
BMW has never been shy about brave design decisions, but the appearance of the G87 m2 were so controversial. While the F87 m2 was praised because of its muscular and yet reserved styling, the G87 throws the fineness out of the window with box -shaped proportions, with knocking statements and aggressively exhibited fenders. It is the aesthetic equivalent to replace a tumped tuxedo for the hoodie of a weightlifter – functional, but far from elegant.
For some, the wide posture and the E30 M3-like proportions of the G87 are an allusion to the Golden era of BMW. For others, the gaping front end and the plate body feel less like an evolution and more like a design experiment. As we have found in the past, the G87 M2 is “closer to an M4 size and a modern drive train and a lot of technology”. In other words, the new M2 is not as much a compact scalpel as a shrunk hammer.
That means beauty is subjective. Early critics of the “Baby 1m” style of the F87 finally warmed up on it, and the same could happen with the G87. Our attitude? We like the homage to the E30 M3 and see many motorsports in the design language.
Performance: one step forward
Where the G87 M2 acts part of the visual finesse of its predecessor, it makes up for it under the bonnet. BMW broke off the N55 and S55 engines of the F87 in favor of the S58 of the F87 one 3.0-liter twin turbocharger-inline-Six-Six-Six. With 453 hp and a torque of 406 LB-FT, it is a serious upgrade that starts the G87 from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds (car) or 3.8 seconds (manual).
On paper, the new M2 is undeniably faster, more powerful and more sophisticated. But does that mean it is better?
In our real findings, the G87 clearly provides brutal straightforward speed. However, it applies to costs for maneuverability and feedback. The chassis is stiffer, the wheelbase longer and the curb has increased to almost 3,900 lbs – a significant reinforcement compared to the relatively light F87 and even easier 1 m. In our time with the G87 m2 it feels more planted and balanced, while it is less nimble and directly.
For those who use their M2 activity every day, this could be a victory. The journey is more composer and less nervous than before, which makes it a better motorway cruiser. But for Purists who loved the F87’s tailoring playfulness, the additional weight and that grabbed the G87 less likes to dance.
Manual transmission: The Puristen dilemma
For years, enthusiasts ask BMW to keep the manual alive. BMW listened – but did you understand it correctly?
The G87 M2 offers a six-speed manual transmission, but early reviews were mixed. Some drivers praise the notchy, mechanical feeling, but others say that the crispness of the past M -manuals is missing. Bimmerfile found that the “1. Up to the 2nd layer of the manual in the comparison “of the manual, which it made less precisely than some had hoped.
Ironically, the eight-speed automatic thread was praised for purists sacrilegic for his quick, intuitive shifts and their ability to withdraw the best out of the S58 engine. In fact, performance figures prefer the car with faster acceleration and more smooth delivery compared to the manual.
Is the manual worth it? If you are there for the commitment of pure drivers, absolutely. Even if you use it as daily, it is pretty easy due to the light clutch and simple engagement.
Last judgment: a worthy successor?
The G87 M2 is faster, more sophisticated and loaded with technology – but it is lost something of the shabby, outsider that felt the F87 m2 so special.
- If you want a modern M2 that is comfortable, brutally quick and easy to live, the G87 is for you.
- If you prefer an easier, more playful and more ales M-car, the F87 (or even the 1m) may still be a better choice.
In any case, one thing is certain: the G87 M2 will continue to fuel debates at Car meetings and in forums in the coming years.
We would call it the last one TRUE M car? It depends on how you define it. But one thing is certain – if this is the end of an era, it is at least sideways.
