BMW M2 to feature a 380 hp engine - Rendering

To be launched in 2016.

BMW's plans of making a baby 'M' car might have led to the highly respected 1M Coupe, but the German car maker is ready to bring a successor to the car. Expected to make an arrival in early 2016, the BMW M2 will sit below the bigger, more powerful M3/M4 (recently launched in India) and will feature a 380 hp powertrain, reports auto-moto.com.

The publication has also included the front, rear, and interior renderings of the upcoming car.

On the outside, it's a more muscular version of the current M235i (2 Series with an M bodykit being the key additions). New bumpers, 'M' side vent, quad exhaust, and bigger wheels are good enough to differentiate it from the lesser 2 Series. Interior wise, the rendering shows an increased use of carbon fibre, optional M steering with shift-lights on the rim, and a few M badges.

Like the BMW 1M Coupe of the past, the M2 will also use a turbocharged 3-litre inline six engine but will be more powerful than 1M's 335 hp engine. It will be available in both 6-speed manual and 8-speed automatic gearboxes.

The report goes on to say that the vehicle will cost about 20,000 Euros cheaper than the recently launched M3, and that it will be down on power by 50 hp, in comparison to the same.

Also read: BMW M3 Sedan, M4 Coupe First Drive in India

And unlike in the past, when the M3 used a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 (4.4-litre unit in the special M3 GTS and M3 CRT editions), now both the M3 and the upcoming M2 will be using forced induction (turbocharging) to extract power from their smaller than before (new vs old M3) engines, so the difference between the two will be even narrower. Needless to mention, the M2 will be front engined and rear-wheel drive model, just like the M3/M4.

Competitors: Audi RS3, Mercedes Benz A 45 AMG
Expected Price: INR 50 lakh (excluding duties)
Launch date: H1 2016 (Europe)

[Source - Auto-moto.com]