Extra Energy, Identical 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 up to date LCI (facelift) model 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 automobile BMW builds at present — 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 present. In the event you preserve the digital nannies on, it’ll flatter you thru the corners, make you suppose you’re higher than you actually are. Disable the aids, although, and the automobile can shortly present that you simply nonetheless have so much to be taught in terms of automobile management. Until you’re a hardcore canyon carver with numerous monitor expertise, the easiest way to expertise it’s with its techniques 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 automobile somewhat.

BMW M2 Facelift: Extra Energy, Acquainted Angle

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 suggestions, 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 crimson middle mark.

Seeing this automobile drive down the highway, you wouldn’t know if it was the refreshed mannequin or not, except you knew which colours are new or had been capable of 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 outfitted with the automated gearbox. It makes an already bonkers-quick M2 even faster, though you’ll be able to’t actually inform it has additional energy. I positive couldn’t, because it’s been some time since I drove an M2, however I’m positive that in the event you drive them back-to-back, you’ll discover the additional oomph. This automobile has the identical downside placing all of its energy down within the decrease gears on something aside from an ideal strip of scorching tarmac.

Driving the pre-refresh M2, one factor I didn’t take into consideration was the automobile needing extra energy. Nonetheless, having extra energy is at all times higher, proper? If this feels as rowdy because it does, I ponder 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 Automotive

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 somewhat in your Sunday drive. This automobile 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 each one BMW steering racks undergo from today. The helm doesn’t precisely talk what the entrance tires are doing, however while you suppose you are feeling understeer creeping in, you’ll be able to at all times appropriate it with a little bit of proper pedal utility.

That is the great thing about the M2, facelift, or in any other case. The truth that you’ll be able to mess around with the automobile, slide its tail out a bit round a very good highway, 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 utility alone in comparison with the non-facelift automobile that I drove some time again. This newest automobile had coated some 8,000 miles, and its 285-section Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rear tires had been nonetheless in good situation.

In the event you pin the throttle mid-corner, the rear doesn’t explode sideways. It simply form of squirms somewhat bit, even with the nannies off or partly disabled. You may nonetheless get the automobile to swing its tail out, and it’s straightforward sufficient to catch the slide, so you realize there’s some critical chassis tuning making all of it potential. On a dry highway on a heat day, it’s a bit too tough to get lateral motion out of the rear. Positive, it did rain a bit on one of many days that I had the automobile, and it turned immediately straightforward to play with the rear finish, even get some fairly alarming angles, however total, I assumed this automobile was tuned for sheer grip relatively 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 relatively than a automobile. Like every good BMW, it hugs you and feels significantly lighter than it truly is. The M2’s shorter wheelbase (in comparison with an M4) helps make it really feel extra nimble and agile, regardless that the load distinction between the 2 autos is lower than 100 lbs. Threading collectively just a few brisk corners in a present M2 is likely one of the greatest experiences you’ll be able to have in a brand new automobile at present, no matter worth.

BMW M Efficiency Components: Fashion or Substance?

As a lot as I just like the 2026 BMW M2, I dislike the accessible carbon fiber M Efficiency elements which can be connected with double-sided tape. My tester actually seemed prefer it had crashed by means of a shed filled with M Efficiency bits, and a few of them caught to the automobile in bizarre locations.

For some purpose, a number of the elements don’t appear to match the design. Now I perceive that this can be a assertion in and of itself, but it surely’s not very visually interesting. The little winglets that stick up from underneath the corners of the entrance bumper and from the rear a part of the aspect skirts don’t make the automobile look any higher in my e-book.

Then there are the carbon elements 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 in all probability aimed toward younger 20-something drivers who would do something to face out. Carbon fiber is meant to make a automobile lighter, however when it’s used like this it makes the automobile 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 automobile’s beltline. The carbon fiber diffuser within the again can be good, because it replaces a plastic half and it doesn’t seem like an afterthought. My tester had the non-obligatory titanium exhaust, which modifications the way in which the 4 suggestions are organized and simply makes the rear of the automobile look much more particular. In addition they make the automobile somewhat bit louder and add some rasp to the exhaust word.

The carbon air consumption trim helps carry the look of the outside and it makes the automobile appear much more particular, so I’d 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 Package deal and Carbon Upgrades

My tester had the M Race Observe Package deal, which provides a carbon roof (which now not comes as customary within the M2 facelift), carbon trim inside and the M carbon bucket seats. There’s no denying these non-obligatory seats maintain you nicely by means of the corners and are extra snug than you’d suppose simply by taking a look at 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 automobile configured for myself. It limits your legs’ sideward vary of movement and except you wish to match a racing harness (which you in all probability aren’t) it’s simply pointless.

Small Adjustments, Identical Massive Thrills

This automobile feels virtually an identical 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 in case you are pondering of shopping for one in every of these vehicles, it can save you a couple of bucks and simply get a pre-LCI used instance. In the event you actually wish to, you’ll be able to retrofit the new-style helm to make it really feel extra trendy, but it surely’s not likely obligatory.

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 while you evaluate it to the previous era, and it’s not as naughty-feeling to drive because the previous automobile. However the way in which this automobile (nonetheless) makes you are feeling is unmatched by means of its mixture of a wonderfully tuned chassis, a implausible engine and the most effective 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 singular character, making it stand out from the bigger M4. You should buy a extra conventional-looking aftermarket entrance finish in your M2, however I feel that detracts from the automobile’s visible influence because it comes from the manufacturing facility. These BMW designers actually knew what they had been doing, and I’m pleased they caught with their concept, enduring waves of preliminary criticism for the automobile’s look.

Last Ideas: The M2 Facelift Stays BMW’s Finest Driver’s Automotive

The one factor that will make the M2 higher is xDrive. Positive, it’ll make an already too-heavy automobile even heavier, however in the event you’ve pushed a brand new M with xDrive, then you understand how it modifications the automobile for the higher. It’s not solely significantly better at placing (all of) the facility down for a pin-you-to-your-seat launch, however punching it out of a bend, you’ll be able to nonetheless let the rear hang around somewhat, 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 12 months, and I feel that’s the one I’d choose for myself. Even with out driving one.