Sideways in thrilling new 404bhp BMW M2 Competition

● We get behind wheel of new top-of-the-range 2 Series ● Twin-turbo engine gives performance coupé huge pace Our verdict as BMW upgrades two-door thriller with 404bhp engine from M4

ON the surface, the BMW M2 Competition looks like a lightly fettled version of the standard coupé. Yet while tweaked versions of the brand’s previous high-performance M cars have benefited from little more than a small power hike and some minor mods, the new M2 has been given a root and branch overhaul.

The biggest change comes under the bonnet, where the M2’s old straight-six has been replaced by the motorsport-developed engine from the M4.

This new motor is far more focused, featuring twin turbos, a bespoke six-intoone exhaust system and a heavy-duty cooling set-up. The results are startling, with power up from 365bhp to 404bhp, and torque swelling by 50Nm to 550Nm.

Of course, power is nothing without control, so the engineers have upgraded the chassis to match. The bodyshell has been stiffened and the rear suspension gets stronger ball joints. The rest of the calibration has been left untouched and there are still no adaptive dampers.

Elsewhere, the stability control has been recalibrated. The brake system now features larger discs all round (380mm at the front and 370mm at the rear) and, as before, there’s a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch box.

Only eagle-eyed fans will spot the external changes to the M2 Competition, which run to a wider grille and a reprofiled bumperumper that includes larger air intakes. There are also plenty of gloss-black accents, while the 19-inch alloys are available in the same colour.

Inside, the most obvious update is the adoption of a pair of heavily bolstered front seats that feature slightly gaudy illuminated ‘M2’ logos in the backrest. Other than that it’s standard M2.

Thumb the bright red starter button and the twin-turbo straight-six fires into life before quickly settling to a bassy idle. Engage first gear using the short-throw manual gearlever and as you move away the extra muscle is easy to detect. With peak torque arriving at 2,350rpm, the M2 accelerates with a relentless energy.

The benchmark sprint from 0-62mph takes 4.4 seconds (4.2 seconds with the DCT auto box) and the car feels every bit as quick as the numbers suggest.

Yet it’s the way the Competition delivers its performance that’s really exciting. Where the old car was at its best in the mid-ranges, the latest model inherits the larger M4’s appetite for hard work. It offers a snarling soundtrack that’s more natural than its artificially enhanced big brother’s, while selecting Sport mode adds sharpness to an already responsive motor.

Slow for a corner and the bigger brakes deliver powerful and fade-free stopping,

while a rev-match feature blips the throttle on downshifts. Turning into the bend reveals meaty and direct steering and lots of front-end grip.

The changes to the suspension and differential mean you can be bolder with the throttle to catapult out of the corner with real intent, too. Of course, with so much power and torque going through the rear wheels, the M2 can easily be provoked into showboating oversteer, but the tweaks mean there’s more control. Bumpy surfaces cause the BMW to squirm around, although you can still cover ground at an alarming rate.

Take it easier and the M2 is as easy to live with as ever. It’s not quite as relaxed as an Audi RS 3 – there’s an underlying firmness to the ride and the exhaust can get boomy at certain speeds – but the BMW is otherwise as refined and capable as a compact two-door coupé gets.

Verdict

THIS is the car the M2 should always have been. The engine transplant has given the M2 Competition true M car character, while the chassis tweaks add a dose of control. It’s arguably the pick of the whole M car line-up.

“Turning into a bend reveals meaty and direct steering and lots of front-end grip”