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 good. This up to date LCI (facelift) model retains the wild spirit of the unique alive, including a contact extra energy and some delicate 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 right this 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 right this moment. In the event you maintain the digital nannies on, it’s going to flatter you thru the corners, make you suppose you’re higher than you actually are. Disable the aids, although, and the automotive can rapidly present that you simply nonetheless have loads to be taught relating to automotive management. Except you’re a hardcore canyon carver with numerous monitor expertise, one of the best ways to expertise it’s with its techniques midway disabled in order that they will nonetheless drag you again from the sting of catastrophe whereas nonetheless permitting you to mess around with the automotive slightly.

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 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 pink heart mark.

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

Extra Energy from the S58 Engine

The massive 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 automobiles geared up 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 when you 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 scorching tarmac.

Driving the pre-refresh M2, one factor I didn’t take into consideration was the automotive needing extra energy. Nevertheless, 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 Automotive

You don’t purchase an M2 for standing or posing. You purchase it since you completely love driving and also you take pleasure in scaring your self slightly in your Sunday drive. This automotive delivers thrills like nothing else in its value bracket. It’s not going to be as fast as a Porsche 718 with comparable energy out on monitor, however you can 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 dearth of really feel that each one BMW steering racks endure from lately. The helm doesn’t precisely talk what the entrance tires are doing, however whenever you suppose you’re feeling understeer creeping in, you’ll be able to at all times appropriate it with a little bit of proper pedal software.

That is the fantastic thing about the M2, facelift, or in any other case. The truth that you’ll be able to mess around with the automotive, slide its tail out a bit round highway, and all with out having to really feel such as you’re critically 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 coated some 8,000 miles, and its 285-section Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rear tires have been nonetheless in good situation.

In the event you pin the throttle mid-corner, the rear doesn’t explode sideways. It simply type of squirms slightly bit, even with the nannies off or partly disabled. You’ll be able to nonetheless get the automotive to swing its tail out, and it’s straightforward sufficient to catch the slide, so you already know there’s some critical chassis tuning making all of it attainable. On a dry highway on a heat day, it’s a bit too tough 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 general, I believed this automotive was tuned for sheer grip somewhat than tail-out naughtiness.

As soon as you agree into the M2, it begins to really feel extra like a bionic improve to your physique somewhat than a automotive. Like several 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, despite the fact that the burden distinction between the 2 autos is lower than 100 lbs. Threading collectively a couple of brisk corners in a present M2 is among the greatest experiences you’ll be able to have in a brand new automotive right this moment, no matter value.

BMW M Efficiency Elements: Fashion or Substance?

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

For some cause, among 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 automotive look any higher in my ebook.

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 most likely aimed 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 effectively 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 seem like an afterthought. My tester had the non-obligatory titanium exhaust, which modifications the best way the 4 suggestions are organized and simply makes the rear of the automotive look much more particular. Additionally they make the automotive slightly bit louder and add some rasp to the exhaust be aware.

The carbon air consumption trim helps elevate the look of the outside and it makes the automotive 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 Bundle and Carbon Upgrades

My tester had the M Race Observe Bundle, 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 effectively by the corners and are extra comfy than you’ll suppose simply by taking a look at them, however the carbon hump within the seat base is annoying sufficient to make me critically take into account whether or not I’d put these seats in a automotive configured for myself. It limits your legs’ sideward vary of movement and until you need to match a racing harness (which you most likely aren’t) it’s simply pointless.

Small Modifications, Identical 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 in case you are considering of shopping for one in all these automobiles, it can save you a couple of bucks and simply get a pre-LCI used instance. In the event you actually need to, you’ll be able to retrofit the new-style helm to make it really feel extra trendy, but it surely’s probably not crucial.

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 whenever you evaluate it to the outdated era, and it’s not as naughty-feeling to drive because the outdated automotive. However the best way this automotive (nonetheless) makes you’re feeling is unmatched by its mixture of a perfectly tuned chassis, a improbable engine and the most effective driving positions within the business.

I believed BMW would change the squared-off particulars on the entrance and rear fascias of the M2 with the facelift. Nevertheless, 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 to your M2, however I feel that detracts from the automotive’s visible influence because it comes from the manufacturing facility. These BMW designers actually knew what they have been doing, and I’m pleased they caught with their concept, enduring waves of preliminary criticism for the automotive’s look.

Ultimate Ideas: The M2 Facelift Stays BMW’s Greatest Driver’s Automotive

The one factor that will make the M2 higher is xDrive. Certain, it’s going to make an already too-heavy automotive even heavier, however when you’ve pushed a brand new M with xDrive, then you know the way it modifications the automotive for the higher. It’s not solely a lot better at placing (all of) the ability 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 slightly, as powering the entrance axle simply provides a bit of additional stability, reassurance, and functionality.

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