[Colinv6]

Great write up and nice balanced views. I didn’t get the feeling of overwhelming excitement from your post, which worries me a bit.

The lack of functional fender vents in this car, with arguably the beefiest wheel arches of any M car is such an odd one. They had so much potential to create a real feature there and just seems like they didn’t bother. Instead focusing on adding extra angles to the front and back.

If they are planning to keep that feature for the CS etc well that’s just being greedy.
I’m still really interested in this car, I just need to see it, like you have with my own eyes and in red, as that’s the only decent launch colour by the sounds of it.

[Tag]

Originally Posted by HiFi

While sharp they arent 90 degress - this image makes the rear end more boxy than it is (but it still is angular).

The sections where you have the arrows are not as pronnounced in person and look better - looking at this again now the rear diffuser looks slightly different on the finished car. that could be contributing.

That's great to hear, thank you. I bet changing out the reflectors with some black inserts will help clean up that rear. I'm sure iND will be working with Acexxon on something.

[HiFi]

Originally Posted by Colinv6

Great write up and nice balanced views. I didn’t get the feeling of overwhelming excitement from your post, which worries me a bit.

The lack of functional fender vents in this car, with arguably the beefiest wheel arches of any M car is such an odd one. They had so much potential to create a real feature there and just seems like they didn’t bother. Instead focusing on adding extra angles to the front and back.

If they are planning to keep that feature for the CS etc well that’s just being greedy.
I’m still really interested in this car, I just need to see it, like you have with my own eyes and in red, as that’s the only decent launch colour by the sounds of it.

I see a lot of cars and ive tried to convey what i saw , not what i think of what i saw, if that makes sense. In my experience, it will sell like hotcakes.

I agree with you on the rear arch vents - would have added a nice element to an already fanastic looking side profile.

[Tag]

Originally Posted by Zuzu

Any mention of an upcoming Competition model ?

M2 Competition variant 'expected' in Q3 of 2024

[Davil]

Conversation with two of my BMW enthusiast friends just now.

[JustChris]

Enjoyed reading that thanks.

The squared off design cure are just the current BMW direction.

An odd comparison perhaps but if you look at the new X1 SUV design it's a lot more angular at the outer extremities, such as reflector housings being stretched out to the max to show width and aggression'.

Crease lines also look sharper across the range.

My lasting comment is perhaps not hugely popular but 'at times it feels like the designs are led by 'they look like this as we can now in manufacturing perform these sharp creases when previously we could not'.

The creases and bends NEEDED to be curvier in the sheet meta and plastic panels.

[Giom]

By being polarizing, I think BMW is using this to great marketing effect.

Was the car simply beautiful and everything we expected, the initial reaction would be, wow, that's stunning. No further discussion. Out of sight, out of mind. See where I'm going with this?

BMW "needs" the dislikes in order to maintain discussion and 'in mind' -ness. Besides, if history has tought us anything, this helps sales a lot.

So, go ahead and hate, you're doing exactly what you're supposed to do. All my opinion, of course.

[Sedan_Clan]

Thanks O.P.! Nice write-up!

[specka]

Originally Posted by HiFi

the front ones also overhang in the front side pods - wont be very noticable but strange design decision.

Yes exactly, those are probably the worse ones actually.
I'm not a hater, I will reserve judgement til I see it. I can't fault BMW with the vision after the successful design of the new M3/4 and the fuss about the nostrils/beaver teeth that I feel has largely been put to rest.

[Tallest]

I am curious if BMW received any feedback there directly, or perhaps it was not interested in that even?

[GrannyShiftG80]

Really sad about side vents / badging

Sounds like a lot of cost cutting

[Romo]

It's all about a more boxy, rectangular shape int he car, the front, the back, but what I do not understand i.c. it feels not logical;

The rear windscreen underside has rounded edges, in the past M2`s those edges where rectangular.

Now they make a hard shaped car, and rounded edges rear windscreen.

[j23]

So no one ever has a backup phone? Do you actually get frisked on the way in?

[HiFi]

Originally Posted by Tallest

I am curious if BMW received any feedback there directly, or perhaps it was not interested in that even?

They did ask for opinions but most of the team there were marketing not product management . Mixed opinions as expected from what I heard.

[M Division]

Great write up OP!

Any technical drive train details - mention of Xdrive or are they still sticking to the "RWD only" story thus far?

[10"]

thanks for your thoughts!

I always disliked the F87 M2 design, it was nowhere near as sharp as it should have been. Lacked angulation and to my eyes always looked soft. The E82 1M by comparison always looked chiseled and muscular—-even looks like that now years later.

I am glad they tried to fix this on the G87, however I am just not sure they did it the right way!! 😂 the cube design scheme on the front and rear are certainly distinctive but look disharmonious to me, mostly,

Either way look forward to seeing it in person. All I hope is that they reduced the weight of the car—but I doubt they did..

[HiFi]

Originally Posted by M Division

Great write up OP!

Any technical drive train details - mention of Xdrive or are they still sticking to the "RWD only" story thus far?

Rear wheel drive is all that was mentioned.
No mention of x drive . I'd be surprised if we see it before competition, if at all

[M Division]

Originally Posted by HiFi

Rear wheel drive is all that was mentioned.
No mention of x drive . I'd be surprised if we see it before competition, if at all

Yeah I was thinking the same - it may drop with the Competition, or remain rwd, I think an xdrive M2 would encroach on the M4 sales too heavily.

[Ctothej]

Heard rumours that in Austria they were testing the base and comp models on the track.. guess not then :/

Thanks for the review HiFi!

[Ctothej]

Any idea how many we might see arrive in Australia in the first batch? I'm on the list with a dealer in Sydney

[Hash]

Hi All,

I don’t want to hijack this thread (happy to start a separate one) but I was also fortunate enough to spend a solid half hour today with the new M2 and the Australian BMW reps at the Motorclassica show in Melbourne.

I was also joined by two friends who both currently own an F87.

First impressions were the recent leaked photos do not do this car any justice. The car looks great however there is a fair bit going on with the aggressive angles on front bar and around the grills; more so than the rear bar. Its definitely something different and unique compared to the smooth and fairly flat lines we’ve seen on everything e46 onwards.

Key Likes:
- overall body and flared arches are imposing and will look great on the road
- side profile is great and whilst it lacks side grilles it gives the car a much cleaner finish
- interior is spot on aside from the average idrive8 and leverages key m3/4 parts such as seats and wheel etc; I didn’t notice the leather on the seats however didn’t feel like merino
- rear bar isn’t as aggressive in real life and works with the protruding rear lights
- wheel design are great and come with a staggered 19” and 20” setup

Dislikes:
- single internal headlights loses the historical bmw appeal
- 100mm diameter exhausts felt a bit large but thatÂ’s subjective
- Zandervort blue has to be one of worst colours bmw has released let alone attempted to pitch as the hero colour; does no favour for the car.

Colours that hifi shared are correct with interior being either black or cognac - note the optional carbon buckets are not all black and had swatches of blue leather etc

Sounds like individual paints will eventually be available but not at release which is a shame as the colour palette is fairly limited - give us a proper blue/navy and a green

My understanding is they’ve already produced close to two dozen cars in different colours; so we’ll be able to see what the car looks like in a more digestible colour come the 12th.

Subjective, but we all walked out saying we would be keen to get one; this will be the last ICE M car with e46 proportions….just need individual colours to come into effect to make the car that extra bit special.

[Ctothej]

The more the merrier Hash. Thanks for the write up mate.
Any news on how many we'll see come in? Given they're coming from Mexico...