[Tag]

“BMWBLOG caught up with M boss Frank van Meel this weekend at Le Mans. During our chat, we were surprised to learn BMW sees the 2025 M2 as an actual LCI instead of just a simple model year change.”

Full article: BMW Says The 2025 M2 Is An Actual Life Cycle Impulse (LCI)

[Rate-of-Twist]

I have zero knowledge, so openly admitting I am talking out my ass, but…

Perhaps this is deemed a LCI as there are fundamental updates that are being made out of necessity such as drive 8 vs 8.5 more or less mandated by production line needs / constraints?

Seems like odd timing, but frankly welcome as it seems it rounds out the offering that is the M2 vs 2023 / 2024 that seemed rushed and limited to bring it to market

[Tag]

Originally Posted by Rate-of-Twist

I have zero knowledge, so openly admitting I am talking out my ass, but…

Perhaps this is deemed a LCI as there are fundamental updates that are being made out of necessity such as drive 8 vs 8.5 more or less mandated by production line needs / constraints?

Seems like odd timing, but frankly welcome as it seems it rounds out the offering that is the M2 vs 2023 / 2024 that seemed rushed and limited to bring it to market

Your ass is thinking the same as mine.

I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s another “LCI“ in 2026.

[EthanEJC]

So if BMW see this as a LCI are we expecting a 3rd LCI to be the Exterior changes for the 2 series and M2?

LCI 1 was Idrive 7 to 8
LCI 2 was Idrive 8 to ID 8.5 (this being the M2 first LCI also included power bump)

LCI 3 we’re expecting major exterior changes and since their running this platform to 2029 maybe another ID update?

Or have I confused things too much 🤔😂

[Tag]

Originally Posted by EthanEJC

So if BMW see this as a LCI are we expecting a 3rd LCI to be the Exterior changes for the 2 series and M2?

LCI 1 was Idrive 7 to 8
LCI 2 was Idrive 8 to ID 8.5 (this being the M2 first LCI also included power bump)

LCI 3 we’re expecting major exterior changes and since their running this platform to 2029 maybe another ID update?

Or have I confused things too much 🤔😂

There's only one LCI to date which IMO is an LCI-lite. If I were to speculate the next one may be another LCI-lite 2.0 incremental update and will get new headlights, taillights and also offer the G87 with xDrive sometime in 2026. Going by the M4 LCI, highly doubt they will change anything to the exterior styling.

[BroDoze]

Well I’m glad this has been put to rest.

[HiFi]

Originally Posted by Tag

There's only one LCI to date which IMO is an LCI-lite. If I were to speculate the next one may be another LCI-lite 2.0 incremental update and will get new headlights, taillights and also offer the G87 with xDrive sometime in 2026. Going by the M4 LCI, highly doubt they will change anything to the exterior styling.

if they do it in 2026 its going to a very light LCI, just like this one.

They also could just simply leave it - if you think about M3/M4 nothing is going to change on those now till EOP. I agree with you though, i think we get new headlights and x-drive auto option in 025, and maybe tailights.

[chris719]

This is most likely due to the sales outlook on the 2 series in general. I've seen very few G4x around. We are lucky there is still a 2er coupe.

[Tag]

Originally Posted by HiFi

if they do it in 2026 its going to a very light LCI, just like this one.

They also could just simply leave it - if you think about M3/M4 nothing is going to change on those now till EOP. I agree with you though, i think we get new headlights and x-drive auto option in 025, and maybe tailights.

The only M2 scheduled for calendar year '25 is the CS. If they offer xDrive it won't be until calendar year '26.

[HiFi]

Originally Posted by Tag

The only M2 scheduled for calendar year '25 is the CS. If they offer xDrive it won't be until calendar year '26.

sorry yes, typo there. 26 i mean. its also only 2-3 years from EOP then as well so who knows if they even do it or just drop in an xdrive model and call it a day.

[MTiz]

This kind of happened with the F80 M3. The official "LCI" was 2016, but it got a quiet "LCI2" for the final model year 2018 (which coincided with the first official LCI for the F82).

[as7920]

There was an article, thread, post or quote on Bimmerpost, between 6 and 12 months ago that said BMW were now treating LCIs as technology updates rather than styling updates.

[Tag]

Originally Posted by as7920

There was an article, thread, post or quote on Bimmerpost, between 6 and 12 months ago that said BMW were now treating LCIs as technology updates rather than styling updates.

They also said back in 2023 that they were phasing out regular M cars and moving towards Competition models as the entry point to M. Fast forward and we still don't have an M2C and the M3/4 LCI still offer the base models.

"... BMW M CEO Frank van Meel said that normal M cars are going to be phased out and M Competition cars will become the new normal."

Entry-Level BMW M Cars Will Now Be Competition Models, for Some Reason

[EthanEJC]

Originally Posted by Tag

They also said back in 2023 that they were phasing out regular M cars and moving towards Competition models as the entry point to M. Fast forward and we still don't have an M2C and the M3/4 LCI still offer the base models.

"... BMW M CEO Frank van Meel said that normal M cars are going to be phased out and M Competition cars will become the new normal."

Entry-Level BMW M Cars Will Now Be Competition Models, for Some Reason

Since this was said my thinking is the Xdrive will be a competition car.

Question is will they still sell M2 along side Xdrive? (in the U.K. at least you can only get Competition Xdrive models now since the LCI, RWD is no longer available.)

And the 2nd question is for the manual lovers will there be a manual? Or is this the last chance to buy a manual M2 before they get phased out for ZF only comp models?

[mactrack]

Originally Posted by EthanEJC

Since this was said my thinking is the Xdrive will be a competition car.

Question is will they still sell M2 along side Xdrive? (in the U.K. at least you can only get Competition Xdrive models now since the LCI, RWD is no longer available.)

And the 2nd question is for the manual lovers will there be a manual? Or is this the last chance to buy a manual M2 before they get phased out for ZF only comp models?

I agree that this will be what will happen, in the UK at least, assuming of course that a Competition and xDrive are actually going to happen.

I keep on eye on the very useful information posted on here about future models etc. however it seems like there has been some shuffling of the cards as regards BMW's plans for the G42/87 recently. To that extent has it even been seen by those in the know on here that an xDrive version is actually going to happen?

The reason why I ask is that the 25MY M2 in UK spec gives me everything that I would want as standard and I would only need to add metallic paint, choice of wheels and a sunroof (I know). Whereas the UK spec 25MY M240iX has been decontented so much that I would end up adding approximately GBP £11K's worth of options just to get it to the same level as my 22MY one and within £8K of the price of the M2. So I'm looking at a new M2 but I would miss xDrive if it was available like on the G42.

I'm looking to order at the end of this year, so a fair amount of time to go, but if an xDrive version is "definitely" planned then I might hold off unless it's years away. Thanks.

[chris719]

There won’t be an xDrive M2 I have a feeling. Only the CS if anything.

[mactrack]

Originally Posted by chris719

There won’t be an xDrive M2 I have a feeling. Only the CS if anything.

I get the same feeling too. They will force you into an M3/4 if you want xDrive and keep the M2 as the RWD/manual option but I would like to be wrong!

[Tag]

Originally Posted by chris719

There won’t be an xDrive M2 I have a feeling. Only the CS if anything.

Originally Posted by mactrack

I get the same feeling too. They will force you into an M3/4 if you want xDrive and keep the M2 as the RWD/manual option but I would like to be wrong!

BMWBLOG

• BMW M2 xDrive Likely to Arrive Around 2026

• "...we’re hearing BMW might give its entry-level M car the xDrive treatment as early as the 2026 calendar year."

[mactrack]

Originally Posted by Tag

BMWBLOG

• BMW M2 xDrive Likely to Arrive Around 2026

• "...we’re hearing BMW might give its entry-level M car the xDrive treatment as early as the 2026 calendar year."

Thanks and I had previously seen these but they're both suitably non-committal and also it seems that BMW's plans may have changed more recently.

How far out do you typically see the production information that is kindly posted on the future models thread? I might hold off ordering until early next year to see whether xDrive will happen in 2026. Thanks again.

[Tag]

Originally Posted by mactrack

Thanks and I had previously seen these but they're both suitably non-committal and also it seems that BMW's plans may have changed more recently.

How far out do you typically see the production information that is kindly posted on the future models thread? I might hold off ordering until early next year to see whether xDrive will happen in 2026. Thanks again.

It depends, sometimes can see things planned a year ahead of time or longer but that's tentative as BMW can change plans at any time. The only time I will say it's "confirmed" is when it's months/weeks out. At that point it's a sure thing.

[mactrack]

Originally Posted by Tag

It depends, sometimes can see things planned a year ahead of time or longer but that's tentative as BMW can change plans at any time. The only time I will say it's "confirmed" is when it's months/weeks out. At that point it's a sure thing.

Much appreciated as is all the information posted.

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

Originally Posted by Tag

It depends, sometimes can see things planned a year ahead of time or longer but that's tentative as BMW can change plans at any time. The only time I will say it's "confirmed" is when it's months/weeks out. At that point it's a sure thing.

Exactly. Once we think we know what coming down the pipeline, based on past data & BMW trends, they can flip the switch & change the scrip at any time. As long as we're done with the G80 front grill, I'm good now.