[ihbase]

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For weeks, anyone with eyesight and even the slightest appreciation for design principles has been piling on the new M2 as flat out ugly. Everyone, including Frank, and all of us who wish we had Frank's talent, were wrong. And this is why.

With the G87, BMW got the important design criteria correct; the hard points are perfect and an LCI can could easily correct the two obvious failures.

First, the hard points. I've attached a couple photos of a car I looked at yesterday. I left with this thought: The G87 is to the F87 as the F87 was to the E82 (1M) - each successor makes its predecessor look and feel mild. I sold a 135is before buying an f87. The 135is had 2 things in spades on the M2; steering feedback and sound. But the f87 is an objectively better car. Same with the g87 and the f87. There are exactly two compromises (unmentioned here), but the g87 is an objectively better car using the criteria relevant to the segment.

There. I said it.

The tile lines on floor in the photos below provide reference for how aggressively the fenders flair out from the body. Note the rocker width; it's massive! Also note how the rocker now sweeps up to protect the leading edge of the rear fender. This means that after minor contact or tons of rock chips, you are buying a rocker and not body filler. Thanks BMW.

Next, when you sit in the driver's seat of the g87, observe the outside character lines of the hood. These have the effect of diminishing the visual width of the car- just as the perfect hood lines of the e90 performed the same function. It is a design criteria feature lost with the f-gen cars and I'm glad it is back with the g87.

Last, note the proportion of the rear quarter to the rest of the car. Unlike my f87, the rear quarter proportions appear less awkward. And while I'm picking on my f87, let's be honest about its own glaring design failure- the fake fender vents. The G87 has done away with them. Point g87.

In sum, the hard points from the front fenders, hood / cowl height, rockers, roof and rear quarter are each extraordinary. I recommend that when viewing the new M2 in person for the first time, inspecting those aspects closely. A healthy appreciation for BMW's design success with the hard points is helpful when confronting the failures- the front and rear bumper covers.

And man, those two soft points are ugly. The upside is this; those are not hard points - which means that unlike cowl height or roofline, they can easily be remedied at the LCI stage or with whatever versions BMW will subsequently issue like trading cards.

The interior? Well, hate to say it, but the seats and materials feel like a step up from my f87. The sound system is superior. And while the massive screens are not my favorite, they are well laid out (boost gauge!), intuitive, and other people make like them just fine- that, screen presence, is much more subjective whereas the hard points on the g87 are objectively beautiful. I dislike screens. You may love them.

The net net is this: I was wrong. The g87 feels like an excellent successor to the f87. The hard points are a stunning design achievement. Let's hope the factory corrects those absurd bumper covers in subsequent versions of the M2.

Whether g87 succeeds in becoming the last best ICE BMW, or whether the F87 will retain that crown, requires the hindsight of history.

That said, did I trade my f87? Hell no. I appreciate the rowdy nature of the f87 and I have regretted selling cars in the past. I'm just saying that I was wrong about the G87- from a design perspective, and when viewed in person, its hard points are design perfection.

Maybe ask me about trading again sometime after the LCI.

[Squidget]

I never had a beef with the G87's looks! I like the chonkyness. So I'm rather glad people are coming around.

And I got to sit in an HEA yesterday. I will echo the chorus that says:

1. It really does look better in person than photos (both the form and ZB color specifically).
2. No really, it does!
3. The interior is significantly improved, it's freakin nice!

I also observed:

4. The dash screens are really bright and I had no problems with glare.
5. The seats slide back farther than I expected, really tall people can absolutely drive this car comfortably.
6. The wheels in pure black, I didn't like them very much in person as I expected. They lose too much of the spoke detail, IMO. But the person I was with liked them. As always YMMV.

[Zephyr536]

I really like the new M2, although the only thing i will critique is that it should’ve been using a new chassis instead of the G8X chassis. That’s the reason why it’s so heavy apparently. But other than that I like the looks, I really love the fenders; however, the tailight is what I don’t like, that’s all.

[BimmerMat135]

Originally Posted by MadBimmeRad

There was an E87?

In Europe yes not here. I think the OP was refering to the E82 which was available here.

Since i own a 1M i would be curious to speak to somebody who has experience with both the 1M and G87 M2.

[greytrack]

I 100% agree with this. Was in Florida this past week and a ZB M2 pulled up along side me on the highway. We both changed lanes multiple time and got to see it in motion from all sides and angles. The photos do this car no justice. The rear bumper has a lot to be desired, but man is this thing wide and have a presence. My next car will be the obvious transition to Porsche, but if I had to stay with BMW and want the newest tech and that beast of an S58, it would be in this package. I too was wrong…

[Evinrude1975]

Related to the M2, indeed this gentleman is qualified to talk about the design

[snareman]

Maybe I missed it but what are the soft points you are talking about?

[horan116]

This is straight copium. You guys trying to justify your addiction to commercialism. The design element of this car are objectively bad in virtually all segments.

[mckman]

Good point about the front fender similarity with the E90 M3.

The G87 has wonderful fenders, but unlike on the E90 they don't fit well with the lines on the hood. The hood on the G87 is much more angular and doesn't flow into the front of the car like on the E90. Instead the character line ends at a weird place next to the headlight.

The overall design lacks cohesiveness. Yes, some elements are nice, but they usually flow right into a design element that doesn't fit.

Agree that the worst aspects are the front and rear soft points. Maybe that will be fixed.

Certainly an aggressive design that screams performance. Will be interesting to see how it ages compared to the F87.

[Kstoff125]

Design is going to be subjective, I personally don’t care for it, but would never try and pursuade someone from buying the car if they like the looks.

What I can’t understand is how the car weighs 3,800lbs…it looks small(ish) in pictures. I would expect this to be closer to <3,400.

It’s no wonder the power is grossly underrated, if it was only 460hp it wouldn’t move like it does.

[CodeSlinger]

Originally Posted by horan116

This is straight copium. You guys trying to justify your addiction to commercialism. The design element of this car are objectively bad in virtually all segments.

But when you bought your m2 it was completely pure with no amount on commercialism? People like what they like and g87's flared fenders are incredible, that's at least one "segment" of awesome design. The back is also way better than the f87's frumpy ass.

[m2ss]

Originally Posted by mckman

The overall design lacks cohesiveness.

That's exactly what I thought until I saw two earlier today at my dealer.

To me color made all the difference, the BSM looked perfect (all came together making it properly aggressive) , the BG not as much.

Just my 2 cents...

[MinMax]

G87 M2 looks just fine…we need a write up like this for XM.

[WeekendWarriorz]

The biggest problem with this pig is the weight. If it was 3400-3500 lbs base curb weight with the manual then imo many could look past it. Some of us don’t like the big interior screen which is prone to being an electrical nightmare in the future.

But the fact that the interior is smaller and you have less trunk space than the F87, the car is smaller than the G8X m3/4 but it weighs more than some of the RWD configurants of the bigger car? Trash.

Better ways to spend 70k in my opinion unless you just have to have the car and its Japanese styling visually appeals to you

[Silverlining_m2]

I love it.

[CodeSlinger]

Originally Posted by WeekendWarriorz

The biggest problem with this pig is the weight. If it was 3400-3500 lbs base curb weight with the manual then imo many could look past it. Some of us don’t like the big interior screen which is prone to being an electrical nightmare in the future.

But the fact that the interior is smaller and you have less trunk space than the F87, the car is smaller than the G8X m3/4 but it weighs more than some of the RWD configurants of the bigger car? Trash.

Better ways to spend 70k in my opinion unless you just have to have the car and its Japanese styling visually appeals to you

FWIW the g87 m2 weighs the same as the rwd g8x m4. The f87 also weighed the same as the f8x m4. With the cost savings they had to do to get it to $62k they added a good amount of weight with the sunroof, heavier wheels and heavier battery. There is some easy weight to shave off to bring it down to 3700lbs or lower.

Regardless there really arent very many options for new rwd manual coupes, I definitely couldn't find any "better" options for ~$65k.

[m2ss]

Originally Posted by MinMax

G87 M2 looks just fine…we need a write up like this for XM.

Now there is a real abomination...

[antzcrashing]

Bro. I never doubted it for a minute

[BRAKE!]

I think it looks awesome. It really does have a lot of BMW essence in it. I love the bulldog stance especially.

[Click_ID]

Originally Posted by horan116

This is straight copium. You guys trying to justify your addiction to commercialism. The design element of this car are objectively bad in virtually all segments.

Honestly, it's just boredom. And, um... no, you're just wrong dude. But, like it's not that bad?...

[Evinrude1975]

🙃

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by Evinrude1975

Related to the M2, indeed this gentlemen is qualified to talk about the design

Frank is right - proportions are wrong. just look at the space btw the front wheel and A pilar.