BMW M2 Competition 2018 Review

The question around the BMW M2 Competition probably isn’t whether BMW has improved on a successful formula, but perhaps, whether it has tarnished what made the original so great?

See, when the original M2 arrived in 2016, it made hearts flutter. It was universally revered by enthusiasts, and marked a genuine return to form for the German car-maker’s tuning division in creating a ‘pure’ driving car. This is perhaps best reflected by the M2’s win in the 2016 Australia’s Best Driver's Car award, a true calling card for manufacturers.

Now, BMW has moved to improve the M2, namely by borrowing parts from the more polarising M4.

The biggest installation is the M3/M4’s twin-turbo six, which replaces the original M2’s beloved N55. It raises outputs considerably, and is matched by a suite of underbody enhancements conceived to improve the outright performance of the M2 Competition by 10 per cent – give or take.

Similarly, the price of entry increases. Whereas the original M2 landed in Australia from $86,915 (plus on-road costs) in 2016, the M2 Competition Pure now starts at $99,990 (plus on-road costs), while the regular spec has risen to $104,900 (plus ORCs).

Starting price aside, a handful of laps at the Sydney Motorsport Park earlier this month ought to establish whether BMW’s gamble has paid off.

As pointed out in our international drive of the M2 Competition, BMW has turned a serious problem into a solution nobody knew the wonderful M2 needed.

Because the M2’s N55 engine no longer met European WLTP emissions rule, the M division engineers simply bolted the larger M3/M4’s engine into place.

What you’re getting is 302kW/550Nm of twin-turbo six goodness – up 30kW and 85Nm on the old donk and enough to launch the M2 to 100km/h from rest in a stomach-churning 4.2 seconds when equipped with the seven-speed automatic transmission (six-speed manual time is 4.4 seconds).

Noted, the engine’s outputs are considerably down on the existing M3/M4, which have boasted up to 338kW with some subtle tuning; as an explanation you’d assume BMW simply wants to maintain some semblance of a hierarchy between its models.

The engine is no simple bolt-in job, either. Engineers have added a new oil-cooling system, bigger air intakes and three-radiator cooling system – hardware in enhancements that have dictated a 55kg increase in weight over the regular M2 (to 1575kg).

Elsewhere, BMW’s M engineers focussed on sharpening the car’s handling to deal with the added horses. That much is visible from the engine bay, where a carbon-fibre reinforced strut brace now gleans from its mounting points above the engine.

Play-free ball joints are employed to take up transverse forces in the suspension system, while forged aluminium control arms and a new five-link rear axle elicit greater control and dynamic traits.

BMW has also revised calibrations of the car’s electrically-assisted power steering, Active M differential and stability control systems to suit the increase in power.

There are larger brake rotors wrapped by four-piston front and two-piston rear calipers and, as before, the M2 Competition rides on 19-inch wheels shod with quality Michelin Pilot Sport rubber measuring 245/35 up front and 265/35 at the rear.

Cosmetically, the M2 features larger air inlets, a black grille and surrounds, black high gloss M2 Competition badging and, inside, the M2 scores larger seats from the M4, a red starter button and M1 and M2 buttons, configurable drive setting lifted straight from – you guessed it – the M4.

It employs BMW’s iDrive6 software, operated via a centre rotary dial and 8.8-inch colour display.

The M2’s safety suite includes Collision Warning, Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function and Lane Departure Warning, along with airbag coverage across its five-seat cabin.

Our time at the wheel of the 2018 BMW M2 Competition is strictly limited to a handful of laps around the Sydney Motorsport Park.

First impressions are the M2 Competition doesn’t mess with the formula that made the original M2 so successful.

Happily, there’s none of the ‘light-switch’ handling interference carried over from the larger M4.

Instead, the M2 balletically moves around the racetrack, rewarding smooth inputs with strong levels of lateral grip, light-footed changes in direction, excellent front to rear balance and constant feedback through the driver’s hands.

It is the latter trait that makes the driving experience so rewarding, and before long, allows you to begin exploring the outer limits of the M2’s communicative chassis.

Once you loosen the electronic reins – unleashing the M Dynamic Mode in the stability control suite, for instance – the M2 Competition comes to life, offering a less mellow side that is a sheer delight on a closed circuit.

Push a little harder and the car will happily dance its way through the corner, telegraphing every small movement in a way that inspires confidence.

Step on the gas a little too keenly out of turn two at the old Eastern Creek layout, for instance, and it is possible to light up the rear and hold a lurid slide out of the exit before performing a neat flick through turn three.

Ordinarily, a nearby wall looms large and turns drivers away from these sort of exploits, but the M2’s handling balance and electronics is such that you never feel out of sorts. There are few cars like it – especially considering its relatively short 2963mm wheelbase.

It never feels overly powered to be scary, either; there are simply several layers to its driving characters, which is arguably the very basis for an excellent driver’s car.

On the added horsepower, the M2 does feel marginally quicker than before – but it’s the torque that feels most beneficial, assisting in bottom end and middling power to rocket the car out of corners and between gears.

The six-speed manual has a slight elasticity to it to be worthy of a Porsche levels of praise. And besides, as much as we hate to admit it, the seven-speed dual clutch automatic is the sharper shifting accomplice on a race circuit.

And that is perhaps the essence of the M2 Competition. It remains a brilliant driver’s car: pure, unaffected and fun. Perhaps the only indication of its M4 DNA is the polarising soundtrack.

How much does the 2018 BMW M2 Competition cost?
Price: $99,900-$104,900 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol
Output: 302kW/550Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual/Seven-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 209g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP