BMW ups M2 pricing

Just as it did earlier this month with mainstream 2 Series models, BMW has announced higher prices and more standard equipment for the M2 Coupe as part of midlife upgrade.

Available in Australian showrooms alongside the updated 2 Series ‘Life Cycle Impulse’ (LCI) model range from September, the revised M2 is priced from $93,300 plus on-road costs.

That represents a price increase of more than $3000, and makes the entry-level “driver focused” M2 Pure $3400 more expensive than the sub-$90,000 it first launched with in April 2016.

Meantime, the more generously equipped (non-Pure) M2 now costs $99,900 – $690 more than before and $1000 up on its launch price.

BMW’s M2 price hikes comes as no surprise, since the 2 Series LCI brings with its price increases of up to $1900 and the ABDC-winning M2 has been a sell-out success since it arrived Down Under, where 400 were quickly snapped up last year.

As we’ve reported, with a further 550 examples now secured for 2017, the M2 will be BMW’s top-selling M model here this year and will make Australia the world’s fourth biggest M2 market and the sixth biggest M market overall.

Offsetting the higher M2 prices is a range of extra standard features led by BMW’s sixth-generation iDrive6 infotainment system, which comprises a customisable 8.8-inch touch-screen and tiled live-content interface.

Apart from the touch-screen, which includes M-specific content, the system can also be controlled by touch pad, voice recognition and BMW’s traditional iDrive rotary console dial.

Other interior detail changes include refreshed interior trim geometry and redesigned wiper and indicator stalks that now ‘snap’ into position, joining a high-gloss black centre console, leather-trimmed sports seats and a BMW M leather steering wheel.

Externally, the M2’s front-end has been enhanced via a new lighting signature formed by hexagonal daytime running lights and the previous bi-xenon headlights have been replaced by standard Adaptive LEDs with cornering lights as standard, again in a trademark twin-circular design.

Out back, there are new L-shape, single-piece full-LED tail-lights.

Otherwise, specifications remain unchanged for both the six-speed manual-only M2 Pure and the M2, which is available in both manual and seven-speed twin-clutch transmission form.

That means the Pure continues with 19-inch BMW M light alloy wheels, an M rear spoiler, quad exhaust outlets in high-gloss chrome, Dakota leather upholstery, carbon-fibre trim finishers, automatic air-conditioning, BMW Individual Anthracite roofliner, an M leather multi-function steering wheel and seven-speaker audio.

In addition, the M2 offers Comfort Access, electric seat adjustment, a 12-speaker harman/kardon sound system and BMW Selective Beam with anti-glare High-Beam Assistant.

Standard safety features for all models continue to include twin front, head and side airbags, switchable traction/stability control, reversing camera, tyre pressure monitoring, cruise control with braking function, speed-limiter, speed limit info, Driving Assistant and Rear Park Distance Control.

The M2’s 272kW/465Nm turbo-petrol inline six, which delivers 500Nm of torque over 1450-4750rpm in overboost mode, still accelerates the compact coupe to 100km/h in a claimed 4.3 seconds with the M DCT (4.5sec for the manual).

Other bespoke mechanical components include an electronically-controlled Active M Differential, M Servotronic steering, M Compound Brakes and M Dynamic mode, but the M2 misses out on the M4’s variable damping set-up.

“Since its 2016 introduction on the awesome Targa Tasmania roads, the BMW M2 has quickly established itself as an award winner – and now it is the best-selling BMW M vehicle in Australia for 2017,” said BMW Group Australia CEO, Marc Werner.

“The M2 LCI further defines the vehicle’s premium attributes
while ensuring the motorsport-derived driving experience remains at its core.”

BMW M2 pricing (plus ORCs):
M2 Pure — $93,300 (+$3090)
M2 Coupe — $99,900 (+$690)