New BMW M2 to make world debut at Motorclassica

The new 2023 BMW M2 Coupe will make its world debut at this weekend’s returning Motorclassica auto show.

Although BMW hasn’t confirmed it will do so, the Bavarian brand today said show-goers “will be treated to a rare opportunity to inspect a model that will only make its world premiere the week following Motorclassica 2022”.

Leaked in full last week, the second-generation BMW M2 is expected to make its global (virtual) premiere on October 11 – four days after the first Motorclassica event kicks off this Friday (October 7).

Although it won’t be available to sit in or inspect inside, the new M2 will make a physical appearance at Motorclassica, with BMW confirming “the new model will be available to view in an ‘eyes only’ setting behind closed doors prior to its global reveal”. 

It will be one of a number of new models commemorating the 50th anniversary of BMW M at the first Motorclassica event since 2019,

Other BMW M models on display will be the all-new BMW XM plug-in hybrid hyper-SUV, the first-ever BMW M3 Touring and the all-electric BMW i4 M50 Gran Coupe, while classic BMW M models will comprise the 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’, the 2003 M3 CSL and the 2016 M4 GTS (one of just 700 built).

Fresh from its world premiere last week, the BMW XM – the first plug-in hybrid M-car and the first stand-alone M model since the M1 of 1978 – will be the highlight of what BMW claims will be an elaborate outdoor installation to mark the half-century milestone of BMW M.

The new BMW M2, all-new BMW XM and first BMW M3 Touring will all enter local showrooms next year.

“Our exhibition space at Motorclassica 2022 will truly celebrate the BMW M division in grand and appropriate style, providing fans a very special opportunity to experience models from our history that have shaped the brand, alongside those that have only just been revealed to the world, and even one that has yet to break cover,” said BMW Group Australia general manager of marketing, Alex McLean.

Alongside the BMW M and Ferrari milestone celebrations at Motorclassica will be a host of American and Australian muscle cars including the Ford Falcon GTHO, Holden Monaro and Valiant Charger.

“Much of Australia’s muscle car culture since the 1960s has been formed on the back of a wide range of muscle car innovations,” said Motorclassica event director Jon Treherne.

“Over the years, big horsepower and wild styling have combined to produce a diverse array of machines that fit the muscle car genre, with larger-than-life presence endearing the cars to a tribal following.”

This year’s Motorclassica event will be awash with pristine examples homegrown heroes and Yanky muscle icons including various generations of Monaro, an LC Holden Torana GTR XU-1, multiple Ford Falcon GTHOs, plenty of Ford Mustangs, Chevrolet Camaros, an HX Holden Sandman panel van, a Ford Landau and Valiant Chargers.

And alongside the myriad muscle car icons in the Concours arena will be a special 60th birthday celebration of Ford’s now in-house tuning firm Shelby.

Apart from high-profile models from Ferrari, BMW and Shelby, Treherne said there will be plenty more for car lovers to ogle at with “a collection spanning from the earliest examples of the automotive age, through a wide selection of sports and tourers, and the latest and greatest hypercars”.

“After a two-year hiatus, we’re really proud of the incredible array of vehicles we have gathered for our 2022 Motorclassica showcase,” he said.

Meantime, a signed Alpinestars F1 racing boot of Aussie F1 star Daniel Ricciardo will be a special charity lot of the Shannons Motorclassica timed online rare number plate auction.

Bidding for the prized ‘Schoey’ opens from 10:00am AEST tomorrow (October 4) and closes from 6:00pm with a live auction at Motorclassica on Saturday. All proceeds from the boot's auction will be donated to the Victorian Men's Shed Association.

Ricciardo’s racing boot is the 24th and final lot of the Shannons Timed Online Motorclassica Auction in which 23 rare Victorian numeric number plates will go under the hammer.

The Motorclassica show was forced to endure a two-year hiatus at the hands of the COVID-19 pandemic but is now back with a bang this year.

Motorclassica 2022 will be held at Melbourne’s historic Royal Exhibition Building from this Friday (October 7) to Sunday, October 9.

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