SPY PICS: Best look yet at new BMW M2

Almost a year after we first spied the all-new 2022 BMW M2 testing in Sweden, our photographers in Europe have provided the best look yet at the new-generation high-performance compact coupe.

Caught near the German manufacturer’s HQ in Munich, the M-engineered flagship of the 2022 BMW 2 Series Coupe family – regular versions of which are poised to launch Down Under soon – is shown here with some defining traits that mark this as the performance leader.

These include quad exhaust outlets clearly visible within a pair of rectangular slots, in similar fashion to the BMW M3 and M4.

This is no real surprise given the second-generation M2, codenamed G87, is set to swap its twin-turbocharged N55 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine for a detuned version of the biturbo S58 straight six of the same capacity in the bigger M3/M4.

The latest version of BMW’s smallest full-blown M-car will reportedly offer 306kW and up to 321kW in M2 Competition guise (up from 272kW and 302kW respectively) alongside 580Nm of torque, and will remain rear-wheel drive.

However, there’s nothing to suggest all-wheel drive won’t also be offered – just as it has, for the first time, in the latest M3 and M4.

The close connection with the M3/M4 twins should also mean the new engine in the M2 is paired with an eight-speed torque-converter automatic, replacing the current seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

A six-speed manual option is expected again too.

Where the M2 won’t follow its bigger brethren is with its front-end design, which leaked images previously showed will thankfully miss out on the controversial ‘big mouth’ grille seen on the M3/M4.

All 4 Series variants – including the i4 EV – also feature toned-down versions of the polarising full-height grille, but the new M2 will instead adopt a more conservative and evolutionary take on BMW’s traditional double kidney grille.

Beyond the big exhaust, the camouflaged M2 looks to have a more substantial boot lid spoiler to the 275kW AWD M240i xDrive we tested in Munich late last year, along with flared wheel-arches housing a unique wheel and tyre combination (275/35R19 at the front).

There’s also beefy braking hardware on display, with blue M callipers seen here clamping big ventilated brake rotors.

As we’ve reported, the inevitable eventual replacement for the hard-core M2 CS flagship is expected to bring enough weight savings to be able to hit 100km/h in less than four seconds for the first time.

The new BMW M2 will switch from being produced exclusively at BMW's Leipzig plant in Germany to run down the same Mexican production line as other 2 Series models.

Expect it to be officially revealed soon before arriving in Australia later this year.