SPY PICS: Is this BMW's last rear-drive M2?

BMW's original 1 Series hatch and 2 Series Coupe and Convertible have long swum against the tide of front- and all-wheel drive rivals in the premium small-car segment by being rear-drive – a configuration that makes the M2 Coupe so successful.

But when the Bavarian car-maker launched its first people-mover, the 2 Series Active Tourer, in 2014 based on its all-new UKL front/all-wheel drive platform, which it said would underpin no fewer than 22 BMW and MINI models – accounting for 40 per cent of BMW Group production by 2020, the rear-drive future of the sporty 2 Series suddenly became unclear.

UKL is a modular platform that can be used for cars between 3.8 and 4.5 metres long, and mimics Mercedes-Benz's MFA platform for the A-, B-, CLA and GLA-Class.

Since the 2 Series Active Tourer emerged BMW has produced a number of UKL-based models, including the latest X1, the entire third-generation MINI range and the China-only 1 Series sedan, with next year's new X2 and redesigned 1 Series to follow.

Officially, BMW says it's yet to make a decision on the mechanicals of the next-generation 2 Series due in 2019, but it's clear from these fresh spy shots that a minor facelift of the current M2 is imminent, and it could be the last rear-drive example of the breed.

BMW's decision to backflip on its long-standing commitment to rear-drive – except for the 3 Series and upwards -- followed a 2010 poll in which 80 per cent of 1 Series customers said they didn't know which wheels their car drove, and it's almost certain the next M5 super-sedan will go all-wheel drive in its quest to match the acceleration performance of chief rivals like the Mercedes-AMG E 63.

We asked BMW's global sales and marketing boss, Dr Ian Robertson, what this meant for smaller models than the 3 Series – including the next 2 Series and M2 – and his answer was less than clear.

"We've committed to rear-wheel drive being an ongoing part of our business," he said at last week's Geneva motor show.

"[But] I really see all-wheel drive coming more and more into the premium segment. In many markets we're selling the sedans now with four-wheel drive as well.

"If you drew a line from Philadelphia to Arizona, north of it they're all 4WD and south of it they're 2WD, so we will have rear-wheel drive in our segment.

"I wouldn't say 3 Series is the boundary. I'll let you ponder that ... but we will see more and more AWDs."

If you're in the market for a rear-drive M2, our advice is join the queue now.