2022 marks the 50th anniversary of BMW's high-performance M division. Celebrations are in full swing with special M tricolor badges, a BMW M3 Wagon on the verge of being revealed, and a ton of special projects from the XM SUV to a forthcoming M4 CSL. But many of these are either not coming to the US or, if they are, will be at the higher end of the price spectrum. That's why enthusiasts are clamoring for the most affordable M car of them all, the BMW M2. With a new generation 2 Series launched last year, it was only a matter of time before the M2 was confirmed. While we've seen spy shots previously, the shots you see below are official confirmation from BMW M's Instagram account that the M2 is in its final stages of development.

While in Mexico - which is where the M2 will be manufactured - BMW took a few snaps of camouflaged M2 prototypes undergoing hot weather testing. While the camo cladding hides many design elements, we can see a few M signatures. One of those is the power bulge on the hood, beneath which will sit an S58 3.0-liter inline-six aided by turbocharging and generating upwards of 450 horsepower. The front end will also feature a tweaked headlight design unique to the M2, a more aggressive front bumper with larger air intakes, and signature BMW M wing mirrors.

In side profile, we can see the larger brakes, which appear to be steel brakes. These will likely be the standard option, but we can expect carbon ceramic to be optional, which will be indicated by gold calipers instead of the blue you see here.

At the rear of the new M2 Coupe, a subtle trunk lid spoiler sits atop the ducktail-style rear end, while the camo-clad taillights indicate these will also vary in design from the standard model. Quad tailpipes will no longer be the reserve of BMW's full-M models, but the M2 features round items indicating its full M status. We've previously seen test mules with trapezoidal, center-mounted quad-pipes which will be optional as part of the M Performance parts catalog. Still, we prefer these standard pipes for their timeless elegance. This catalog will boast a prouder rear wing than the standard lip spoiler.

While we don't get to see the interior in BMW's shots, we have previously uncovered one of the options that will be made available - the carbon-fiber bucket seats from the M4.

No firm launch date has been teased by BMW M, but we've previously learned that the M2 will be revealed later in 2022, likely arriving early in 2023. Unlike the M240i, which is available solely with xDrive AWD, the M2 is expected to come as a strict RWD model. At the same time, enthusiasts will be able to look forward to a six-speed manual or optional eight-speed automatic gearbox.