M2

Make
BMW
Segment
Coupe

We've already seen what the G42 BMW 2 Series Coupe is capable of. In M240i guise (and when equipped with grippier tires) it's able to hang on to the more powerful Audi RS3 around a race track, which is impressive considering it isn't even a full M car. Its involving driving dynamics and engaging chassis suggest that the upcoming G87 2023 BMW M2 will be something truly special; after all, the previous generation was considered by many to be the purest M car of the modern era.

Set to be revealed later this year, the new M2 has large shoes to fill. Things look promising though, with a rumored power output of over 450 horsepower, courtesy of a detuned version of the 3.0-liter straight-six found in the M3 and M4. As heard in the video below, the turbocharged motor boasts a fruity exhaust note - an essential for a six-pot Bimmer.

The BMW M2, seen here strutting its stuff at the Nurburgring, is likely nearing the end of its arduous testing and development stages. The littlest M car looks like a lot of fun, flying through the corners with minimal fuss. However, in typical BMW fashion, the M2 will bite back if you push it too hard. Around the 0:18 mark, the backend loses grip ever so slightly, before the driver corrects it and pushes the M car into the next bend.

While the last M2 weighed in at around 3,600 pounds, the current M240i is slightly heavier, tipping the scales at 3,871 lbs. This extra weight is partly down to the standard all-wheel-drive system fitted to the current range-topper; we're hoping the new M2 is more of a featherweight. With a rumored six-speed manual transmission option, it's unlikely to send its power to all four wheels, meaning it will hopefully be lighter than the latest M240i.

Style-wise, it's set to be a looker. The standard model has come under attack for its polarizing looks, but the team over at BMW M will most certainly find a way to improve on the divisive appearance. That is, of course, if you avoid the questionable M Performance parts we recently caught a glimpse of. Thankfully, BMW designers have left the grille alone.

While it will arrive as a 2023 model, we're guessing the Munich-based brand would, ideally, want to introduce the vehicle before the end of the year. 2022 is BMW M's 50th-anniversary year and there would be no better way to end the celebrations than by introducing a new model. Perhaps the M3 Touring will officially break cover before then as well. Rival Mercedes-Benz is hard at work too; you may just catch a glimpse of the upcoming W222 S-Class AMG and a particularly sporty C-Class wagon.