At some point, the march of technology will force BMW to concede at least part of the initial focus of their ‘i’ division to the rest of their line-up, if not merge them outright. Even with regard to their high performance M branch, properties will have to be shared.
At some point, every M car will be electrified, is what we’re saying. Consequently, what would happen in the case of a full merger? While they both could still exist with a differentiated line-up to each, it would make sense for BMW to attach the ‘i’ prefix to every electrified M car past a certain tipping point.
In that scenario, what would happen to the beloved M5, M3, or M2? Maybe the world would welcome this: an iM2 - a compact performance coupe that offers the same agile thrills that its petrol-powered progenitor did, but while emitting zero emissions and flipping the bird at the autonomously driving cars around it.
Sans a few key giveaways, there’s little to suggest that this car was designed to house a fully electric powertrain. And in some ways, that works very much to its advantage. For example, its large exposed wheels would create drag inefficiencies, solvable by obscuring them for a more aerodynamic profile.
But that would absolutely kill its sense of sportiness and not allow us to admire its black 20-inch alloys or white-accented Pirelli rubber, so that’s out of the question from an enthusiasts perspective. There’s no need for BMW’s signature kidney grilles either, since there is no induction system, so in this case they have been filled in with the rest of the body. It’s still recognisable, though, in that specific muscular BMW M coupe way.
If we’re honest, though, the front and mid portions of the iM2 reminds us most of Alfa Romeo’s iconically (or infamously) styled SZ. From the rear, oddly, we’re receiving hints of Toyota 86. And there’s just enough unmistakable doses of classic BMW to keep things on-brand.
The iM2 isn’t real, though, as we’re sure you’ve guessed, nor does it have anything to do with the actual Munich automaker. It’s the independent work of digital artist David Olivares, who envisions the car as what a track-ready BMW M2 of the future would/could look like if the M Division were allowed to synergise with BMW i.
Given its relatively simple premise - an M2 if it were done up by BMW i, with knowhow learned from the marque’s newly announced Formula E campaign - there’s a fantastic amount of detail and consideration that went into these renders. And as enthusiasts, it paints a future that favours our preferences, one where the primal appeal of a car, as an object, wouldn’t be impacted by the type of energy it expends to generate movement.
For more on BMW cars (real ones), check out our Showroom.
