It’s pretty much certain now: BMW is indeed working on a more hardcore version of their smallest M car, the much-loved M2. And following the revelation that the automaker’s high performance division will again adopt the CSL moniker to denote their highest-tier and most driver-focused variant, it may well be the first car bearing that name since the E46 M3.
Autocar reports that this new M2, which won’t be for the faint of heart, will grab even more gear from the M3/M4 load out while shedding weight through a stripped out interior, carbon bucket seats, and certain body parts being made of lightweight CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer).
It would be fitting, after all, since the M2 is the most akin previous E46 M3 CSL (Coupe Sport Lightweight) in terms of size with the M3 now being exclusively a four-door affair while the M4 is a larger car than previous M cars of a similar dimension. The compact M car being their most popular model by far doesn’t hurt matters either.
Dirk Hacker, vice president of BMW M said: “The M2 is tracking at 40-50% above our expectation in terms of sales, and demand for cars like the M2, or GTS and CS heritage models, is growing. Any car that has true heritage to motorsport is an opportunity for us. New markets are always opening for those cars and that will increase, so long as we keep building cars that are sufficiently special.”
Spy photographers have spotted an M2 test mule with certain portions of its body, such as its rear diffuser and front fascia, disguised and alluding to a revised aero package. The final car’s extra downforce generation bits are likely to be quite subtle, though, at least when compared to the track-oriented M4 GTS which looks to be the final BMW to be named as such.
While the suspension setup will naturally be set up more for track use with comfort dialled back a few notches, the rest of the car will follow a similar formula to the current vanilla M2. Under the bonnet will remain a 3.0-litre engine sending power rearward through either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed M-DCT dual-clutch automatic. The previous CSL-badged BMW used their fast but ultimately flawed SMG-II semi-auto.
However, instead of an up-tuned version of the N55 straight-six that’s found in the 3 Series and 5 Series, this purported M2 CSL will feature the same S55 twin-turbocharged unit from the M3 and M4, albeit reported to be detuned to around 298kW. By comparison, the M3 in stock tune produces around 317kW. Torque will likely sit around 500Nm in this no-nonsense M2.
A facelifted M2 range is scheduled to debut in 2018, however the UK publication’s sources have quashed possibility of a range-topping variant to launch in concert. With this in mind, BMW may be happy to not rush this project, waiting until an appropriate amount time has elapsed following the 2018 range has permeated to its key markets before dropping the much-anticipated CSL.
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