- BMW created the M2 xDrive due to American and Swiss demand.
- Customers wanted an AWD coupe that they could drive with all-season tires.
- There are other minor changes in the 2027 M2.
BMW has been selling all-wheel-drive versions of its M3 sedan and M4 coupe for some time now. Ultimately, the automaker extended its xDrive offering to the smaller M2 coupe. And he did it for a good reason.
talking with Bimmer Today (and translated by) BMW Blog), BMW M boss Frank van Meel points out that customers living in the Northeast (New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) and Midwest (Illinois, Michigan, Ohio) use all-season tires even in the spring and summer, so a rear-wheel-drive M2 is “simply not possible,” he says. Apparently there was “a lot of demand” from those customers.
Photo by: BMW
All-wheel drive for all
This is not the first time that the United States has inspired BMW to introduce a new car or feature specifically for our market. The company has only offered manual transmissions in the E60 and F10 M5 models for North American markets, and the new M3 CS Handschlechter is also a North American exclusive.
BMW says that while the US was a major contributor to the M2 xDrive production push, there was also strong demand in Switzerland. Like North America, Switzerland also gets a lot of snowfall, so it makes sense to request an AWD sports car there.
Like the M3 and M4, the M2 xDrive will be quicker than its RWD counterpart, hitting 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds (3.3 seconds with a one-foot rollout). For reference, the RWD M2 equipped with the eight-speed automatic took 3.9 seconds. We imagine BMW’s estimate is conservative, and the car could be closer to three seconds.
The M2 xDrive replaces the standard M2 with an automatic. If you want an M2 with RWD, BMW will still offer one with a manual transmission. Both cars continue to use the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged S58 inline-six engine that produces 473 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque.
BMW made some changes to the S58 for the 2027 model year, bringing it into compliance with the new Euro 7 emissions standards. These changes include M-Ignite pre-chamber ignition technology, but US-spec cars do not require it. BMW says the exhaust note will be slightly improved and fuel economy may see a slight bump.
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Source: BMW
Motor1’s Opinion: For customers in the Northeast and Midwest, all-wheel drive is great—especially on a car like the BMW M2. It’s great to see that BMW is listening to its customers.
