Via a forum member’s inside sources, specs and colors for the upcoming BMW M2 have made their way onto the Internet.
2 Addicts member Dackelone posted info on what colors would be available at launch in November, as well as what to expect out of the N55 3.0-liter turbocharged I6 under the bonnet, AutoGuide reports.
Based on Dackelone’s sources “deep within BMW HQ,” the N55 — used in a number of BMW models since 2009 — will put 365 horses and 343 lb-ft of torque to the back, and has an “over boost” feature good for 25 lb-ft of extra torque throughout the low- to mid-range within the RPM band.
As for the colors, only four will be available at the start: Alpine White, Black Sapphire metallic, Long Beach Blue metallic, and Mineral Grey metallic. Other colors may turn up later, though Dackelone is collecting suggestions via poll.
[Photo credit: BMW]
Good to see I’m color blind, cause I could have sworn that the car on the picture is in Alfa red.
Tough to tell from a picture transmitted over the web. I can’t tell whether I like a color without actually seeing the car.
Well I can tell from the pixels it isn’t White, Black, Blue or Gray :)
Obviously the best place to photograph a new BMW is… next to a very rusty boat? Quite the association to make there.
I remember that set of photos quite well, actually. I think it’s a brilliant piece of location scouting and photography – the rust brings out the orange and red in the BMW while the white paint and nearly monochromatic pier/water/sky combo are a neutral foil to the BMW. This is accentuated in reflections off the car that illustrate the surface styling. Last, but not least, the teal mooring lines provide a nearly ideal contrasting color in very small amounts but from this angle they frame the car well, giving the BMW paint a little extra pop. This isn’t even one of the better photos in the series – but someone definitely sweated the details.
I don’t know what associating the BMW with a rusty boat says about one’s psyche, but this image does seem to be some sort of Rorschach test.
That rust is actually patina. One day, if it’s very lucky, that little M2 may get some of its own, and wear it proudly. Or it might just get wrapped around a tree.
I’m holding out for one in Long Beach Mineral Alpine Metallic.
Not sure what your association is CoreyDL, never had a rust problem with any Bimmer I own and have owned.
A boat.
Old.
Rusty/dirty.
Utilitarian.
A juxtaposition, perhaps?
Oh, well then a Pacer is more appropriate!
… driver went in search of a sailor?
Since this is third hand from some guy who posted something somewhere and which Autoguide, that most authoritative of blogs, has chosen to expend the effort to post, and copied here, I must say I had hoped the M2 would feature the B58 engine.
I would wait and see if the B58 is actually an improvement or not. The N55 is a great engine that has also proved to be reliable.
Every M series car should be available in that fabulous Estoril Blue.
In fact, every BMW, no, every car, no, every car and toothbrush should be available in BMW Estoril Blue.
Audi has a very similar blue now, yeah?
What’s Estoril Blue?
There’s this very nice dark blue I saw when throwing together a 535d online for fun, but I can’t remember the name of it.
Pretty much the same thing as Long Beach Blue – very bright metallic blue – Long Beach might be just a tad darker, but in pictures they look pretty much the same to my eye.
I think Imperial Blue is the dark blue you are thinking of, and if I were to order an F31 3-series wagon that would be the color I would choose. With Coral Red leather inside.
I can’t say I’ve ever seen bright metallic blue on any BMW…but I’m sure it looks better than that yellowish green color that was available on the E46 M3.
Sounds like Phoenix Yellow.
Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m glad BMW still offers color.
My very first BMW M car was in Estoril Blue. I loved that color. I loved that car too and miss it to this day.
With base MSRPs starting in the same neighbourhood I’d take the ATS-V coupe any damn day of the week over the M2.
Now I want to see the price overlap between this M2 and the 4-Series Coupe, which is superior looking. And yes I realize they don’t have the same mission.
There is something about the 4 series I find unappealing and it’s not just the numbers name game. It’s kind of portly and overwrought like an Infiniti Q style job now and I picture the word ‘Gran’ should be affixed to the trunk.
The 4-Series is a PLC. That’s the heart of it!
Gran Regency?
I suppose
But with the next Camaro being built on the same platform as the ATS while also getting the V8 this thing was supposed to get at a lower price this thing will be rendered obsolete
M2 will be an easier car to live with on a day to day basis and about 300-400lb lighter too. Between those 3 ATS-V makes the least sense
If I won a Camaro in a contest I’d list it on Kijiji and buy something I’d actually want with the proceeds. Speaking of online classifieds that’s where the BMW 1 (and now 2) really belong, three or fours years old, and a second car to buy because it’s just so L’il.
2 might be little on the outside but it’s roomier inside, including in the back seat and the trunk lel.
To your credit though the ATS-V will probably go for 10-20K below book value just like the rest of the Alpha cars. I suppose it could make for a good alternative to a V8 Cmero or Rustang for an internet contrarian.
My problem with the Camaro exists on the outside and insides as well. Bath tub bunker covered in cheap plastic. Sheesh. Just get a Challenger.
The gen six car might be a surprise. Either way, we don’t have much longer until the reveal.
I will say that I’d buy a ZL-1 in spite of the foibles GM has saddled the Camaro with. The LSA is one hell of an engine.
I just spent 6 days in a loaded Camaro RS convertible in Southern California on vacation. Drove it ~500 miles from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border and all over in-between. I can say that putting the top down on a perfect 70F CA day covers up a LOT of sins.
Which is good, because that car had a LOT of sins. Drives great overall, looks like poo inside. Could have used the Mustangs turbo 4 rather than the torqueless wonder 300hp V6. Rev lag is far more irritating to me than turbo lag, and that engine doesn’t do diddly under 5K rpm.
As far as the M2, if it has the typical price gap over an M235i, I really don’t see the point unless you live on a racetrack. But that is my feeling for all of the M cars. Long Beach Blue looks pretty much the same as Estoril Blue, at least in pictures. Maybe a tad more purple? Pretty either way, which is why I ordered my car in Estoril.
Next Cmero will have a better interior for sure. That’s really it’s only demerit against the Challenger. Sitting in the Challenger feels like going into the lower deck of a multi level boat. The refreshed interior is nice though and that V8 makes you feel like a man. But it feels like you’re driving a school bus.
I’d take the M2 before an ATS-V and wouldn’t even debate my choice. I’m not really sure I’d place those two in the same category though.
Is that an official picture from BMW?
Horrible background choice.
I love the teal blue of the e46 M3 and the baby blue of the E39 M5.
If a $25k 2.0T Sonata, Fusion, Buick, or Subaru makes 137HP/liter why does a BMW M2 only make (a still awesome) 121hp? 137HP per liter * 3.0 liters = 411HP. Is that not reasonable in a $50k plus car?
Also $28k 2.3 mustang make more per liter then a
CTS-V, or most other cars. Just saying lower the prices for less HP.
BMWs turbos are rather under-rated. Their philosophy seems to be that the car will make at least the rated hp under the very worst possible conditions. They also seem to tune for a broad spread of power than for a spectacular peak rating. The Hyundai/KIA 2.0T may make 274hp under idea conditions in a lab, but I doubt any of them I have ever driven have done it in the real world. A 328i 2.0T with 240hp is so much faster than a Sonata with 274hp that it isn’t even funny. Both on paper and in real world feel.
There is also the detail that the M2 will be deliberately toned down so that it is not faster than the M3/M4.
TL;DR – hp needs to be taken with a grain of salt.