BMW M2 makes regional debut at Qatar Motor Show

BMW officially unveiled the all-new M2 Coupe at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show a couple of weeks ago, but interestingly, it also made its GCC regional debut at the 2016 Qatar Motor Show this week. Standing in as the successor to the 1-Series M Coupe, the M2 will sit ahead of the M235i in the 2-Series lineup.

The exterior of the M2 Coupe may look no different than that of the M235i at first glance. But there are visual changes such as aggressively-flared front and rear bumpers, quad-exhausts and sporty alloys. Speaking to our Editor-in-Chief at the Qatar Motor Show, the Area Manager for BMW’s M division, Marcel Muhl, told us that as much as 80% of parts can be different when comparing M cars versus their non-M versions.

Underneath the bonnet is a 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine putting down an impressive 365 hp and 465 Nm of torque. The car will also get an overboost function that increases the torque to 500 Nm for a few seconds. The engine will be mated to a six-speed manual or an optional seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and will reportedly hit the 100 kph mark in 4.4 or 4.2 seconds respectively. Top speed of the M2 will be 250 kph, but an optional ‘M-Driver’s Package’ upgrade ups it to 270 kph.

The car will also receive M4-derived aluminium front and rear axles, aluminium suspension components, tuned electronic power-steering and an Active M-Differential. According to Marcel, the longer M4-sourced axles are what led the M2 to have wider fenders, so the tyres wouldn’t stick out.

Production of the BMW M2 had started late last year, and is expected to hit the roads of UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the GCC by April. We are told to expect prices starting at QAR 295,000, or about Dhs 300,000 in the UAE.