New Delhi: It has been just a couple of months since the smallest M car in the BMW lineup got the all-wheel-drive system, and now it could go a little
further as well. As per media sources, the M division hasn’t exactly shown all of the performance coupe’s abilities. As per rumours, there is a new version on the way, although it is unlikely to happen in the very near future as M2 xDrive is arriving only now.
A member of the Bimmer Post forums who apparently has access to the internal BMW database has found that the M2 isn’t going anywhere after all-wheel-drive was introduced. While details are still under wraps, some assumptions are already going around.
One that BMW could consider would be a potential return of the M2 CS featuring a manual gearbox among the possibilities. Such a model might follow the M3 CS, which was offered with a manual gearbox in North America earlier this year.
There’s also the possibility of an M2 CS with xDrive all-wheel drive. This might give the compact performance coupe an even greater performance advantage and potentially make it the fastest M2 yet. BMW already has the necessary technology, with the M3 and M4 CS models using all-wheel drive, making an xDrive M2 CS a rather straightforward proposition.
M2 production could continue until 2029. Could it come in M2 CSL guise?
An even more extreme option might be an M2 CSL. BMW executives have previously left the door open to such a model. They would likely take a more stripped-back approach similar to the M4 CSL. A potential M2 CSL might lose its back seats and focus heavily on reducing weight and improving track performance. While the M4 CSL was sold exclusively with an automatic gearbox, the M2 might get a manual transmission. This is more likely given BMW’s warnings that the three-pedal setup is gradually approaching the end of its life.
That could make an M2 CSL an ideal opportunity for BMW to give enthusiasts a final manual-equipped special edition. Reports suggest production of the current-generation M2 could continue until around mid-2029, giving BMW considerable time to introduce additional derivatives before the model reaches the end of its lifecycle.
It also means the company could potentially launch more than one special version of the M2. Whatever BMW ultimately decides, buyers should expect a significant price premium, with the M2 CS already capable of crossing the $100,000 mark in fully equipped form. For now, BMW has not confirmed which direction it will take. However, with the M2 still having several years left in its lifecycle, the prospect of a manual M2 CS, an all-wheel-drive CS or even an M2 CSL gives enthusiasts plenty to look forward to.
