SYDNEY: BMW has indicated that a M2 high-performance variant of its sporty 2 Series coupe would likely launch in Australia priced for $100,000.
Sitting somewhere midway between the $79,930 M235i and the $156,430 M3, the M2 certainly won’t challenge the dearly departed 1M Coupe for the title of “most affordable M car”.
The 1M Coupe launched in late 2011 with a retail price of $99,900 and a 200-car allocation, and quickly turned into a collectors item.
Speaking to TMR at the local launch of the 2 Series Convertible, BMW Australia product planning head Shawn Ticehurst said demand for the sharply-priced M car was huge.
“We had dealers fighting for [the 1M] right at the end. If we could have had more it would have been fantastic,” he said.
And now, over three years after its launch, prices remain high for the 1M Coupe. Most lightly-used examples are being sold for between $80-90k, while one car with just 500km on the odometer is listed at $129,990 – $30,090 above its original retail price.
“We’d love to have an M2, of course,” Ticehurst continued. “Australians love M cars, Australians love performance cars, 2 Series has been such a hit – [M2] would be a great combo if it comes.
“We’re waiting to hear more about it, but until it’s confirmed it’s a bit hard to say when we’ll see it.
“If M2 came, I think it’d be popular, no doubt.”
And with the car expected to be powered by the same S55 3.0 litre twin-turbo inline six as the M3 and M4 – though detuned to around 279kW/520Nm – with the same active rear differential and meaty brakes, but less mass, it should be a rocket.
And like the 1M Coupe, it will also sport bulging bodywork to accommodate its wider track and bigger wheel/tyre package. Recent spy photos (above) have confirmed as much.
But don’t expect it to cost the same as its spiritual predecessor. The 1M Coupe was quite bare when it came to standard equipment, which enabled BMW Australia to sneak it under the $100,000 barrier.
“It all depends on how the car is specced, but probably more likely than not it will have a price tag north of six digits,” Ticehurst told TMR.
“But the car’s got to be confirmed before we can start to speculate on that, otherwise we’d be starting to cash checks that haven’t been written.”
“I just want the thing confirmed first,” he said with a grin.
Current reports say the M2 is slated for a global debut at the Frankfurt auto show in September, with production commencing in November. Expect a local launch sometime in early 2016.
