New M2 confirmed as last pure combustion M car
The hybrid M cars are coming, and sooner than you think
In an interview with Bimmer Today in Germany, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel has confirmed that the upcoming M2 will be the last M car without any form of electrification. Big news. Following the debut of the flagship 2 Series, which we’re expecting very soon, all M cars will be hybrid in some form or another, leading one day to the all-electric M car. But we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
For now, this is what van Meel had to say about the new car: “The BMW M2 will definitely be a purist driving machine with its straight-six and rear-wheel drive. We will see increasing electrification in other vehicles, of course in different forms, starting with the 48-volt electrical system and plug-in hybrids to fully electric drives. From this point of view, the M2 will be the last M with a pure combustion engine drive and also without electrification scope such as a 48-volt on-board network, yes.”
Which obviously makes it a pretty big deal for the smallest M car, what with 50 years of spectacular internal combustion history creating a legion of BMW fans across the globe. As if the M2 wasn’t going to be popular enough already; it’s hard to imagine six-speed manuals lasting much longer in M cars, either…
And let’s not forget what the first hybrid of the new era will be: the XM is due in production form by the end of the year. It’s hard to imagine a more different pair of M car debuts as the two-door, six-cylinder, six-speed, rear-drive coupe and the plug-in hybrid V8 SUV. Though it’d be a brave person to bet on which model actually sells in greater numbers.
Moreover, we’ve been here before with BMW. Every time there’s a drastic powertrain change, there’s much consternation and hand-wringing about the soul of an M car and how the character of these special BMW’s can’t survive the transition. A V8 M3 was sacrilege, and now are becoming highly prized; the turbo M car shouldn’t have been, yet who doesn’t love a 1M Coupe? Four-wheel drive was supposedly antithetical to the M car ethos, but the M5 CS is one of the best BMWs ever made. And remember that the M3 CSL, voted by PH as the finest M car in its first 50 years, came only with an automated manual gearbox rather than three pedals and a stick.
Which is to day that ideological hurdles can be overcome, even when it comes to M cars. And it’s hardly like BMW is new to the hybrid thing - regular models in the range like a 545e are deeply impressive. The XM may not have met with open arms from die-hard fans, though you suspect they’ll be more enamoured by a version of that 750hp V8 powertrain stuffed into a new M5. There’s cause for some optimism, then, even if it feels like the car world is going all topsy turvy again. Given this news, however, don’t be surprised if excitement (and buying interest) in the new M2 ramps up even further.
Zero difference between a BMW or a Hyundai electric motor. Bragging rights become kWh based. Noise synthetic. No gearboxes.
All the reasons to buy a BMW historically will be gone soon. After that what have you got? A local dealership maybe and a history of making engines for the Nazis from a country that refuses to send weapons to Ukraine whilst buying a ton load of energy from Putin every day. Hmmm.
And the styling optimised for the Chinese market.
Zero difference between a BMW or a Hyundai electric motor. Bragging rights become kWh based. Noise synthetic. No gearboxes.
All the reasons to buy a BMW historically will be gone soon. After that what have you got? A local dealership maybe and a history of making engines for the Nazis from a country that refuses to send weapons to Ukraine whilst buying a ton load of energy from Putin every day. Hmmm.
And the styling optimised for the Chinese market.
obviously bmw have an iconic badge etc and imagine, though their exterior styling has been terrible recently (I still see plenty on the road though with that horrible front end)
then there's insurance issues and such
Zero difference between a BMW or a Hyundai electric motor. Bragging rights become kWh based. Noise synthetic. No gearboxes.
All the reasons to buy a BMW historically will be gone soon. After that what have you got? A local dealership maybe and a history of making engines for the Nazis from a country that refuses to send weapons to Ukraine whilst buying a ton load of energy from Putin every day. Hmmm.
And the styling optimised for the Chinese market.
I wonder what your thoughts are on Jaguar and Ford? Both made by countries who invaded Iraq without the UN’s approval based on false pretenses?
What did you post that message on? Chances are it’ll be an iPhone or Samsung, both made in China which is run by a brutal regime.
Hypocrite
Zero difference between a BMW or a Hyundai electric motor. Bragging rights become kWh based. Noise synthetic. No gearboxes.
All the reasons to buy a BMW historically will be gone soon. After that what have you got? A local dealership maybe and a history of making engines for the Nazis from a country that refuses to send weapons to Ukraine whilst buying a ton load of energy from Putin every day. Hmmm.
And the styling optimised for the Chinese market.
It would be like if Rolex started using Eta movements...watch enthusiasts would throw their arms up in horror, (maybe) bycott them...and the sales would barely change.
Zero difference between a BMW or a Hyundai electric motor. Bragging rights become kWh based. Noise synthetic. No gearboxes.
All the reasons to buy a BMW historically will be gone soon. After that what have you got? A local dealership maybe and a history of making engines for the Nazis from a country that refuses to send weapons to Ukraine whilst buying a ton load of energy from Putin every day. Hmmm.
And the styling optimised for the Chinese market.
I think as EV's are skewed towards bigger, more luxurious cars at the moment we expect every EV to be massively more powerful than the equivalent ICE, and even at the same power output an EV should be quicker due to the torque delivery and no need for gearchanges, though additional weight will perhaps hold that back.
Not every driver is interested in numbers and ultimate performance, as long as it satisfies their needs they arent bothered whether its more powerful/quicker than another car, a lot of folk havent got a clue how much power and torque their car makes.
I suspect there will be more, smaller EV's with adequate power rather than the manufacturers providing 500 bhp small hatchbacks as a matter of course because they can.
Smaller, Cheaper EV's will appear and most will be in the 130 to 180 bhp range, there is no need really to provide massive power as I mentioned, but equally there is no point in making something really weedy like you got in ICE cars in the past, and still to a certain extent.
Zero difference between a BMW or a Hyundai electric motor. Bragging rights become kWh based. Noise synthetic. No gearboxes.
All the reasons to buy a BMW historically will be gone soon. After that what have you got? .
There are different approaches to motor design / materials used so there will be differences in performance.
You could have said the same about the Otto cycle engine when they first appeared, and look at us now..
Zero difference between a BMW or a Hyundai electric motor. Bragging rights become kWh based. Noise synthetic. No gearboxes.
All the reasons to buy a BMW historically will be gone soon. After that what have you got? A local dealership maybe and a history of making engines for the Nazis from a country that refuses to send weapons to Ukraine whilst buying a ton load of energy from Putin every day. Hmmm.
And the styling optimised for the Chinese market.
Can only have been for a bet…..how much did you win?
Zero difference between a BMW or a Hyundai electric motor. Bragging rights become kWh based. Noise synthetic. No gearboxes.
All the reasons to buy a BMW historically will be gone soon. After that what have you got? A local dealership maybe and a history of making engines for the Nazis from a country that refuses to send weapons to Ukraine whilst buying a ton load of energy from Putin every day. Hmmm.
And the styling optimised for the Chinese market.
The most recent design language did come as a shock initially, but I or one am well over it now.
The cars are fantastic, the M4, the i4, the iX is far from a looker but what a car inside and as a piece of engineering.
As a brand fan, none of those would turn me elsewhere.
Look at the Bangle era cars, exactly the same thing happened when they were released. Many of them are design classics and revered now.
Times change, growth is good, allow yourself the embrace.
Zero difference between a BMW or a Hyundai electric motor. Bragging rights become kWh based. Noise synthetic. No gearboxes.
All the reasons to buy a BMW historically will be gone soon. After that what have you got? A local dealership maybe and a history of making engines for the Nazis from a country that refuses to send weapons to Ukraine whilst buying a ton load of energy from Putin every day. Hmmm.
And the styling optimised for the Chinese market.
The only problem with smaller power is less regen opportunity. It's actually more efficient to fit larger motors.
I think as EV's are skewed towards bigger, more luxurious cars at the moment we expect every EV to be massively more powerful than the equivalent ICE, and even at the same power output an EV should be quicker due to the torque delivery and no need for gearchanges, though additional weight will perhaps hold that back.
Not every driver is interested in numbers and ultimate performance, as long as it satisfies their needs they arent bothered whether its more powerful/quicker than another car, a lot of folk havent got a clue how much power and torque their car makes.
I suspect there will be more, smaller EV's with adequate power rather than the manufacturers providing 500 bhp small hatchbacks as a matter of course because they can.
Smaller, Cheaper EV's will appear and most will be in the 130 to 180 bhp range, there is no need really to provide massive power as I mentioned, but equally there is no point in making something really weedy like you got in ICE cars in the past, and still to a certain extent.
The smaller EV's IMO will benefit the most from moving to electric, as there will be no more gutless engines with manual gearboxes, struggling to get up long hills.
My Mii never feels like its struggling, its got the usual zip off the line like all EV's and is massively better to drive than the petrol equivalent imo.
I discounted the Mii initially as 82bhp cant be enough? But its great.
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