[medphysdave]

https://www.whichcar.com.au/car-news...ar-wheel-drive

Makes sense since it seems to eventually receive all the M4 goodies. That should make for a very quick car.

[Kef9]

How boring if true. Added weight and complication that is just not required.

May as well just buy an Audi then 🙁

[dmboone25]

I would be surprised if they went this route - the complete death of the RWD BMW M car?

I am guessing less folks would want the M2 if this happens (compared to more people wanting the M2 if it remains RWD only), but they've made other surprising decisions in the last few years, so who knows....

[tranck]

I think Bock said that they're contemplating the AWD as an option.

Not checking that box and if the new gen. M2 is not offered with a manual - no deal either.

[McGary911]

Let the bloating begin.

[TemjinX2]

if the next gen m2 uses the new 3 series platform the m2 will probably be bigger. i would be ok if BMW just reuses the current platform and add in a s58 with adaptive suspension to keep costs as low as possible.

[NJ Drive]

From a business perspective, I get it. From an enthusiast's perspective, I say to each their own, as long as RWD is still an option.

[No Boost]

I guess I'll be holding on to my M2PL.

[RPM33]

Just so far away though. Next M2 won't be here until early 2023 so 3.5 years away. I'm a little worried that the M2 CS price may be near $100K. Guess we'll see in November.

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by Kef9

How boring if true. Added weight and complication that is just not required.

May as well just buy an Audi then ��

Still apples to oranges. Audi's are FWD during normal driving with torque directed to the rear wheels only in the event of detected wheel slippage. BMW's is the exact opposite so "may as well just buy and Audi" means settling for FWD. The only real concern I would have would be in weight gains but I would hope that the next M2 will have a bit more development behind it in regards to aluminum panels and other weight reductions over the base car.

[Anthony1s]

I was thinking about this the other day. If they had an AWD 4cyl turbo M2, that would be killer. Mount the engine just as far back as the 6cyl is currently, or even further back for good weight distribution. The 4cyl will make up for some of the added AWD weight. And I'm sure they can make 400hp with a 4cyl turbo. Would definitely make it a fun car to drive and in a class of it's own to have a mid-front mounted AWD 4cyl sports car. And they have the M AWD technology (whatever it's called) that lets you fully disable the front drive.

[RocketTR]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

Still apples to oranges. Audi's are FWD during normal driving with torque directed to the rear wheels only in the event of detected wheel slippage. BMW's is the exact opposite so "may as well just buy and Audi" means settling for FWD. The only real concern I would have would be in weight gains but I would hope that the next M2 will have a bit more development behind it in regards to aluminum panels and other weight reductions over the base car.

Not all Audi quattro systems are the same. My car, for example, has a longitudinal engine and the rears are the main driven wheels. The normal torque bias is 60% to the rear and as much as 85% can go to the rear depending upon the variables. The car feels more like a RWD car with crazy good traction than anything else. There's absolutely nothing about it that feels anything like a FWD car, but that makes sense since it's rear-wheel biased.

I would definitely be interested in an AWD M2 simply because there are so many great benefits to AWD.

[arhoads335i]

Sounds like a rs3 competitor

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by arhoads335i

Sounds like a rs3 competitor

So same as the current car then? I cross shopped RS3 with M2 and I know I'm not the only one as they are similar performers at a similar price point.

[tranck]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

So same as the current car then? I cross shopped RS3 with M2 and I know I'm not the only one as they are similar performers at a similar price point.

Probably true but on looks alone - the M2 is a clear winner.

[RocketTR]

Originally Posted by arhoads335i

Sounds like a rs3 competitor

True. An AWD M2 would absolutely be a direct competitor for the RS3. Without AWD, the M2 is just a different animal. It's a shame the RS3 isn't available with a manual transmission. That's assuming that the M2 would still have a manual with an AWD system.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by tranck

Probably true but on looks alone - the M2 is a clear winner.

+1

As M3 Adjuster likes to remind me, I have been attracted to the RS3, and for good reason...but when you get an F80 or F87 next to the Audi, it just look so common and less aggressive in comparison. In isolation, the Audi looks nice. But the M2/M3s are so much more purposeful, I just couldn't do it.

[RPM33]

The only Audi that I have interest in is the R8 that may be cancelled soon. The TT RS may be cancelled soon as well. I have no interest in the RS3.

[RPM33]

I'm just worried about the base price of the M2 CS. Surely it can't be $100K which is probably the base price of a new 911 carrera. The 992 911 carrera S at $113K base has been getting glowing reviews. Surely the M2 CS can't be $100k base as it has to be less than M3/M4 CS.

The M2 Competition is around $58K so a 40 percent increase gets you to around $81K. This reveal can't come soon enough.

[RocketTR]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

+1

As M3 Adjuster likes to remind me, I have been attracted to the RS3, and for good reason...but when you get an F80 or F87 next to the Audi, it just look so common and less aggressive in comparison. In isolation, the Audi looks nice. But the M2/M3s are so much more purposeful, I just couldn't do it.

I agree with that. Audi cars generally have understated styling. The A3/S3/RS3 all look a bit plain compared more aggressively styled cars. You need to step up to something like the RS5 if you like aggressive styling in an Audi. The Sportback version, despite having an extra set of doors in the back, looks particularly aggressive with the steeply raked rear window.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by medphysdave

https://www.whichcar.com.au/car-news...ar-wheel-drive

Makes sense since it seems to eventually receive all the M4 goodies. That should make for a very quick car.

See for example here:

"Flasch [Markus Flasch - BMW M boss] says BMW M will continue to offer rear-drive variants as he believes they are still relevant in certain segments.
He believes that AWD is more suitable for large SUVs and sedans that are driven for most of the year for long distances and often on dirt tracks. In the new M5, for example, the automaker found that customers hardly ever switch off AWD "because it’s just such a great drive with it”. For smaller cars like the M2, M3, and M4, Flasch believes customers often buy them as second or third cars and that rear-wheel-drive makes sense because they are often driven in good weather for special occasions. "This is not black and white, but in general there is a differentiation between the bigger cars – longer wheelbase, V8 – smaller cars, straight-six (engine), more like ‘the good weather car’, are still asking for rear-wheel drive and manual stick shift,” he said."

[mr_lab_rat]

I hope they are going to keep it simple and only offer RWD.
That's what they are doing with the M4 - RWD for the lower power variants (400-450hp), AWD for the high output models.
It would make a lot of sense to increase the gap between the M2 and M4 with limiting the M2 to low 400s.