[W///]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Reposting this:


One of the quoted German sources on 2erTalk persists in the same S55 thread that a special variant is in the works, and that it ain't an M2 GTS:

"I have never said that it will be a series car, but there won't be an M2 GTS either.
Something else is coming
HOWEVER with the M3 [E]36 once also came a 3.2L engine, with the Z3M an S54 ;-)
Simply let yourself surprise
I won't be driving long the M2 "
"Ich hab nie gesagt das der in serie kommt, aber einen m2 gts wird es auch nicht geben.
Da kommt was anderes
ABER beim M336 kam aufeinmal auch ein 3,2L Motor, beim Z3M der S54 ;-)
Lasst euch einfach überraschen
Lang werde ich den M2 nicht fahren "
(source: here)

Unclear what to make out of that cryptic stuff.

Time will tell what card BMW got up its sleeve. In the meantime (and beyond) I will enjoy my "base" M2.

Anyways, the claims about the E36 M3 upgrade with a 3.2 liter engine and the Z4M upgrade with an S54 engine, are accurate:

E36 M3 upgrade with a 3.2 liter engine (Nov 1995):

"What makes the E36 M3 3.2 unique?
For the 1996 model year, BMW M replaced the E36 M3 3.0 with the faster and more refined 3.2-liter version. For the European market, this model was fitted with the new S50 B32 engine, an evolution of the S50 B30, as well as a six-speed manual gearbox and detail refinements to the chassis. For the U.S. (and later Canadian) market, the M3 received its own powerplant, the S52, plus ASC+T traction control and a host of chassis upgrades. Both versions were also treated to a few cosmetic alterations.
How is the Euro-spec M3's 3.2-liter engine (S50 B32) different from the previous version (S50 B30)?
When creating the 3.2-liter M3 engine, BMW M relied upon much of the experience it had gained when designing the V12 engine for the McLaren F1 supercar. In the end, the S50 B32 incorporated the following improvements over the S50 B30 engine used in the original Euro-spec E36 M3: [...]
How is the North American 3.2-liter M3 engine (S52) different from the 3.0-liter (S50 B30 USA)?
Unlke the Euro-spec S50 B32, the S52 powerplant is an evolution of the standard production M52 engine. However, it incorporates the following changes over its S50 B30 USA predecessor: [...]"
(source: here)

Z4M upgrade with an S54 engine (Feb 2001):

"How many versions of the E36/8 M coupe were developed?
The original M coupes, with engines from the E36 M3, were built through June of 2000 in three different versions: European-specification (S50 engine) in both left- and right-hand drive, and North American-specification (S52 engine) in left-hand drive.
After having been discontinued for more than six months, a revised M coupe entered production in February of 2001. All three versions (European-spec/LHD, European-spec/RHD and North American-spec) utilize the S54 motor from the E46 M3.
What are the differences between the S50 and S54 engines?
The S54 powerplant of the later M coupes is technically an evolution of the iron-block S50 B32 unit that is found in later European-spec E36 M3s, as well as all European-spec M roadsters and M coupes built through June of 2000. The two motors develop similar peak power ratings: 321 hp (DIN)/315 hp (SAE) at 7,400 rpm and 251 lb/ft of torque at 3,250 rpm for the S50 versus 325 hp (DIN) at 7,400 rpm and 258 lb/ft of torque at 4,900 rpm for the S54. However, they share few major components and differ in the following areas: [...]"
(source: here)

He would be quite right....