When the G87 M2 first arrived, BMW maintained it would be exclusively rear-wheel drive despite sharing its platform with the M4. Short in wheelbase, long in character, and something of a dynamic throwback – simplicity and agility have always been the core of the M2's appeal. Now, the M division has performed a U-turn, announcing the new M2 with xDrive.

Don’t think the M2 has suddenly been sanitised, because the xDrive system in play comes with the all-important M prefix. That means the car remains exclusively rear driven – only when grip runs out does the system bring the front axle into play. The Active M Differential continues to govern distribution between the rear wheels, working in unison with DSC and M-specific traction control to keep the car's characteristic RWD bias, especially with 4WD Sport engaged. BMW has also said the xDrive gets ‘specially developed chassis tuning’ to optimise the traction from the xDrive system, but has spared us the specifics. For the unconvinced, the system can be locked into pure rear-wheel drive with DSC fully deactivated, just like the M4.

BMW M2 with M xDrive rear three-quarter static shot at sunset in Borusan Turkish Blue
BMW M2 M xDrive M Setup screen showing 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD drive mode options

One negative is the system is only available with the eight-speed M Steptronic automatic, ruling out the existing three-pedal option. On the flip side, the newfound traction has improved off-the-line performance, with the 0-62mph time cut to 3.7 seconds. That's three tenths faster, and into M4 Competition territory – although once into three figures the advantage wanes. The two cars reach 124mph just a tenth of a second apart, at 12.8s vs 12.9, the extra 60kg of the xDrive system counting against it as the speed builds. Demonstrating just how rapid modern automatics are is the manual’s time, which is 0.8 seconds adrift.

Regardless of the number of driven wheels, the M2 gets the same 473bhp variant of the twin-turbocharged S58 straight-six, which has recently been updated with BMW's M Ignite technology. It employs a motorsport-derived pre-chamber combustion process that meaningfully reduces fuel consumption under high loads and ensures EU7 compliance.

BMW M2 with M xDrive front action shot in Borusan Turkish Blue on mountain road
BMW M2 with M xDrive interior driver's seat and door card detail

While indistinguishable from the regular M2, the xDrive does at least introduce a new M hue to the model. A £4,385 option, Borusan Turkish Blue breaks with tradition in that it's not named after a circuit (Estoril, Interlagos, Le Mans, Laguna Seca and Silverstone to name a few blue notes), but its motorsport connections are nevertheless genuine, having been co-developed with Turkish racing team Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport as their signature colour since 2008.

Production takes place at BMW’s San Luis Potosí plant, Mexico, from August 2026, with the first UK deliveries occurring this coming winter – the perfect time for running-in such a car. Pricing starts from £74,255, representing a premium of around £4,000 over its rear-drive stablemate.