BMW M2 AWD Buzz

BMW M2’s Future

There’s been quite a buzz about a potential xDrive all-wheel-drive version of the BMW M2, but BMW hasn’t officially confirmed anything yet. Right now, the M2 is holding its ground as a rear-wheel-drive only model, quite different from its sibling, the M4 Coupe, which does offer the xDrive system. According to a conversation with a BMW executive noted in a BMW Blog, there’s a logical reason the gripper setup hasn’t been rolled out for the smallest coupe from the brand. It boils down to their production schedules and the cadence at which they prefer to release various high-performance M models.

AWD Option?

Dirk Häcker, BMW M’s head honcho for R&D, shared with BMW Blog that the M2 xDrive “might” still make its grand entrance. When asked why the M3 and M4 get the xDrive treatment but the M2 doesn’t, Häcker mentioned that it’s partially about timing. The M2 launched approximately two years ago, initially focusing on rear-wheel drive. With plenty of runway until the end of its current production cycle, possibilities for including an xDrive option are being considered, though no definitive green light has been given yet.

The grapevine suggests that if the M2 xDrive gets the go-ahead, it might join the lineup in August 2026, side by side with the rear-wheel-drive version.

Unique RWD Experience

Check out all 3 images in the original piece.

As things stand, the current M2, with its rear-wheel-drive setup, holds a unique spot in the market. Audi and BMW’s other models haven’t produced a similar small sports coupe; the nearest competitors – the Audi RS3 and Mercedes CLA 45 S – favor an all-wheel-drive approach. This unique selling point of the M2 is further enhanced by its offering of a six-speed manual transmission, something its rivals don’t include.

Should the xDrive version come to fruition, it might exclusively feature BMW’s eight-speed automatic transmission. Also, the M2’s six-cylinder engine continues to set it apart from the competition. The chatter about potential future configurations adds excitement, but for now, the enthusiasts of the M2 have to relish its rear-wheel-drive experience. The newer M2 CS model bumps it up to 523 horsepower, and one can only imagine how monstrous this machine would be with AWD.

With all these whispers of various enhancements, the most thrilling iteration of the M2 may still be on the horizon.