In contrast to most rivals, BMW hasn’t given up on the guide gearbox. The take charge for 3 pedals stays robust sufficient for the M division to insist on promoting a stick shift for the M2, M3, and M4. The Z4 M40i just lately joined them for the 2025 mannequin yr. Nonetheless, the do-it-yourself transmission will inevitably go away. Why? It’s primarily due to stricter emissions rules and more and more subtle driver and help programs that work finest with an automated.

For now, BMW nonetheless provides you the pleasure of rowing your individual gears, and this M2 G87 with an all-black apparel has the fascinating guide. It just lately arrived at a dealership in the UK, therefore the right-hand-drive structure. Contained in the body-matching darkish cabin, the rear-wheel-drive machine has non-obligatory bucket seats.

The M2 is now not the child M automotive it was once because it’s significantly greater than the F87, and fairly the porker in comparison with the 1 Sequence M Coupe / 1M from the E82 period. This all-black look does an excellent job of hiding the G87’s extra substantial footprint. It additionally disguises the sudden boxy form BMW’s designers selected for the second-generation M2.

We’ll be seeing extra on the M2 entrance later this yr as M boss Frank van Meel has promised there can be an “upcoming mannequin revision.” The mayor of M City was tight-lipped concerning the adjustments however an important of all of them could possibly be an upgraded inline-six with 473 horsepower. That may signify a 20-hp enhance, with out the automotive incomes the “Competitors” suffix. It’ll nonetheless be simply an M2 because the firm has acknowledged M automobiles will begin as Competitors-level base fashions and go up from there.

A warmer M2 isn’t anticipated till 2025 when the CS is scheduled to hit the market, with a possible M2 xDrive probably arriving roughly a yr later. We anticipate these two flavors of the G87 to be offered strictly with the automated transmission.

Supply: andrew.barker.bmw / Instagram