Leaked: BMW M2 Competition is lighter, more powerful

BWM M fans and enthusiasts have been anxiously waiting for the BMW M2 Competition, a very juicy version of the BMW M2 high-performance coupe that is bound to be unveiled at the upcoming Beijing Motor Show two weeks from now. But it seems they don’t need to wait that long before getting a glimpse of the M2 Competition, thanks to a supposed information leak about the new model.

The leak -- traced to BMW Blog Slovenia – doesn’t only contain a single or two images of the M2 Competition high-performance, but quite a number of them. Likewise, the leak also included some juicy technical information about the new M2 Competition.

While BMW hasn’t owned up to the veracity of the leaked images, they seem to be legitimate. Official images or not, these pictures of the BMW M2 Competition show that this version of the high-performance coupe is indeed more hardcore and more prime to rule the roads. The images show three supposedly M2 Competition models sitting side by side and running down the road in different shades: white, red and blue. The images themselves are full of colors, making them look like more of a marketing tool than informative pictures.

As for the exterior appearance of the new BMW M2 Competition, the images show that it features new, more angular kidney grilles as well as three air vents in the lower front lip. The images also show that the new M2 Competition comes with black badges and side mirrors adopted from the BMW M4. It rides on all-new larger wheels, which are available as 437M and 788M.

Meanwhile, the interior of the BMW M2 Competition seems to be copied from the BMW M4 Coupe. For instance, its seats are derived from the BMW M4. It also features a red starter button and “M1 and M2” buttons that reveal the high-performance coupe’s configurable drive settings.

Not only that, the BMW M2 Competition will be powered by the same S55 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged I6 engine that is found in the BMW M4. However, the leaked information reveals that this engine is tuned to deliver 410 hp of max output and 405 lb.-ft. of peak torque, making it more powerful than the mill in the standard M2 that 365 hp of max output and 343 lb.-ft. of peak torque (plus 45 hp and 62 lb.-ft.).

With this amount of power at its disposal, M2 Competition could sprint from zero to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds. However, this sprint time seems to be too modest, as a standard BMW M2 with a DCT (dual clutch transmission) could accelerate as quickly at 4.3 seconds. This means that the M2 Competition – lighter and more powerful than a standard M2 – could be seen dashing from nil to 60 mph in under 4.2 seconds.