BMW puts M2 Competition on a carbon-fibre diet
BY JUSTIN HILLIARD | 28th Nov 2018
BMW Group Australia has announced an optional carbon-fibre package for its recently launched M2 Competition sportscar, which borrows from its extensive M Performance Parts catalogue.
Priced at $15,990 (including fitment), the Australian-market-specific package is claimed to represent a saving of about $7000 when compared to ordering its 11 exterior and interior components individually.
Specifically, the package bundles in a bare-finish bonnet, front-grille surrounds, a front splitter, side-mirror caps, side-gill surrounds, M Performance-branded scuff plates, side skirts, a rear spoiler and a diffuser.
A Pro flat-bottom steering wheel with a blue 12-o’clock marker, carbon-fibre trim and M Performance branding is also part of the package alongside a carbon-fibre interior trim kit.
The package can be added to an M2 Competition at any time and does not need to be ordered from factory. It is fitted via BMW Group Australia’s dealer network, with the process taking about seven hours to complete.
According to BMW Group Australia, more M Performance Parts components will become available over the course of next year. The catalogue already includes motorsport-inspired decal kits and bespoke alloy wheels, among other individual options.
As reported, the M2 Competition kicks off from $104,900 before on-road costs, while an entry-level Pure version will arrive in showrooms early next year with a $99,990 pricetag.
The M2 Competition swaps its ‘regular’ predecessor’s N55 single-turbo 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol engine for a detuned version of the S55 twin-turbo unit employed by the M3 and M4 Competition.
As a result, the M2 Competition develops 302kW of power from 5250 to 7000rpm and 550Nm of torque from 2350 to 5200rpm – increases of 30kW and 85Nm over the M2.
Drive is exclusively sent to the rear wheels by either the standard seven-speed dual-clutch automatic or the no-cost six-speed manual with rev-matching functionality. The former sprints from standstill to 100km/h in 4.2 seconds, besting the latter by 0.2.s.
Sales of the 2 Series Coupe and Convertible have taken a significant hit this year, with 1185 examples sold to the end of October – a 22.7 per cent decrease over the 1532 deliveries made during the same period in 2017.
Nonetheless, the 2 Series is still the second best-selling sportscar in the declining sub-$80,000 segment (-39.0%), trailing the Ford Mustang (5193 units) but ahead of the Toyota 86 (821), Mazda MX-5 (710), Subaru BRZ (622) and Nissan 370Z (262), among others.
