BMW Just Made The M2 Even Faster
The BMW M2 just got faster, but not because BMW dumped yet more power into the twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline six. Instead, a new M Performance Track Kit will help dedicated owners shave a few precious tenths off their lap times by way of a new body kit.
The most apparent additions are the new rear wing and front splitter. These are manually adjustable, and in fact, they need to be adjustable. BMW says you can't drive with these wing elements fully deployed on public roads, as doing so will place you in violation of one federal vehicle safety standard or another. Instead, the splitter can be retracted, and the rear wing has a Street position that will keep it from extending too far from the M2's sculpted bodywork.
BMW
The wing itself has some motorsports pedigree, not unlike the car on which it resides. The swan-neck wing is lifted right off BMW's GT series race cars: the M4 GT4 and the M3 GT3. To meet road regulations, BMW retrofitted the wings with an integrated third brake light. When extended fully, the wing adds an additional two inches of length to the body of the car, which helps in producing greater downforce over the car's rear wheels.
Canards and a unique suspension upgrade also help improve downforce and grip. The latter is, per BMW, the first motorsport-spec damper setup for a road-legal car. These are four-way adjustable, both in rebound and compression damping, and also feature adjustable support bearings. As compared to a standard M2, you can lower the ride height by an additional 0.8 inches. Other minor additions include new wheel arch diffusers and adidtional cooling by way of a scoop for the engine oil cooler.
BMW
Meanwhile, the new M2 CS gets a new M Performance exhaust. That will, of course, make the CS even louder while simultaneously being a full 17.6 pounds lighter than the CS's standard exhaust. Cosmetic adjustments come with the exhaust courtesy of new carbon and titanium tailpipe trims. The price is nearly $9,800, excluding installation. The track kit, though, is much more expensive. That'll run you a hefty $27,500 before tax and installation.