BMW Smallest M Car Is Getting Jaw-Dropping Performance

Whether you like it or not, and whether you’re ready for it or not, the BMW M lineup is maturing. The German automaker’s marketing team will likely hail this as a positive development—promising higher performance, improved traction, and a host of other superlatives. And they might have a point. After all, it’s hard to argue with a car that can sprint off the line faster and handle even the harshest weather with confidence.

It still stings a little to see nimble, lightweight cars like the BMW M2 experimenting with bulky all-wheel-drive systems. Yes, it boosts performance, but it also layers more complexity onto an M-car that, at least in the past, embodied the straightforward, pure driving machines of BMW golden era.

The M2 Is Heading for All-Wheel Drive

A few months back, reports emerged that BMW was experimenting with M2 models equipped with its xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The head of BMW M’s R&D hinted that it might be on the horizon—but stopped short of confirming anything officially.

Now, BMW Blog—the outlet that originally reported on M2 xDrive testing—is confirming that the all-wheel-drive version is definitely on the way. Production is slated to begin in August 2026, roughly a year from now.

Adding AWD to the M2 comes with both advantages and trade-offs. On the plus side, it will almost certainly be faster. The rear-wheel-drive M2 hits 0–60 mph in 4.1 seconds, according to BMW, while the M4 Competition xDrive manages it in 3.4. The M2’s smaller size and slightly lower weight, even with a touch less power than the M4 Competition, means the gap in 0–60 times will shrink from minor to virtually negligible.

No Stick, More Weight

A major downside? An AWD M2 would almost certainly spell the end of the six-speed manual. While not confirmed, it’s a safe bet—BMW currently doesn’t offer manuals with AWD on any of its M models. Instead, the extra traction would come paired exclusively with BMW’s eight-speed automatic.

BMW six-speed manuals are already limited in the M lineup. In the M2, for instance, both the manual and automatic deliver 473 horsepower—but the stick lags in torque, producing 406 lb-ft, 37 lb-ft less than the automatic.

Adding all-wheel drive inevitably adds weight. The current M2 isn’t exactly featherlight—3,814 pounds with the manual, or 3,867 with the automatic—but xDrive would push it even higher. For reference, adding AWD to an M4 Competition increases its curb weight from 3,880 to 3,979 pounds—a 99-pound jump. That would bring an M2 xDrive dangerously close to the two-ton mark.

If BMW is indeed moving forward with the AWD M2, it will be some time before official details surface. With production slated for August 2026, a spring reveal seems likely. Traditionally, that might have meant an auto show debut—New York in April, for example—but automakers are no longer tied to the old schedule. BMW current favorite is the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in May, where it unveiled the M2 CS this year. Either way, more news is on the horizon.