M2

Explore the BMW M2 at Preston BMW

For a decade, the M2 has stood as BMW's purest expression of small-footprint performance, and it's done that entirely on rear-wheel drive. That changes this year. Preston BMW is bringing in the 2027 lineup with a genuinely significant addition: the first all-wheel-drive M2 in the model's history, sold right alongside the rear-drive version enthusiasts already know. It's not a replacement. It's a second option for drivers who want M2 performance without giving up traction on a slick Mahoning Valley morning.

M xDrive Joins the Lineup for the First Time

According to BMW's own U.S. product information, the new M2 with M xDrive now gives shoppers a genuine choice between rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, something the M2 has never offered before. It's built on the same S58 twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six as the standard car, producing 473 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, so the power figures don't change; what changes is how that power reaches the pavement.

Automatic-Only, With the Manual Living On in RWD Form

The M xDrive version comes exclusively with the eight-speed M Steptronic automatic transmission, while the rear-wheel-drive M2 continues to offer the six-speed manual alongside its own automatic option. That split makes sense once you think about who buys which version: drivers chasing an all-season daily driver are typically looking for the automatic anyway, while the manual faithful stay with the car that's always paired the two.

A Genuinely Quicker Car, Not Just a More Capable One

BMW's own performance figures show the M xDrive model reaching 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, three-tenths quicker than the rear-wheel-drive automatic, with a one-foot rollout dropping that to 3.3 seconds. Top speed stays at 155 mph standard, or 177 mph with the optional M Driver's Package. That's a meaningful gain for a car that hasn't touched its horsepower number, and it comes almost entirely from getting all four tires working at launch.

The Active M Differential Keeps the Rear-Biased Character

Even with all-wheel drive on board, BMW built the M xDrive system to stay rear-biased under normal driving, only sending power forward when it's actually needed for grip. The Active M Differential adds configurable traction settings, including a 2WD mode with stability control fully deactivated for drivers who still want to explore the car's playful side on a track. It's a detail that matters to enthusiasts who worried AWD would dull the M2's personality.

The Trade-Off: More Weight, Same Everything Else

Adding the xDrive hardware brings a real weight penalty, pushing the car to nearly 3,990 pounds, a meaningful jump for a car this compact. Outside of the drivetrain and that added weight, BMW says the adaptive suspension, brakes, wheels, and interior equipment carry over unchanged from the rear-wheel-drive car, so shoppers aren't giving up any comfort or technology to get the extra traction.

Choosing Between RWD and M xDrive at Preston BMW

Since both versions share the same engine and most of the same equipment, the decision mostly comes down to how you actually plan to drive the car and whether the manual transmission matters to you. Our team at Preston BMW can get you behind the wheel of both configurations so you can feel the difference in traction and character for yourself before deciding which M2 belongs in your garage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the 2027 BMW M2