2023 BMW M2 will be the last M car without hybrid technology
Electrification is the future, with the boss of BMW M revealing the M2 will be the last model without it.
The 2023 BMW M2 is set to be unveiled in the coming months, but a senior executive has confirmed it will be the last vehicle developed by the M division without electrification.
Frank van Meel, CEO of BMW M, told German publication Bimmer Today (via Carscoops) every model following the M2 will have some kind of hybrid technology as part of their powertrains.
“The BMW M2 will definitely be a purist driving machine with its straight-six and rear-wheel drive,” van Meel said in the interview.
“We will see increasing electrification in other vehicles, of course in different forms, starting with the 48-volt electrical system and plug-in hybrids to fully-electric drives. From this point of view, the M2 will be the last M with a pure combustion engine drive and also without electrification scope such as a 48-volt on-board network, yes.”
The revelation makes the M2 the last of its era, and could help cement the model as a collectors’ item in the coming years.
It’s expected the widebody coupe will adopt a version of the 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine found in the M3 and M4, with rumours suggesting 339kW will be sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic.
The latest news may not be surprising to those paying attention, with the flagship BMW XM expected to debut with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 coupled with an electric motor – expr to be shared with the next-generation M5.
Stay tuned for the 2023 BMW M2’s debut in the second half of the year, as BMW M continues to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
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