The legacy of compact Bavarian coupés endowed with free-revving six-cylinder engines and their respective significance in terms of sheer driving pleasure for both racing legends around the world and, indeed, the average motorist won’t be soon forgotten. While BMW would have you believe that the new M2 coupé shares a spiritual connection with the famed 2002 Turbo, we’re inclined to also compare it with the mighty 3,0 CSL – a vehicle that is diminutive by today’s standards.
Of course, South African fans of the brand also have favourites like the 333i and 325is to compare any special new powerful compact coupé from BMW to.
The first enticing taste of a return to form of this type of product from BMW M came in 2011, in the form of the now highly collectable 1M, a vehicle lauded as much for its plucky, unapologetic stance as for its feisty nature.
Then came the first (F87) M2 that, together with its Competition and ultimately the CS derivative, harnessed all the goodness of the 2 Series platform of the time to create a package that through all three versions proved altogether more usable in everyday conditions, yet could still deliver seat-of-the-pants (new underwear, please) thrills once let loose.
Ahead of the arrival of the all-new
