BMW M2 Coupé launch
ISSUE 1,774 IT feels like it’s been significant year of transition for EVs, with gains in costs and range, albeit with a continued focus on SUVs. But while I still can, I nominate a good old-fashioned thrash in a six-cylinder sports car as my top moment of 2023.
Truth be told, the first day on the launch of the BMW M2 in Arizona wasn’t stellar; we’d been forced to drive the (decidedly average) XM, and when the time did come to get behind the wheel of the baby coupé, I found the manual gearbox a little clunky. Would there be the faintest chance of snatching an auto for half an hour the following morning, I asked?
The answer was yes, so I made for one of the country roads not far from the launch HQ. The road was sweeping, fast and with plenty of blind crests and camber changes – a proper test.
With the slick auto at its heart, the M2 was mighty; the straight-six engine sounded fantastic, the car’s ability to change direction at speed and hang on through corners was exceptional. I was fizzing by the end of it – a little out of breath, but exhilarated. Isn’t that what a sports car should do?
China’s growing car industry
MOTOR shows are struggling to make a comeback in Europe – this year’s Munich expo was basically German and Chinese brands, plus Renault – but in the far east, and China in particular, they’re still big news. My trip to the Shanghai Motor Show in April was truly eye-opening, and a clearer indication of the future direction of the
