Our final car at the Dubai Autodrome for xBhp Power Tour 2023 was the BMW M2. A mainstay in the BMW M stable, the M2 has always been known to be one of the most accessible and exciting M cars one can get their hands on. Moreover, its dynamic characteristics and impressive power delivery made it quite a fan-favourite in the drifting scene. But in the recent past, many BMW M cars have not been received so well and most of that hate has been unwarranted. It happened with the new M3 and M4 cars and it happened with the latest M2 as well. 

Regardless of that, we loved the 2023 BMW M2 that we got to drive. A lot of the hoopla was about the looks and we understand. It is very different from the previous M2. It is almost a radical departure. But that is not always a bad thing. We believe that the new BMW M2 looks just as good. It looks lithe, agile, and taut. More than that, it looks ready to go and sounds ready to go as well! Most importantly though, it serves a plethora of Sheer Driving Pleasure that BMW promises. 

This experience was a part of our time at Dubai Autodrome. Read about it here.

The new BMW M2 is powered by a twin-turbo 3-litre inline-6 that makes 453 horsepower and a whopping 550 Nm of torque. Now you know why, despite the polarizing looks, it is still loved in the drifting scene. It is vastly improved in all departments as well. The power delivery is better, the cabin is better, and the handling is better. We wish we could have driven the Competition trim but the base M2 is no slouch either. 

With a weighty steering that offers tons of feel, rear-wheel drive, and well-sorted chassis and suspension, the BMW M2 is a hoot to drive on the racetrack. Turbo-lag is almost non-existent and once the boost kicks in, it is quite a tail-happy little Beemer. But even then, everything is always under control thanks to the finely-tuned geometry. All in all, the M2 is quite an exhilarating car to drive, especially on a technical circuit like that of the Dubai Autodrome.