it looks like back in the day when the european cars had to retro fit these american bumpers to sell them in the usa. they pertrude so much and look weirdly proportioned.
This car being controversial just proves that People now hate any BMW no matter what and no matter how small it is what they don't like. XM i get, M4 and M3 large Grille i get (though people are used to it and with the M3 Wagon they now even say it looks good) Prost & Cheers from the Bavarian Alps (from an Audi Driver where every Grille is gigantic and was hated when they were new)
I think the biggest issue people had with it (myself included) is the out of place blocky rear bumper. The rest of the car isn’t too bad looking, but some of the styling cues don’t match the rest of the body. It’s grown on me a bit, but the rear bumper is just too out there
And excesive added weight( 3800 lbs ) basically heavier than a large audi A6 , 1.000 lbs heavier than a porsche cayman , 400 lbs heavier than previous generation M2 base , 400 lbs heavier than a focus RS. So heavy for a small coupe. Close to M5 weight .
Totally agree. The blocky styling *does* look bad on this car. Doug is wrong. 😂 It honestly looks like BMW took Polestar bumpers and glued them on. It just does not match anything.
BMW has had the inmates running the asylum over in the design department for some time now. It's astounding how they haven't made a tasteful looking car since the early 2000's
I’m also surprised Doug didn’t mention that it’s produced at BMW’s plant in Mexico. I’m surprised by this decision since all M cars have been made in Germany
Z3M, Z4M, and all M SUVs are not built in Germany. All current 2 Series and many current 330i’s are made in Mexico. As are the Audi Q5, Mustang Mach E, RAM and Silverado pickups, some VW models, and more to come in the future. Long before I owned my M2, I had a Jetta TDI built in Mexico. The parts that failed were built in Germany: the rest of the car held up great for 175K miles.
Weight this weight that. Its for safety standards and what does the weight matter if you cant even notice it? This car drives as well as any other tiny m if not the best. Lets all go back to wooden airplanes cause its the lighter option so that must mean they're better...
@j you've obviously never raced anything. Nothing kills fun more than extra weight. It's the worst thing to add to a sports car. Bar none. Because transient response. Stop reading the brochure and go to an Auto X. You'll be profoundly enlightened. Pun intended...
Seeing it in full detail now it’s kind of a breath of fresh air to me, yes the rear is blocky but looks nice tho, I recently lost my X5 so I’m hurt atm
@@plamenvasilev the car community just loves to hate until what they were hating on isn’t there anymore, then all of a sudden it was the best thing ever made and it should come back
The M2 is practically the ONLY BMW that seems to emulate the Ethos of what BMW meant back in the 80s. It is the spiritual successor of the first M3. They styling is fine, not great, but good enough from most angles. Also, you are absolutely right, those flared fenders make up for all the other styling blunders (read head and taillights) to the point that no one should care. If you want a great little modern BMW, this is the one to buy. Who knows how long it will be around as well? It shocks and impresses me that BMW still makes any car like this. With the "M" division now making EVs (and not great ones), the days are numbered for gems like the M2. Also, cool color!
@@rlsedition What a silly thing to say in what Alfa Giulia is better than the M3??The handling and driving pleasure they have at a very similar level, and in every other respect BMW is better.
@@smokwawelski7235 C'mon now. Some of these BMWs are impressive and others not so much. In general the engines perform better than promised, but the ride is a concern on 3 and 5 series Ms and the grilles appearance is dreadful on the M3/M4. Better than the competition? Depends on what you want/need.
@@antekqwe You must live under a rock. BMW steering has received "devoid of feel" complaints by every automotive journalist. Alfa steering is on an entirely different level, as in "great". And the 3 series styling is overdone, especially the M grilles, as many have stated. The Giulia, though several years old now, looks way better than any current 3 series. And that new digital dash looks entirely tacked on and eliminated all the knobs for control of such basics as HVAC and radio. Hasn't anyone at BMW ever driven their cars at speed and attempted to turn up the cabin heat without taking their eyes totally off the road ahead? I'll give BMW credit for powerful engines, but as a total package the Giulia excels. I used to be a BMW fanboy when the E36 M3 existed, but now the Giulia QV is the car BMW used to be - a true driver's machine.
BMW fan here, and this car looks absolutely horrible. I have no idea what Doug was smoking before this video. I honestly think this thing makes the m4 and m5 look good in comparison. It looks blocky, not fast or sleek like a sports car should. BMW's entire design department should have been fired a couple years ago. Its sad because other departments are delivering, the powertrains are great, the cars are handling monsters, they are giving customers what they want, funs cars with great handling, speed, keeping manuals and ability to throw it around... etc.Yet the design are so bad it hurts my soul.
I think BMW has peaked in terms of performance and refinement of their 6 cylinders. Next generations definitely gonna have some sort of EV attached to it. Also, I never heard anyone complain about the fenders, it was more so about the front and rear look. Especially the rear, those taillights look really dinky in my opinion.
God love them for making this...manual, RWD, not crazy expensive...awesome. If they didn't make it look like it was designed with a ruler, they'd sell them faster than they could make them.
Flare fenders are awesome. It's the front and back end. Just too boxy that contrasts with the rest of the curves. If it were all boxy or all curves it would work better, but as now it looks like the top half is one car and the bottom half is another.
Hey Doug! Love your reviews. Just wanted to point out at 10:20 the door panel lights actually flash red when the door is open to alert other cars coming from behind in traffic. So there is a bit of functionality built in!
After driving both the 230 and 240 models. I was excited for this little car. The new 2 series chassis is a lot of fun to drive. With or without the M badges. If someone wants and needs a fun car that can also be a GT. These new 2 series models will not disappoint. I personally think it's more power than it needs but whatever.
FYI the badge is the 50th anniversary emblem. 50th Jahre. And meant for only cars built in the year 2022 were able to get it, but seems maybe it’s still avail. Our two i4’s got them as they were both built in the year 2022, even though mine was 9/22 for build date so was 2023 model.
7:30 not exactly. Toss all of the screens and the body control modules, bring back port injection and better timing chain guides... what's that you say? just buy and older m3? will do 👍🏻
Your comment about the clutch hook is 100% accurate. My E46 M3 was the same way- easy to figure out but much different than every other manufacturer. Pretty heavy clutch too but I actually like that
I adore this car, I think it looks absolutely amazing. And you can not beat a 2 door, rwd, turbo 6 manual. If I had the funds to buy a luxury performance car this is what I would buy today.
I think this is really one of the last true enthusiast’s car. I really loved the old M2. I will concede that the new one looks a little off in proportions but I kinda like it. The grill is not so pretty I have no idea what was wrong with the old one, but anything is better than the M4 beaver tooth grill!
@CarlRencer "No we must play the victim and pretend that we are being persecuted by the dEeP StaTE, and, uh, Hillary Clinton's DNC hack! Crooked Hillary!"
Doug, the last thing I would expect anyone to complain about is the fender flares. Any car enthusiast loves that stuff. I have no idea what you talking about. Maybe the real problem is the front of the car. Previous M2 was a beauty all around.
I like it. I had a Triumph TR-6 car with an inline 6. It sounded great, wouldn't pass emissions, caused me untold pain and I loved it. This could be that. I agree with Doug. This is what we want.
This is SO far from your triumph. I'd say only similarities are two doors, straight six and rwd This probably weighs nearly 2x, and has been tuned to leave the driver disconnected from both steering and shifter 😢
I bought a 23 230i, basically to stay out of jail. The ZF automatic is a dream. Great freeway cruiser and a sled in the twisties. Never been happier with a purchase except for my 97 Defender.
Idk what the problem is, it's a cool squared off boxy sports coupe? I personally think it's looks great. It's got a bit of retro styling to it which is great considering we're in the egg era of cars. The rear vertical section is hilarious to me cause I drive a tC and it has those too lmao
Yeah, i dont love it, but it aint bad either. Old m2/m4/m6 used to be way more similiar only difference was the size. Now M2 is completily different to M4 or an M8 and it feels like a different aim. It just fills way more market nieches and that is something I can go ahead with.
@@Omgiamsotriggered tbf I'm not the biggest beamer fan but out of all of them as of right now, I'd definitely be happy with this iteration of the M2. Plus I also love niche cars.
Me and Doug were on the same page, we're car purists so we know what we were looking at when we first saw this car. At first I saw the E30 M3 reincarnation, now that he mentioned the dimensions, now I see a little E46 in there. Gotta see one in person now.
I like it. Never really hated it as such, but after seeing multiple reviews and actual photos, I can honestly say I think it's pretty cool. Definitely looks better than the "normal" 2-series.
Yeah, too many people are biased on how the cool looked versus it’s older companion. It looks great as a car, and I would appreciate it since brand new sports cars are getting rarer and rarer, as more SUV’s take over.
We all like those fenders, I like the boxy bumpers as well but the fascia of the car (front and rear) is just off. It doesn't remind me anything about BMW and the kidney grill looks like it was an afterthought.
Totally agree that BMW put all the right components into this G87; although, I went with the auto as it performs better than the manual. I sold my 2020 M2 Comp and purchasing a 2024 M2. Initially I didn't like the new G87 design either; however, it really grew on me, especially in the Brooklyn Grey with black wheels which I'm getting. BTW, my car has the standard BMW logo.
My only beef is that they should take the Audi TT route and remove that second screen completely on cars like these. You could implement everything on that one screen and then the center would nicer looking thing.
Anyone reading this just go to r44 performance page and look at their bagged m2 .. one of their latest vids. The color, the rims, and some other small changes completely transforms this car. With tasteful stuff done it truly looks amazing and like a mini muscle car
Doug this time you're wrong, stylish could be objective. Mercedes 300 sl 1957 is beautiful, Fiat Multipla is ugly. That's it. And no matter what siome people say but this car IS UGLY. Stop. Don't mean to be rude
I’m thankful that BMW got rid of that humongous grill, but I think that they look just a little bit better now with that small grill. The older BMW cars look amazing still.
I saw this car 🚙 recently and it looks really good in person 😊 the owner works at a dealership and modified it to the max lower it and a lot more it’s awesome 👏 and I don’t like bmw really I am an Audi fan 😊
Enthusiasts don't complain about the flared fenders. In fact M cars have always had bulgy fenders. They complain it now heavier than a Mustang or some mid-sized SUVs.
This m2 checks all my boxes. To me it lookis like an e30 m3 and an r34 had a baby. I love the body styling and the performance per dollar is excellent. I hope I can nab one someday
I wanted a new Dark Horse but after seeing the 2025 prices of the Mustangs I think the M2 is the better deal. Base model gets leather, way nicer interior, it’s faster, better mpg, bigger back seat and trunk.
Haven't heard nobody complain about the fenders, which I like very much. The complains I heard about the looks are mainly about the front, which is too squared and looks like a lego replica of a car. And, frankly, I agree. The package is superb, no doubt. But to be ready to spend at least 60k on a BMW coupé I want it to be breathtakingly beautiful, not "ok".
Maybe Doug is confused because I’ve never read or heard about the complaints on the wide fenders. Previous M2s all had wide fenders. I thought the majority hated the squared grills and the atrocious tail light design.
With the styling and pricing, it’s pretty clear they’re aiming for the top end muscle car market in the states. While I think it will sell pretty well everywhere, I don’t see it’s competition being the rs7 or something along the lines (seems this is the industry’s choice of comparison). It’s a luxury sports coupe as opposed to a luxury GT. My thoughts are it’s competing with the high end mustangs, Camaros, chargers etc… although I was in the market for a Nissan Z and ended up gravitating towards this because of the Z’ s supply issues and I’m not into the boy racer styling of the Supra. My thought was if I’m gonna buy a bmw it might as well be a bmw. I totally get the design and appreciate the break from looking like every other egg shaped car. To hell with the haters, this car is fantastic. Yes, I have become a bmw fanboy. Bmw can thank this car for it.
The infotainment screen reminds me of a Jeep Grand Cherokee's that I rented recently. Except, the Jeep's had a hot-button row along the bottom so you can always go to any mode at any time. I also think the Jeep had more choices for dash layout. The exterior styling of the M2 reminds me of a Ford rally car from the 1980's. The panels fit about as good as a rally car's also. E49s are pretty, this thing seems more cobbled together.
