We’re just hours away from the start of the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK, and there BMW will be hosting the official unveil of this rather naughty looking M2. They’ve even took to calling it a ‘Concept’. We’re not sure why either.
It’s full moniker is the BMW M2 M Performance Parts Concept, which just rolls off the tongue. As you’d imagine, it’s a canvas onto which the Munich automaker can fit every official M Performance Part accessory in their catalogue as well as teasing future additions. And by the looks of it, every new component swapped out from the standard M2 will be finished in exposed, clear-coated, glossy carbon fibre.
While the aesthetic merits of that are rightfully debated, the overall effect of this unrestricted tarting up of the baby M car has yielded quite an appealing object that oozes athleticism. It surely is lighter and therefore tauter - among other attributes - over the base M2, but subjectively does a bang up job of emulating an M4 GTS without taking things too far.
The entire body is done in a shade called Frozen Black but selected areas have been accented in a gold wrap. Elsewhere, the standard bonnet has been replaced by one fashioned from carbon fibre (or CFRP - Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer - as BMW is fond of calling it), replete with centre bulge for extra menace.
Elsewhere, CFRP is also used to construct a new roof and boot lid with integrated spoiler to further reduce weight and increase bragging rights.…and downforce. In fact, BMW say that these changes amount to a 60kg weight reduction and a more optimised aerodynamic profile.
Then there’s the matter of those 19-inch M Performance Y-spoke 763M wheels, which in this subtle Frozen Gold hue looks absolutely brilliant. They too reduce (unsprung) weight and, for good measure, are wrapped around a Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 semi-slick tyres.
As expected, BMW’s more aggressive interior treatments involve increasing amounts of Alcantara - here it covers almost all visible touch points. Just as well, it’s seats are now carbon buckets lined with the same material but accented with the same gold flourishes.
There are no changes to the M2’s powertrain to speak of yet, leading us to believe that we’re dealing with the older 3.0-litre N55 turbocharged straight-6 instead of the more potent M3-derived S55 bi-turbo used in the M2 Competition.
Aside from the apparent lack of a top shelf engine, which would have made for a better spectacle at Goodwood, BMW has equipped this concept with the firmer M Performance suspension for extra handling chops and a 20mm reduction in ride height. Still, it should be good fun to watch this tackle the hillclimb (assuming it does).
At this rate, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is shaping up to really give the glitzier (indoor) events along the automotive calendar a real run for its money, especially since its more informal, less sterile al fresco environment is far more conducive to attendee engagement, especially since the highlight is a hill climb event that requires cars to be showcased on the move as opposed to a rotating carousel.
For more on BMW cars, check out our Showroom.
