Quote:
Originally Posted by riM3
Not disagreeing that there’s demand for a light, fast coupe from BMW. Just that the M235i, not the M2, is that offering.
To your points, the 1M (at $60k) wasn’t particularly light. While it was at its lightest (and one of the lightest in the line-up) when ordered without options, that will also be true if you choose to dispense with most of the options on an M135i or M235i. Given that the 1M didn’t have a carbon fiber roof at ~$60k; for the $50-55k you suggested the M2 will run, I’m not sure we’re going to see the extensive use of CFRP, plain carbon fiber, or even aluminum needed to materially reduce its weight vs. a stripped M235i.
Of course, for an M2, they could add more power…but not too much. After all, they’re already offering best-in-class performance and they wouldn’t want to cannibalize M3/4 sales.
At the end of the day, for the car to really be great it really needs M-diff, a bit more power/better cooling and perhaps some minor tweaks to what is already a great semi-M suspension. I’m not sure they need to slap a M-badge on the M235i to do that (or even need to in the first place).
I could be wrong, of course. They did make both an M550D and an M5 (though they are v different animals at ~40% difference in price).
Fingers crossed.
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Totally agree with you on the weight--these cars are all going to be "relatively" heavy in the 3300 lb range at lease. No Exige/Boxter weights here.
What I meant by the "simplicity" of the 1M was also apparent in the Z4MC--yes, there was some luxury in both, but no self-deploying rear shade for the kids in the back, ala the M3 (more GT and luxury these days than purpose built and raw).
Hopefully the M2 will be along those lines...