[BMW269]

Originally Posted by jackmcclane

They M2 will be the new M3 and there's only one generation left before you can forget it forever when it becomes FWD. So make that last one right and put a damn S55 with 360 PS in it. A 4cyl. just would be a punch in the face of all the true BMW fans out there who are willing to buy one of these, a N58 would be acceptable but with lack of manners you would expect from a last true M. (M2 and M2GC)

I don't know about GC based on now current 2 Series, but be sure to find an I4 in the M2. This time BMW has time to develop it, so it will be a full M car with different purpose than the M4 with its I6. Only thing you can hope is that the M235i will get the new N58 I6, and not get an I4 too. Why an I4 by M? Because BMW Motorsport engines are based on BMW AG/BMW M engines (i.e. S54>P54, S65>P65,...). The BMW 320 TC (E90) uses the 1.6l I4 based on the MINI Cooper S JCW engine, N18, the race engine is the "same" as the MINI Countryman Cooper S WRC race car. What happened with the M3 DTM? There will come the new regulation and together the new M4 DTM powered this time by a new I4, as those are the new regulations set for 2015. This race engine is based on BMW's future I4. The Lexus RC-F, getting a NA V8 will also get according to the new Japanese regulations, only a 2.0l I4 Turbo in the Lexus RC-F GT500, DTM and GT500 regulations being very close, Lexus is could enter the DTM and compete against BMW, Mercedes and Audi. Remember the M3 E30 DTM with its I4.

Same story as M4 with I6 or V6, BMW finally decided to go I6 to power the M3, M4, X3 M and X4 M, not sure about Z3/Z3 M, the V6 will find its way in another car.
So here again M2 with I4 or I6, count on it being an I4, of course anything can change like it happened with the V6.

M2 with Race I4!

[jackmcclane]

Originally Posted by Levi

I don't know about GC based on now current 2 Series, but be sure to find an I4 in the M2. This time BMW has time to develop it, so it will be a full M car with different purpose than the M4 with its I6. Only thing you can hope is that the M235i will get the new N58 I6, and not get an I4 too. Why an I4 by M? Because BMW Motorsport engines are based on BMW AG/BMW M engines (i.e. S54>P54, S65>P65,...). The BMW 320 TC (E90) uses the 1.6l I4 based on the MINI Cooper S JCW engine, N18, the race engine is the "same" as the MINI Countryman Cooper S WRC race car. What happened with the M3 DTM? There will come the new regulation and together the new M4 DTM powered this time by a new I4, as those are the new regulations set for 2015. This race engine is based on BMW's future I4. The Lexus RC-F, getting a NA V8 will also get according to the new Japanese regulations, only a 2.0l I4 Turbo in the Lexus RC-F GT500, DTM and GT500 regulations being very close, Lexus is could enter the DTM and compete against BMW, Mercedes and Audi. Remember the M3 E30 DTM with its I4.

Same story as M4 with I6 or V6, BMW finally decided to go I6 to power the M3, M4, X3 M and X4 M, not sure about Z3/Z3 M, the V6 will find its way in another car.
So here again M2 with I4 or I6, count on it being an I4, of course anything can change like it happened with the V6.

M2 with Race I4!

Really? A I4 for DTM 2015? ...that's some interessting fact when you look at the normal M cars but I still have hope for a I6 in the M2. A M2 Gran Coupé with a I6 would be MY perfect car... there's no alternative coming up, the next generation cars are getting worse, only downsizing and online connectivity counts and you get that if you want or not, oh and of course FWD in the next smaller BMWs. The competitors are not worth to mention in my eyes -if your priorities are different than mine, maybe you are going to see that otherwise.

M2 with M worth I6! No I6, no M2.

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by jackmcclane

Really? A I4 for DTM 2015? ...that's some interessting fact when you look at the normal M cars but I still have hope for a I6 in the M2. A M2 Gran Coupé with a I6 would be MY perfect car... there's no alternative coming up, the next generation cars are getting worse, only downsizing and online connectivity counts and you get that if you want or not, oh and of course FWD in the next smaller BMWs. The competitors are not worth to mention in my eyes -if your priorities are different than mine, maybe you are going to see that otherwise.

M2 with M worth I6! No I6, no M2.

Why wait any longer, there is the M3 with I6 in a few months.

[BimmerMat135]

Originally Posted by Levi

Why wait any longer, there is the M3 with I6 in a few months.

Every body tell me the same problem with that is that they make it pretty expensive to get a 6cyl m car especially when a much cheaper m235i also has a 3.0 6cyl.
Plus not every body want a bigger coupe and the f22 look nicer than the f32. BMW always been known for their straight 6cyl why we can't have it on a top end 2 series? Knowing what BMW did in the last few year I'm sure that even with a s20 the car will be less than 150lbs lighter than the m235i.

[jackmcclane]

Originally Posted by BimmerMat135

Every body tell me the same problem with that is that they make it pretty expensive to get a 6cyl m car especially when a much cheaper m235i also has a 3.0 6cyl.
Plus not every body want a bigger coupe and the f22 look nicer than the f32. BMW always been known for their straight 6cyl why we can't have it on a top end 2 series? Knowing what BMW did in the last few year I'm sure that even with a s20 the car will be less than 150lbs lighter than the m235i.

+1

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by BimmerMat135

BMW always been known for their straight 6cyl why we can't have it on a top end 2 series?

BMW is certainly known for their I6 engines, but to say they've "always" been known for the I6 is a bit of a misstatement of the facts. BMW made a number of very successful I4 engines prior to the move to I6, which was necessitated by the gradual increase in weight we've seen in every production vehicle.

[Ramos]

Unfortunately I am now convinced that this is a done deal with an upcoming I4

Why? Three letters mentioned by Scott 26 .. X1M

Makes perfect sense that they want to use this motor for a couple different applications.

As for me, I will be happy with my 6 cylinder M235 with m performance LSD

I remain skeptical but open to be wowed by this 4 pot if they deliver something out of this world to justify going against the wishes of 84% of potential buyers.

[Jonjt]

Originally Posted by Ramos

Unfortunately I am now convinced that this is a done deal with an upcoming I4

Why? Three letters mentioned by Scott 26 .. X1M

Makes perfect sense that they want to use this motor for a couple different applications.

As for me, I will be happy with my 6 cylinder M235 with m performance LSD

I remain skeptical but open to be wowed by this 4 pot if they deliver something out of this world to justify going against the wishes of 84% of potential buyers.

But at the same time, all the other 2 series cars will have I6 engines.

Past standards with the e30 M3 are moot IMO, because that car was a homologated race vehicle. The M2 isn't.

I see what you are saying but, I remain skeptical.

[scrammer]

Note that our friends at MB have already started the I4 journey with the CLA 45 AMG!

From a displacement of just 2 liters, the new AMG 2.0 liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine generates 265 kW (360 hp), which represents a benchmark output of 133 kW (181 hp) per liter of engine displacement. It delivers 450 Nm of torque.

Further to the DTM discussion above by Levi we must remember why the current E9x M3 uses a 90-degree, four-litre V8 ... DTM!

The DTM is set to ditch V8 engines in favour of two-litre turbos within three seasons as part its drive to become a global formula.

The series has set a target of 2016 to go down the same route as Super GT in Japan, which next year will adopt small-capacity, direct-injection four-cylinder turbos for its GT500 class.

The revelation of the plans comes in the wake of rules accord signed with the Super GT organiser last October, under which the Japanese series is embracing the philosophy of the DTM regulations, and the firming up in March of plans for DTM America with a start date set for either 2015 or '16.

Hans-Werner Aufrecht, chairman of the DTM-organising ITR, told AUTOSPORT: "We want two-litre turbos in Europe and America, no question. We want the same regulations everywhere.

"The important point that all the manufacturers have accepted is cost reduction. This will allow them to run around the world with the same car and engine."

Aufrecht explained that the move away from V8s was also designed to mirror the downsizing of engines in the manufacturers' ranges of road cars.

The revelation will mean an end for the current breed of 90-degree, four-litre V8s, which date back to the rebirth of the series in 2000.

[ticamihai2003]

NA engine or turbocharged, I would like it to be 2 litre 4 cylinder. Makes the M2 a bit more special than the rest of BMW lineup.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by ticamihai2003

NA engine or turbocharged, I would like it to be 2 litre 4 cylinder. Makes the M2 a bit more special than the rest of BMW lineup.

Maybe I'm missing your point, but since you can get every BMW with the 2.0L N20 except the i3, i8, 6er, 7er and X5/X6 and also the new Mini, a 2.0L four isn't exactly unique. Historically speaking, a 2.3L or 2.5L four would be great as it would tie into the E30 M3.

[ticamihai2003]

I was referring to an M car so 2 litre 4 cylinder would be a very different engine compared to n20 or b48 . I am only a Mini owner but after they put the 2 liter B48 in the new F56 cooper s and future JCW rather then the b38 1.5l 3 cylinder engine like the one in the i8 ,for me it became a deal breaker and this is why I am hoping the future M2 will get the engine it deserves . I know that classic m cars that had a 4 cylinder were 2.3 or 2.5 but nowadays the 4 cylinder benchmark should not be bigger in capacity than 2 liters.

Think of the Alfa Romeo 4c: it's a very good car but wouldn't have been so, even with the way it looks and all the carbon fiber construction unless it had the 4 cylinder engine. And that is only 1.8 liter. They say Alfa will upgrade the 4c every year, something like they do with the Nissan GTR. If that's the case in a couple of years the 4c will go past 300 hp for sure. With the car being under 1000kg, the 4c will become one of the best cars in the world( many reviews give the 4c less points because of the current engine) so what I'm saying is that 4 cylinder and a maximum of 2 liters is the way to go for "baby" sports cars and believe it or not "exclusive" sports cars like the i8.

This may well be an European thing but US customers should understand that BMW would not put an engine in any of their M cars unless it was a great engine and I am sure that if BMW makes a 2 liter 4 cylinder engine for the m2 , it will be a great one, exclusive and unique