The BMW M2 Competition has keyless go and, when the start button is pushed, barks to life, causing birds from the nearby trees to fly off rather dramatically. The 3.0-litre six makes 410 PS and 550 Nm, the latter of which comes in from 2,300 revs. The red-line? Not until 7,600! Get going and the steering feels a little heavier but weighs up nicely. A few minutes in, I begin to realize just how good the feedback is. Yes, the suspension set-up has been extensively reworked but it’s quite stiff, though the damping characteristics are excellent: a lot more is heard than felt. That said, the steering feel is spot-on and the kind that will make you work for fun and be aptly rewarded. First, though, it had to deal with the city outskirts and that meant almost no roads. Comfort mode for the wheel makes it significantly more appreciable. Unaffected, the M2 proceeded to attack the twisties.
Sport mode set, gear level two, and auto shifts. Turn off the big nanny and tail kicks out easily to induce power-slides. Even when on, the rear wiggles under acceleration before the tyres hook it into the tarmac and it flows from corner to corner, true to its line. It feels exciting and, for a novice with a heavy foot at the wheel, can be rather unpredictable. It demands respect and could easily spear off in a direction you didn’t know was possible if you’re not careful enough. Feeding the power progressively and mastering throttle control is a very, very rewarding feeling. Ultimately, it shows that it can be all fun and games and that it loves to play.
In a straight line, the BMW M2 Competition rocketed from standstill to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and hit the quarter-mile in less than 12 seconds! That may not seem like much in the face of supercars today, but the way it goes about piling on the revs and speed is sensational. The climb from 40 to 80 km/h is similar to that from 120 to 160 km/h. It’s simply a constant, unrelenting surge that keeps on going and feels like it’s never going to end. BMW claim a top speed of 250 km/h (and 4.2 seconds to 100) and I cannot see any point to dispute. With a passenger beside me and some baggage on a hot day, to be half a second off the claimed time makes me wonder if it’s actually quicker. On the other side of the coin, it’s not exactly frugal, but the fun versus km/litre is a lot more than eight overall. Also, at Rs 81.80 lakh (ex-showroom), it’s a lot of performance, premium quality, and quite a bit of car for the money.
What BMW have done is somewhat similar to what the pharmaceutical companies have managed: packing all vital nutrients in something as small as a capsule. Everything you need ― style, practicality, ride quality, driving pleasure, appeal, technology, connectivity, sound, power, torque, fun, naughtiness with a touch of drama and crazy ― is all in one tiny little package. It’s not meant to be a big old grand tourer with 800 horsepower and a million-Euro price tag. It’s got half that horsepower, costs a tenth as much and, dare I say, is just as fun! No downsizing there.
Need to Know – BMW M2 Competition
Price: Rs 81.80 lakh (ex-showroom)
Engine: 2,979 cc, in-line six, twin-turbo petrol, direct injection
Max Power: 410 PS @ 5,230-7,000 rpm
Max Torque: 550 Nm @ 2,350-5,230 rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic, rear-wheel drive
Suspension: Double-joint strut front, five-link rear
Weight: 1,575 kg
