Car and Driver: Many Dynamisms: This Mega-Hot BMW M2 Is Stuffed with New Performance Parts

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We’re fans of the BMW M2 for many reasons, not the least of which are its bad-ass looks and near-holistic tactile feel that made the original BMW “M” models so special back in the day. Still, there will always be those owners who yearn to add a personal touch to their car, either by amping up the visuals or by adding more performance. For them, BMW’s M Performance Parts has just unveiled a collection of factory-developed accessories and upgrades designed specifically for Munich’s mini monster.

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The list includes aerodynamic bits such as new side sills, a rear diffuser, and mirror caps made from carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. While we can’t verify BMW’s claims that the pieces optimize the aero, we can say the items look especially spectacular on the Geneva show car, with its Alpine White paint and M Motorsports graphics. More pizazz can be ordered up via a gloss-black M Performance grille.

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A coil-over suspension lowers the car by just over three-quarters of an inch, and offers a firmer state of tune than stock; the dampers also feature a total of 16 rebound and 12 compression settings. The brake system gets some love via more aggressive M Performance brake pads, which BMW says utilize a compound derived from endurance-racing setups.

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We’re also intrigued by the active M Performance exhaust, which can be controlled via a Bluetooth connection to allow owners to select Sport or Track mode. (You may recall we covered a similar customizable system from Roush a little while back.) A muffler with an embossed logo and 3.1-inch tailpipes are part of the deal, although oversize, 3.7-inch carbon-fiber finishers can also be specified.

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The M2 cabin can be outfitted with LED door-sill strips, which should impress folks who like things that light up, and grippier floor mats so your feet don’t go slip-sliding all over the place. Stainless-steel pedal covers feature raised rubber studs on the brake and clutch pedals for additional control during aggressive driving.

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• Official Photos and Info: 2016 BMW M2-
• Instrumented Test: 2016 BMW M2-
• BMW 2-Series Research: Pricing, Photos, Specs and More!-

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There also are two available steering wheels: The Pro and the M Performance. The former features a chunky shape and firmer foam padding; the latter has carbon trim and incorporates a functional display. The display is operated via buttons on the thumb rest, and shows data such as sector and lap times and longitudinal and lateral acceleration numbers. It also has LED lights on each side that converge as rpm rise to indicate shift points. Finally, BMW will offer a carbon-fiber trim kit to make the inside look as racy as the outside. It all imparts an even more purposeful vibe to the M2, and we dig that fact that nearly all of the items offer actual enhancement. Hopefully we get a chance to test an M2 with this stuff bolted to it, and soon.

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