The G87 M2 is finally here – and what a car it promises to be. While there’s no doubt the powerful 458-horsepower S58 engine beneath the hood and massive 285mm rear tires will provide miles of smiles, enthusiasts can’t help but be worried. Why? Weight.
For reference, the last generation M2 and M4 Coupe advertised similar curb poundage. The M4 Competition lugged around just 3565 pounds when equipped a manual transmission, and the row-your-own M2 weighed 3450 pounds. That’s only a delta of 115 pounds – not a lot. Generous, too – because depending on which model year, you might get a different number if you ask BMW. Some sources indicate as little as 25 pounds of weight separating the M2 Competition and 2019 M4 Competition Coupe.
That said, there’s a little more to the story. The M4 Coupe, for example, had optional carbon-ceramic brakes that saved around 40 pounds. Those were never available on (most) M2s. Lighter, optional CS-spec wheels, too. Not to mention it got the lightweight driveshaft that the M2 Competition never received. A carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof remained exclusive – and standard – on the M4, as well.
Now we’re going to look at where the all-new G87 M2 sits in relation to the current G82 M4. Unlike the F8X generation, the playing field has been leveled a bit. The G87 experiences almost none of the de-contenting that its predecessor did – and the M4 loses some of its tricks, like that drive shaft.
So, let’s kick it off with the G82. BMW says that the new M4 – in manual guise – weighs a not-insignificant 3830 pounds. I imagine that number can grow depending on the wheels. The standard 18 and 19-inch setup likely keeps weight three or four pounds lower per wheel than the optional 19/20-inchers that most people tend to option. But carbon-ceramic brakes would offset that and then some – as mentioned, they’ve historically shaved about 40 pounds off.
So, let’s call it a net loss of 30 pounds with carbon ceramics and the mandatory bigger wheels. Optional carbon bucket seats save the G82 another quoted…
