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Chris Harris of Top Gear takes the new BMW M2 to the test and has rather nice things to say. The M2 is built on the current BMW 2 Series chassis. It is the smallest and cheapest M car that can be bought in the market. Power wise, the M2 has a 3.0 liter inline-six engine that has been modified from an old BMW engine. Unlike the M3, this engine is only turbocharged, not twin-turbocharged. The suspension is from the BMW M4 and the M Differential is very clever. Nope, it doesn’t come with fancy adjustable shocks, carbon ceramic brakes or carbon fiber roof. It’s old school, Top Gear says. And that makes it fun.
Harris uses Top Gear’s patented fun-o-meter to score the car in this review. He wears a makeshift sensory helmet and jumps in an Audi RS3 which is technically better on paper. Faster, more seats, firmer grip and more capability, the Audi RS3 is expected to be better. However, Harris says that cars are not driven on paper. He drives it around Top Gear’s test track and gives it a grade of 76 on the fun-o-meter.
Harris then moves to the M2 and drives it the same way as the Audi. Overall, it drives very well. The steering is spectacular and it gives of a great noise when driven in corners. The cloud of smoke and the big smile on his face was a good sign. The BMW M2 lets the Audi eat its dust by scoring a 514 on the fun-o-meter.
Yes, the fun-o-meter test can be quite silly but it does highlight what Audi lacked that let the BMW win. The Audi RS3 understeered and used its Quattro all-wheel drive grip and clever brain to cling on. However, the BMW M2 relied more on the skills of the driver because it is made as a driver’s car. With the way it performed on this test, Harris says that the M2 is but an M3 from the ’90s.
