The BMW M2 is still being driven around as a petrol car. But a lot could have been different if the Germans had stuck to developing an electric car from 2018.
BMW was already working on electrifying its M division in 2018. A prototype based on the first generation of the M2 coupe is an example of this.
The BMW M2 prototype, known internally as "The Beast," was created by a small team of engineers. Their goal was to explore the potential of an electric M car.
Externally, the car resembles a standard M2, except for the missing tow hook hole, a rear spoiler and gold-colored brake calipers. The cabin has been modified with a roll cage, a racing seat and other test equipment.
BMW hasn't released details about the prototype's powertrain, but there's obviously no room for the original inline-six. It's speculated that the car will have four electric motors, as all future electric M cars will have this setup.
Engineers describe the prototype as difficult to control. M boss Frank Van Meel compares it to the F10 generation of the M5, which only had rear-wheel drive.
The large V8 engine made the car difficult to handle with rear-wheel drive, forcing BMW to introduce all-wheel drive in the subsequent generation.
– I still remember when I was told in an interview in January 2015 at the Detroit Motor Show that the next M5 generation would need all-wheel drive.
– And everyone said 'it's the end of the world', because if you put four-wheel drive on an M car, it only drives straight, there's no dynamics left, says Van Meel. .
Van Meel had to "live with the shitstorm" after that interview for three years before the first all-wheel drive M5 came to market. Today, he believes that people's opinion about all-wheel drive has changed. He would even go so far as to compare it to the transition to electric cars.
BMW is also launching a fully electric version of the even larger M3 in 2027. At least that's the plan.
Conversely, 2024 has also been the year when most major car brands have been busy washing their hands of the restrictions on only building electric cars. Chinese Volvo is one of the brands that has recently had to admit that you can't just build electric cars. Read more about it here .
