The numbers
The 2027 BMW M2 with M xDrive keeps the S58 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline-six at 473 hp and 443 lb-ft (480 hp in European spec, where M Ignite pre-chamber combustion is enabled). The difference is where the power goes.
- 0-60 mph: 3.6 seconds (3.3 with one-foot rollout), 0.3 seconds faster than the rear-drive automatic
- Curb weight: 3,988 lbs, roughly 185 lbs heavier than the RWD car
- Top speed: 155 mph, or 177 mph with the M Driver's Package
- Transmission: 8-speed M Steptronic only. No manual option with xDrive.
- Base price: $73,600 plus $1,350 destination
How xDrive works here
The system uses an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch in the transfer case. Default behavior is rear-biased, sending torque forward only when the rears lose traction. With DSC fully off, a dedicated 2WD mode locks out the front axle entirely for rear-drive-only track use.
That 2WD mode is the detail that matters most. BMW is positioning this as the all-season M2, not a replacement for the rear-drive car. The standard M2 with a six-speed manual remains in the lineup at $66,300.
What's new beyond the drivetrain
The M2 xDrive also debuts a handful of updates that will likely roll across the M2 range:
- Revised M Sport seats with improved lateral support
- Updated iDrive with improved M Laptimer integration
- New exterior colour options, including a Fire Red metallic
Production starts in August 2026 at BMW's San Luis Potosi plant in Mexico, with US deliveries in late summer.
Our take
The M2 xDrive exists for the buyer who wants M2 character without the tire bill and the sideways moments in November. It's 185 lbs heavier and automatic-only, which means the driver who bought the M2 specifically because it was small, light, and came with a stick shift can safely ignore it.
The real question is what this means for the M2 CS. If BMW fits xDrive to the CS when it arrives, the manual M2 becomes the only rear-drive, three-pedal car in the M lineup. That would make it more special, not less.