A lot people are these days singing praises about the M235i, the replacement for the 1-Series Coupe powered by the big, turbocharged six-cylinder engine. Some extremists even go so far as saying it is better than the M4, because it’s closer in character to the E30 M3, the mother of all BMW sports saloons. These guys are going have a heart attack when they see BMW’s next hot 2er.

The German automaker has reportedly green lighted the M2 projects as a sort of small volume pocket rocket to replace the brilliant 1 Series M Coupe with. Reports from Munich suggest the design of the car has been frozen and the performance specs decided. BMW M2 is on track for a 2016 launch.

The M2 will be powered by the same 3.0 liter straight-six turbo as the M235i, but it will get a serious boost up to 400 horsepower. Power would still go to the rear wheels via either a six-speed manual, or an 8-speed auto. The diff will be an electronic limited-slip affair.

That is the perfect recipe for a compact sports car. Needless to say, the chassis, suspension, brakes, and electronics will get beefed-up accordingly to cope with the extra power.

Styling-wise, BMW M2 will of course be based on the 2-Series Coupe, but it will be distinguished thanks to a sporty body kit inspired by that of the M235i Racing. It’ll feature buffed-up fenders, plus M bumpers, skirts, and spoilers. Inside you get bucket seats, an M steering wheel, carbon fiber, maybe some Alcantara even.

Via LeftLaneNews