Unless you own a magical crystal ball, it is very difficult to predict the future. However, we have an excellent idea of what is to come for the BMW M lineup in the near future. In a recent interview, the CEO of the BMW Motorsport division said the « 2023 M2 could potentially be BMW's last gas-powered m-car .» What does this mean exactly? Well, I'll tell you what it doesn't mean first. The next BMW M car won't be fully electrified. And even if this could happen one day, it won't happen before at least ten years from now.
When the German manufacturer says its m-car will be electrified, it just means it will be powered by some form of electricity. This can range anywhere from a mild-hybrid system to an entire EV set-up with anything between the two, like a regular hybrid system or even a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle powertrain. You just need to look at the competition to understand this makes a lot of sense.
2023 BMW M2
The 2023 BMW M2 is a very awaited car since the previous generation was a success in every possible single thing. It was light, a lot of fun to drive, and quite fast. So, we expect nothing less for the new BMW M2. And now, knowing the fact it will probably be BMW's last gas-powered m-car, it's making it even more special.
We don't have much information about the 2023 BMW M2, but the car is expected to be the most powerful and faster M2 ever. Also, you can surely expect the BMW Motorsport division to launch a plethora of special editions and more powerful models, such as an M Competition version. There is plenty of other variants we could see with the last gas-powered m-car, like a CS or a GTS version. All that to say that the M2 will be one of the best BMW M-car ever built, if not the best. Of course, the next one after the new M2 will be electrified, but we don't need to talk about it now.
Hybrid First
There are a lot of rumors and speculation out on the internet about BMW M's future, but some test mules have already been spotted with what looks like a hybrid badging. So, it is where we think the BMW M division is oriented for its next phase, and this makes a lot of sense.
In my opinion, the market isn't ready for a fully electrified BMW lineup, especially when it comes to the M division, where the whole point is driving and making noise. However, a hybrid powertrain allows a car to still make noise while reducing its footprint. Also, even the smallest electric motor can add a lot of power to a vehicle. I won't lie; for the price, you can't really beat an electric engine in terms of acceleration.
If you look at the competition, Mercedes-Benz's next-generation vehicles will pretty much be composed of hybrid and PHEV powertrains, even the performance models. The BMW i8, which recently got out of production, is a PHEV performance vehicle. Even if its technical sheet is not that impressive on paper, it is a fantastic car to drive. Yes, it would have been better with a V8 or a V10, but BMW proved to be very successful with an exotic vehicle only powered by a 3-cylinder turbocharged engine and a couple of electric motors. If this is what the future is going to look like, I'm totally in.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
