It may be the height of pumpkin spice latte season, but it’s already time to start thinking about the hot new cars that will debut at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show in January.
According to Auto Express, the long-rumored BMW M2 could be among them. That would put it on track for a calendar-year 2016 launch, as previous reports have suggested.
The M2 is expected to feature a more powerful version of the M235i’s 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, producing as much as 380 horsepower.
BMW will have to be careful about the M2 stealing the M4’s thunder, so it will reportedly give the smaller coupe a more aggressive character.
Related: 2014 BMW M235i coupe review
The 2015 M4 (along with the M3 sedan) is highly competent, but also very civilized. BMW will reportedly let its hair down with the M2 to attract hardcore fans that think the bigger M cars are too plush.
That will also allow the M2 to pick up where the defunct 1 Series M Coupe left off. This limited-edition version of the 2 Series’ predecessor has already become a legend, thanks to its more old school driving experience.
Will the M2 live up to that reputation?
The current M235i is already winning praise from automotive journalists and BMW fans, so it’s a good starting point for a more hardcore M model.
We’ll have to wait and see, of course, but it looks like we won’t be waiting very long.
