20-03-2025
Could the BMW M2 Offer All-Wheel Drive in 2026? A New Report Says Yes
The could offer a new all-wheel-drive model, according to a report from .
The M2 xDrive would come exclusively with the eight-speed automatic gearbox and could become the quickest M2 yet.
Production of the M2 xDrive is expected to start in late 2026, and the rear-wheel-drive, manual-transmission M2 will reportedly stick around.
The BMW M2's muscular bodywork cloaks a brawny twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six sending 473 horsepower through an available six-speed manual to the rear wheels, making it among the most engaging sports cars left for under $100K. But BMW is reportedly preparing to switch up one of the key aspects of that formula, with a report from BMWBlog claiming that the German automaker is developing an all-wheel-drive version of the M2.
According to BMWBlog's sources, production of the M2 xDrive will kick off in August of 2026 and, interestingly, the rumor suggests that the all-wheel-drive model will not carry the Competition badge, which adorns many of BMW's more potent all-wheel-drive M cars. The xDrive should look similar if not identical to the existing M2, save for an xDrive emblem on the trunk lid. The xDrive is expected to be offered exclusively with the eight-speed automatic gearbox.
There aren't many other details, but we can make some educated guesses about how an M2 xDrive might perform. Sending power to all four wheels requires some extra hardware which should result in a weight penalty of at least 100 pounds Based on the last M2 we tested, that could push it to around 3900 pounds. But the extra traction from another pair of driven wheels should help the M2 xDrive overcome that weight gain to become the quickest M2 yet. When we tested a rear-drive M2 with the automatic, it hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, so an all-wheel-drive version should be even quicker.
The addition of all-wheel drive could also come with a power increase. The upcoming M2 CS is expected to have at least 500 horsepower, so it wouldn't be totally surprising to see those extra ponies migrate to the xDrive model. However, BMWBlog claims it won't get the Competition treatment, so a power boost isn't certain.
If you're a purist and prefer to row your own gears, however, don't fret. BMWBlog claims that the arrival of the M2 xDrive will not come at the expense of the rear-wheel-drive, manual-transmission M2. We reached out to BMW for comment and a spokesperson said the company will not comment on speculation regarding future models. More details about the all-wheel-drive M2 should emerge over the next year.
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