New BMW M2 Coming With All-Wheel Drive

The smallest BMW M model in the range offered by the German automaker, theBMW M2, might be on the receiving end of the all-wheel-drive treatment if recently discovered documents prove to be true.

There's been a hot debate about whether BMW, and its M division, isreally the enthusiast brand it once was. On the one hand, the new M4 CSL is remarkable and the 3.0 CSL is mega cool, but on the other, theXM SUV is the furthest thing from BMW's original ethosof driver-focused cars. Whichever side of the argument you rest on, though, almost everyone agrees that the BMW M2 is M at its finest.

Scheduled to be unveiled later this year, the new G87-generation M2 was previously confirmed as a rear-wheel drive coupe, still offering a six-speed manual gearbox, and thelast non-hybrid M car. AWD may be added to the options list, however.

This bold claim comes from theBimmerpostforum, where forum user Tag claims he discovered documents within BMW's technical information system pointing to AWD availability for the new M2.

The document he discovered is a service information manual breaking down the details of the M xDrive AWD system for BMW technicians. At the top of the document, it boldly proclaims that the information is for the M2, development code G87 - which is the new model.

Tag did his due diligence and also sourced the same document for the G82 BMW M4 Competition xDrive, noting that the two documents (see screenshots below) are identical aside from the vehicle description. This makes sense since both the M2 and M4 are based on BMW's CLAR architecture, utilize thesame S58 six-cylinder engine, and share much of their suspension componentry.