No one can have failed to notice that all cars are getting bigger and heavier these days. This is obviously good from a safety point of view. But the sporty and fun aspects are somewhat lost as the size and weight increase. When BMW released its CSL version of the BMW M3 (E46) in 2003, 12 years ago now in 2025, I borrowed the press car that BMW Sweden had then. What BMW had done with the CSL version of the M3 was really something special. The M3 CSL came three years after the BMW M3 (E46) was launched. It was light and really stiff in the coat. The M3 CSL was the first BMW M3 to go round the North Loop of the Nürburgring in under 8 minutes. With Horst von Saurma behind the wheel, he did it in 7 minutes and 50 seconds. The pictures below are from the photo shoot for Slitz magazine which was the reason I borrowed the car. I was working on the magazine with the rock musician Martin Westerstrand, who was their motoring editor.

I really remember the BMW M3 CSL and how fun it was. Martin sitting almost naked next to the M3 CSL in the picture below is to symbolise what we felt compared to a regular BMW M3. The M3 CSL had no back seat, it had other seats that had no adjustability. It had no stereo and little else to save weight. To show that, Martin thought it was a good idea that he should sit basically naked next to the BMW M3 CSL. Whether people then understood it, I leave unsaid. But it was a fun picture in any case.

New BMW M2 (G87), or yes, I'm not so early on it, so it's actually not so new anymore. The BMW M2 (G87) was already shown in October 2022 at the Motorclassica show in Melbourne, Australia. Then the model was launched globally in April 2023. It really feels like going back in time in a positive way. Compared to the other BMW M models, the BMW M2 (G87) feels small and tight. Moreover, it is in coupé format, just like the BMW M3 (E46). The BMW M2 (G87) has six cylinders in a row, rear-wheel drive and you can get the new BMW M2 with a 6-speed manual transmission. A recipe that BMW has had on its M models since 1979. I personally prefer automatic transmissions, but of course I understand those who prefer a manual transmission.

Even the interior of the BMW M2 compressed, certainly not simple or cramped in any way. But if you are up to 2 metres tall, you should perhaps not choose to sit in the back. But otherwise, you quickly find a driving and sitting position that suits you perfectly. You have a large, wide screen in front of the steering wheel where the instrumentation is located, and alongside it the screen continues in a curved shape where the car's navigation and infotainment systems are housed. That screen is 14.9 inches and pressure-sensitive. On the screen in the centre, many of the car's settings can be adjusted such as AC and more. Luckily, BMW has placed an M1 and M2 buttons on the steering wheel to quickly access the car's driving mode settings. 

As you who have followed me for a while here on carscollection.com know, I really love the material carbon fibre, and BMW has spared no expense in the BMW M2 interior. The steering wheel, gear paddles, dashboard below the wide screen and the centre console where the gear selector is located are all made of highly polished carbon fibre.

Of course I took a ride on the Bogesund road with the BMW M2. This car fits like a glove on the Bogesund road. It really feels like you have full control over the car and where it is. It is easy to have a lot of fun behind the wheel of the BMW M2 if the road is a bit challenging!

The engine in the BMW M2 is a 3-litre straight six-cylinder. So, it really is a classic engine for BMW's smaller and sporty models. The power output of the M2 is 480 horsepower and 550 Nm of torque. It takes you 4 seconds to reach 100 kilometres per hour from standstill in the BMW M2. The top speed is, as usual, electronically limited to 250 kilometres per hour.

The BMW M2 (G87) is also available as a CS model. This gives you 530 horses to play with instead of 480. To get to 100 kilometres per hour, you only need 3.5 seconds. In the BMW M2 CS, the top speed is raised to 302 kilometres per hour.

After a week with the BMW M2 (G87), I have a very wide smile. This car is really fun to drive! So if you don't have a big family and like to take curves quickly on fun roads, I can highly recommend the BMW M2 (G87). As I said, it is also available with a manual transmission, and many will really like it.

BMW M2 (G87)

Price: From 845 000 SEK

Engine: 3 L R6

Power: 480 hp, 550 Nm.

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox, rear-wheel drive.  

Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in 4 seconds.  

Top speed: 250 km/h.

Weight: 1 805 kg.  

Dimensions (length/width/height): 4 580/1 887/1 403 mm

Web: www.bmw.com