Our first sighting of the next-gen 2 Series happened about a year ago, and as of August 2020, we learned that it would be offered with rear-wheel drive. This is a big plus considering that the 2 Series Active Tourer and the Gran Coupe are, in fact, front-wheel drive. As is always the case, you have to take the good with the bad, and even though the next-gen 2 Series Coupe is just about ready to hatch, the M2 is still in the incubator. How long do we have to wait? Let’s just say there’s going to be a generational gap.

Two Years Without a New BMW M2?

With the next-gen 2 Series Coupe expected anytime now, you can’t be blamed for thinking the next-gen M2 isn’t that far away, either. Be that as it may, the truth is that BMW is going to make you wait at least two years. The next-gen BMW M2, codenamed G87, is scheduled to enter production by December 2022, and with production of the current model ending in Summer 2021, that means that M2 production is idled for 1.5 years, with the next-gen M2 likely hitting the streets sometime in early 2023.

The bad news is that a manual transmission might not be offered. Rumor has it that it’ll be powered by the 3.0-liter S58 Inline-Six with power output expected to be between 410 and 440 horsepower (not much below its normal output of 450 ponies. Whether or not a manual transmission is offered, there’s a good chance that the eight-speed ZF automatic will be there at least as an option.

So, in conclusion, if you want a next-gen BMW M2, don’t expect to see it until 2023, and even then, you might have to wait longer depending on how fast you manage to get your order in.