The production run for the BMW 1M->ke2536 only lasted two years, which made it a bit of a rarity. Once production stopped, every BMW->ke178 showroom seemed like it was missing something. BMW tried to make up for the missing link with the M235i, but it just didn’t compare to the 1 Series M. The BMW M2, however, has promised to fill that hole in our hearts. Despite being based on the M235i, the M2->ke3901 pays respect to the original E30 M3. What makes it even more special, however, is that it is powered by an all-new, inline-six that pumps out 370 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. There is one lingering question, though: Will the M2 suffer from limited production and be BMW’s next unicorn?

According to BMWblog and bmwarchiv.de, the latter of which is a website specifically known for its accurate reporting, the BMW M2 will be produced from now until 2020. This makes complete sense, considering most sources don’t talk about the M2 like it is a limited edition vehicle. This news, however, doesn’t exactly mean that the M2 will be widely available for anyone and everyone to grab when they please. Supply will still be somewhat limited, but nowhere near as limited as it was for the 1 Series M.

See, the M2 is built at the Leipzig plant, which also produces the 2 Series Coupe and 2 Series Convertible, the 2 Series Active Tourer, and a limited amount of the BMW i3->ke4694 and i8. This means that, despite the plant’s output of 750 rides a day, the M2 will account for very small amount of total production. On the plus side, if you have the scratch and desire to own an M2, you’ve still got a few more years to get your name on the list and snatch one up before it is just another great piece of BMW history.

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Why it matters

I want to put it out there that, even though you do have a few years to actually obtain a new M2, you might want to jump on it rather quickly. The car already has a rather large following, and if you wait too long, you might find yourself missing out on owning a great example of BMW heritage. Think about it, it's a 2 Series with a new engine that can hit 62 mph in 4.3 seconds and has a limited top speed of 155 mph – opting for the M Driver’s package gets you a voucher for the BMW Driving Experience and a speed limiter increase to 169 mph. Add all of that to the aggressive styling of the M2, and the car really is the whole package. The car goes on sale in April of 2016 in Germany and will start out at 56,700 euro (just over $62,000 USD) before options.

BMW M2

Read our full review on the BMW M2 here.