I'm taking the controls of this beast with 480 HP. Was any time better?

No, I'm sorry. Any time in the past was not better. Understand me, I love classic cars like no other. In fact, I would love to have a garage full of them, with all shapes, sizes, and colors. However, there are many points where they have little to compete against comparable sports cars of today. A BMW M3 e30 is far from a BMW M3 g80. Sensations? That's another topic.

It is true that, nowadays, it seems that the numbers have gone crazy. There are never enough horsepower that new sports cars deliver, which leaves a huge gap in the lower range that many would like to have covered. An example of this is the BMW M2, which already offers a starting power of 480 HP, being the most accessible "pure" M. Does this generate better sensations than older but less powerful models? Possibly not.

The BMW M2 arrived about a decade ago, with a six-cylinder inline engine and 370 HP. More than enough to have fun, to be a true "toy" and, moreover, not to have an extraordinarily prohibitive price (which is not accessible). The sensations it provided were enormous and allowed you to have a really good time. As a reference, the new generation offers 110 additional HP and a lot of rage at the wheel.

This is the spectacular BMW M2 in all its lines

I had not tested the current generation of the BMW M2 before, although other colleagues from Motor.es had. At first, I must confess that its update came as a bit of a cold shower. Aesthetically, I found the previous one simply perfect; this one, not so much. However, maybe it was getting used to its new image, but I ended up liking it more and more. Have you seen those widened wheel arches? Impressive.

In many ways, it could be said that its image plays a fundamental role in expressing the internal rage that this model is capable of offering. The oversized bumpers or those four exhaust outlets at the rear. It is very imposing no matter how you look at it, although it should be noted that this is a completely personal point, as there is no accounting for taste.

In fact, calling it "the little one" no longer makes much sense. The BMW M2 measures 4,580 mm in length, 1,885 mm in width, and 1,410 mm in height. It is still the smallest in the house. Yes. But, in reality, it is not small at all.

As is usual with the brand, the customization of the car can be taken to the extent desired. In fact, our unit, which illustrates this article, included several thousand euros in extras, such as the Voodoo Blue paint from the BMW Individual catalog (6,260 euros), the wheels (1,469 euros), or the M Race Track Package (17,887 euros), among others. No, the price of happiness is not cheap or accessible to everyone, but its name is clear: it is called BMW M2.

The aforementioned "M Race Track Package" includes, as the most striking point, bucket seats finished in carbon fiber that are the closest thing to those of a fairground attraction. The user's grip on this is maximum, leaving very little room for the body to move from side to side in a moment of "curve" ecstasy.

The rest of the interior sections are the already known ones. On the dashboard rests a large panoramic panel that includes the two main screens: instrumentation and multimedia, with 12.3 and 14.9 inches, respectively. As it is the M model, it does include a particular lever for the changes in the center console, something that is missed in the more "logical" versions of the Series 2 Coupe.

Where this model still falls short is in the space for its rear occupants. It is true that once seated, people around 1.70 meters tall will not have problems traveling more or less comfortably. However, almost anyone will have to do some contortionist work to get in or out. It is the price of wanting to have fun with three friends on board.

Where few "buts" can be placed is in its cargo space. This is considerably more spacious than we expect. It is true that its loading mouth is not very generous, but its depth is quite spacious. Its minimum volume is 390 liters. Its rear seats can be folded down, but with this, we will only gain a larger space in depth, not in width or height, where the M2 is more limited.

An explosive and fierce mechanics: this is how the BMW M2 performs

But what matters most and interests about the BMW M2 is not what is visible at first glance, nor what is presented when we settle into its seats. What really stands out about this car is found under the front hood and I assure you it is a true heart with high doses of revolutions.

The M2 incorporates the well-known BMW engine of six cylinders in line, 3.0 liters of displacement and 480 HP. A true beast in every aspect. This, as a reference, is the same block used by the current BMW M3 and M4, although its power has been duly trimmed to deliver 30 HP less. Let’s remember that the dimensions of this are also notably more compact than those of its bigger siblings.

As a result of all this, the customer gets a wild beast with a lot of nerve, performance, and raw sensations. In fact, few cars can compare to what this is capable of offering. And this rocks. It rocks a lot. But, what exactly does it feel like to take the controls of a BMW M2?

As soon as we settle into its spectacular sports seats, the main sensation is that of being seated in a fairground attraction where adrenaline is about to flow. And the truth is that it can be like that. Starting the engine presents a symphony in which the six cylinders will give a rough and very generous sound, although at the moment the revolutions are optimized, this is significantly reduced… as long as we want it to.

By simply putting the "D" in its gear lever, we will notice how the car has a lot of life and its only purpose is to devour every inch of asphalt. Its eagerness to leave the parking lot is high. It is not a car that has been designed for that. We go out and the M2 is capable of gaining speed and revolutions at a staggering pace. The sound, during the first laps, could be considered almost like a symphonic melody, but more discreet. It will be when we rise above 3,500 revolutions that things will get really serious.

Executing the shifts with the paddle shifters is a whole experience, as it makes you feel much more precisely the rage that this asphalt beast is capable of offering. As the revolutions rise, the sound becomes increasingly noticeable until, finally, around 7,000 revolutions, you decide to shift up and start the fireworks show again.

But the M2 is not just noise, as it could be considered a whole toy for adults. As those revolutions rise, its rear also becomes more playful and flirts with doing a little dance if you enter a curve a bit too hot. However, the electronic controls will do their job to ensure that it is just that, merely a dance, and not an unexpected mishap. The rear is fun, and once you get the hang of it, making it dance will not be a complicated task.

However, it must also be said that the BMW M2 can be a docile and practical car perfectly usable in day-to-day life. It is true that its rage will always be present, although with a more subdued driving style, this sensation could be somewhat camouflaged (but not completely).

Activating the most logical driving mode, the M2 still has a hard suspension and, in this case, seats that hug you significantly. However, it will not be crazy to use it for everyday activities, such as going shopping or going to work. In fact, it is quite a practical car if you consider its two rear seats and its fairly decent trunk.

What will not change much is its thirst for gasoline. The BMW M2 is not particularly an overly eco-friendly car. In normal situations, and executing a completely calm driving style, it is normal to see average consumptions above 8 liters (exactly 8.2 liters per 100 km was what we recorded after a week of use).

Of course, and as one would expect, once we want to unleash our driving skills, these figures will rise to significantly high points. In fact, at those moments, it will not be unusual to see figures closer to -or even exceeding- 12 liters per 100 km. What I can say is that, each and every one of those liters will be worth it to unsuspected and inevitably addictive levels.