Our German spy photographers have captured images of what appears to be a facelifted BMW M2 prototype undergoing testing. The changes appear to be quite substantial… could this be a development unit for the rumoured hotter version of many critics' favourite BMW M car?

Picture credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

The current BMW M2 has received much attention since its local arrival in 2016 and it recently scooped a deserving win in the Performance Car category of the recent Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank. This achievement is atestament to the ability and performance credentials of the M2 and for the next iteration, BMW will be looking to improve upon what is clearly a winning formula.

The spy shots you see here depict what appears to be a pre-production version of a facelifted BMW M2 as it undergoes testing, replete with camouflage covering the bumper and grille, front and rear taillights and rear diffuser. A number of design changes can be expected for the facelifted BMW M2 with the front grille, headlights, bumper and air intakes likely to change substantially. At the rear, the taillight graphic and rear diffuser will also be redesigned. Furthermore, the M2 seen here also features a larger exhaust system and bigger brakes.

The design of the facelifted BMW M2 is expected to change substantially compared with the current iteration.

The current BMW M2 is powered by a 3.0-litre straight-6 turbocharged engine that develops 272 kW and 500 Nm of torque. If this car is only a precursor to an M2 that simply carries over the 2 Series updates, it is not that likely that engine will be tuned to provide more power/torque, but it is still a possibility. Last year, reports suggested that BMW is working on a hotter version of the M2, likely to be called the M2 GTS or M2 CS, which will offer in the region of 300 kW from an uprated version of the engine under the hood of the current M2.

We will keep you updated as more information on the facelifted or hotter BMW M2 becomes available, so stay tuned.

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