Hello everybody, we’ve been seeing a variety of hypothesis throughout this discussion board and on-line about BMW probably releasing a BMW G87 M2 in xDrive. Each couple of months, there’s a brand new leak or conspiracy with the newest one being {that a} G87 M2 xDrive is because of launch in late 2026.
It’s bought lots of people questioning what a BMW G87 M2 with all 4 wheels pushed will really be like. What occurs if you give BMW’s smallest fashionable M automobile the xDrive therapy? Effectively, luckily for you we’ve pushed one!
WATCH HERE
“How?” we hear you ask.
Effectively, in the event you’ve been following us over the previous few months, you’ll bear in mind that we’re constructing a 1500 bhp+ G87 M2 drag automobile, and a part of that challenge was an entire xDrive conversion by Tom Wrigley Efficiency.
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We perceive your skepticism, so we wish to guarantee you that this can be a full OEM xDrive swap utilizing brand-new real BMW elements and a G80 M3 xDrive setup. Like a G80, you possibly can toggle between rear-wheel drive and xDrive via the automobile’s menu. Our M2 was operating customary energy, though it’s doable BMW would enhance this for the 2026 mannequin.
Like a lot of you, we’re fairly torn on this. We imagine the ethos of the M2 ought to stay a small, light-weight, rear wheel drive package deal with driver engagement as the first focus. Then again, how cool would it not be to have an M2 that might put its energy down all 12 months spherical? Particularly in chilly and moist climates just like the UK, an xDrive M2 is the proper recipe.
xDrive vs Rear Wheel Drive Efficiency
We put British GT4 driver, Tom Wrigley, behind the wheel for some timed laps and to get his ideas on the brand new xDrive setup. Tom tunes these vehicles day by day, giving him loads of seat time in the usual rear-wheel drive mannequin.
Utilizing the Dragy app, the xDrive G87 M2 constantly accomplished the 0-60 dash in 3.23 seconds – an entire second sooner than we achieved with the 2WD setup.
Tom, who has the job of launching his rear-wheel drive G82 M4 GT4 automobile, may be very conscious of the challenges confronted by the 2WD setup. “Having pushed the rear-wheel drive M2, we all know it doesn’t launch that properly – particularly on the street… and now to have xDrive, it felt completely superior and utterly reworked the entire automobile for me”.
How has xDrive affected the dealing with?
After taking the automobile for a sizzling lap across the circuit, Tom reported the dealing with “isn’t actually affected in any respect” – one thing we have been a bit shocked to listen to.
He notes “In years passed by, older four-wheel drive vehicles have at all times had a nasty fame for creating understeer however BMW has bought this so proper.”
We imagine that is due to the xDrive setup not including an excessive amount of weight and the very fact the M2 is biased to the rear.
“It nonetheless has a rear-wheel drive really feel to it however only a bit of additional grip from the entrance”.
Must you look forward to a possible G87 M2 xDrive or purchase the usual rear-wheel drive mannequin right now?
The primary level to contemplate is {that a} G87 M2 xDrive will doubtless ditch the 6-speed handbook gearbox possibility which is a make or break for a lot of prospects with round 50% of USA G87s being specified with this transmission possibility. It’s additionally rumoured that BMW could ditch the rear wheel drive possibility altogether which might be a large disgrace for lots of people.
If you wish to keep handbook and rear-wheel drive so long as doable, then don’t wait round or you would be restricted to purchasing solely used examples. If you happen to’re a G42 M240i xDrive proprietor, the xDrive M2 might be the subsequent logical step up. Or, in the event you dwell in a chilly and moist local weather, the xDrive mannequin would typically be the one to go for.
Rhys opted for the xDrive setup as a result of the automobile is now being reworked right into a 1500 bhp+ drag monster designed to compete amongst the quickest BMWs on the earth.
We requested each Tom & Rhys in the event that they have been prospects shopping for a model new G87 M2 as their private vehicles, which drivetrain would they go for?
Tom’s resolution is evident: “It could be xDrive for me all day. I like to make use of my vehicles on the street and a tuned G87 M2 xDrive is the proper automobile that you simply’d be hard-pushed to beat”.
We wish to know what you suppose. Which might you reasonably have? Rear-wheel drive or xDrive? Guide or ZF? Tell us!
What’s subsequent for the automobile?
Our G87 M2 is now off to SW Motorsports for a totally bespoke roll cage. In the meantime, the engine is being stripped down and cast to be able to some severe energy.
If you wish to keep up to date on the construct, subscribe to us on YouTube right here: https://www.youtube.com/@r44performance/featured