Edging closer to its local launch, the BMW M2 is eagerly anticipated, blending every aspect of what makes an M car special. This, however, may be the last pure ICE M car to grace the ranks of the Bavarian lineup.
It is a question on every enthusiast’s lips… how many petrol-powered M cars are left before a full-fat M EV arrives? To the old-fashioned, the answer will induce exactly the terror you have been fearing to hear. Lovers of fossil-fuel-burning performance reigning from Bavaria may have one final hoorah with the BMW M2 when it makes its way to our shores in the near future. During an interview with BMW South Africa CEO Peter van Binsbergen on the commemorative 50th anniversary of Plant Rosslyn, the question on the last pure ICE M car was raised.
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“That is a fair question that requires a lot of insight into our long-range plan, what I can tell you is that our M2 that we are about to launch is still very traditional in its drivetrain… In-line six, rear-wheel drive and the manual gearbox. Probably the closest thing we have had since Gusheshe in a long time.
While this sounds like a surreal dream for many enthusiasts, it will likely end with the BMW M2 since the German automaker’s direction has already been set on hybridisation and electrification. Based on the information at his disposal, van Binsbergen confirmed this by stating “That is probably one of the last new model launches that will be fully ICE. The XM is already showing the direction for M in the future which would be hybridisation and the i4 M50 was the biggest selling M car from last year and that is fully electric.”
Related: BMW G87 M2 comes with a R1,5 million asking price, but does it deserve it?
Keeping with times and catering to customer demand, he added that ” Electrification is a way to keep high-performance cars future-proof.” If all of this unfolds as speculated, then this may make the R1,5 million G87 M2 one of the most sought-after BMW M cars in a long time, closing the chapter on a fruitful era of motoring to commence a new one.
Also read: BMW 50 Years an Icon celebrations kick off in Rosslyn
