Hello everybody, we’ve been seeing loads of hypothesis throughout this discussion board and on-line about BMW doubtlessly 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 received 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 trendy M automotive the xDrive therapy? Properly, fortuitously for you we’ve pushed one!
WATCH HERE
“How?” we hear you ask.Properly, for those who’ve been following us over the previous few months, you’ll bear in mind that we’re constructing a 1500 bhp+ G87 M2 drag automotive, and a part of that undertaking was an entire xDrive conversion by Tom Wrigley Efficiency.
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We perceive your skepticism, so we need to guarantee you that it is a full OEM xDrive swap utilizing brand-new real BMW elements and a G80 M3 xDrive setup. Like a G80, you’ll be able to toggle between rear-wheel drive and xDrive by way of the automotive’s menu. Our M2 was operating commonplace energy, though it’s doable BMW would enhance this for the 2026 mannequin.
Like lots of you, we’re fairly torn on this. We consider the ethos of the M2 ought to stay a small, light-weight, rear wheel drive package deal with driver engagement as the first focus. Alternatively, how cool wouldn’t it be to have an M2 that would 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 PerformanceWe 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 automobiles day by day, giving him loads of seat time in the usual rear-wheel drive mannequin.
Utilizing the Dragy app, the xDrive G87 M2 persistently accomplished the 0-60 dash in 3.23 seconds – a complete second quicker than we achieved with the 2WD setup.
Tom, who has the job of launching his rear-wheel drive G82 M4 GT4 automotive, 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 nicely – particularly on the highway… and now to have xDrive, it felt completely superior and fully remodeled the entire automotive for me”.
How has xDrive affected the dealing with?
After taking the automotive 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 automobiles have at all times had a foul status for creating understeer however BMW has received this so proper.”
We consider that is because of 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 anticipate a possible G87 M2 xDrive or purchase the usual rear-wheel drive mannequin at the moment?
The primary level to contemplate is {that a} G87 M2 xDrive will probably ditch the 6-speed handbook gearbox choice which is a make or break for a lot of clients with round 50% of USA G87s being specified with this transmission choice. It’s additionally rumoured that BMW could ditch the rear wheel drive choice 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 can be restricted to purchasing solely used examples. For those who’re a G42 M240i xDrive proprietor, the xDrive M2 may very well be the subsequent logical step up. Or, for those who reside in a chilly and moist local weather, the xDrive mannequin would usually be the one to go for.
Rhys opted for the xDrive setup as a result of the automotive is now being remodeled 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 clients shopping for a model new G87 M2 as their private automobiles, which drivetrain would they go for?
Tom’s choice is evident: “It might be xDrive for me all day. I like to make use of my automobiles on the highway and a tuned G87 M2 xDrive is the proper automotive that you simply’d be hard-pushed to beat”.
We need to know what you assume. Which might you fairly have? Rear-wheel drive or xDrive? Handbook or ZF? Tell us!
What’s subsequent for the automotive?
Our G87 M2 is now off to SW Motorsports for a completely bespoke roll cage. In the meantime, the engine is being stripped down and cast to be able to some critical 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
