BMW has taken the wraps off its new three-door M2 performance sedan, which is powered by a turbocharged 3-liter straight-six gasoline engine. The German manufacturer describes the 370PS, 465Nm car as ‘entirely in keeping with the finest BMW M tradition’.
The engine in the M2 is a reworked N55 unit with a single turbocharger, as opposed to the more powerful S55 twin-turbo version found in the M3 and M4. It produces its 370PS at 6,500rpm and will rev to 7,000rpm, while peak torque of 465Nm is available between 1,400 and 5,560rpm. The peak torque can be boosted for short bursts under overboost by 35Nm to 500Nm between 1,450 and 4,750rpm.With the DCT fitted and launch control activated, the M2 runs from 0-100km/h in 4.3 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.
BMW claims combined fuel consumption on the European cycle as 33.2mpg with a six-speed manual gearbox and 35.8mpg with the optional M DCT. CO2 emissions are 199g/km and 185g/km respectively. BMW says that it has tried to make the engine as efficient as possible without compromising performance the electrically operated boost pressure control valve and close-coupled arrangement of the catalytic converter further improve the engine’s emissions rating.
As well as auto stop/start and brake energy recuperation, the coolant pump operates only as required and the oil pump is map-controlled. The air conditioning compressor is also disconnected whenever not being used and the electric power steering requires no electric energy when driving straight ahead.
Among the tweaks to the N55 engine says BMW are the twinscroll turbocharger, high-precision injection, a modified lubrication system, variable camshaft timing and double vanos variable valve control. The valve and camshaft timing work in tandem to seamlessly control intake valve lift, says the company.
The thermodynamically optimized, lightweight engine features an all-aluminum construction and is extra-rigid thanks to its closed-deck design, which sees the top of the cylinder water jacket closed off to enable higher cylinder pressures. The M2’s turbocharger has been integrated into the exhaust manifold, reducing the warm-up phase after a cold start and helping to cut internal friction. BMW has sourced some of the engine components from the engine in the M2’s larger performance siblings, the M3 and M4. These include the pistons and crankshaft main bearing shells.
October 15, 2015
