2027 BMW M2 Gains All-Wheel Drive Option

The 2027 BMW M2 is shaking up the compact performance world by offering something it has never had before: an all-wheel drive option.

For years, this compact coupe has been celebrated as a purist formula, keeping its power strictly at the rear wheels. But times are changing. BMW is bringing its xDrive system to its smallest M car, giving drivers a choice between traditional rear-wheel drive and all-weather traction, and that's a shift that realigns the coupe's character with its larger M siblings while quietly expanding its appeal for daily commutes and winter road trips. It's a new level of everyday usability. Don't call it a compromise.

What the new xDrive system brings to the table

How does this new setup actually work? Let us cut through the noise.

The new all-wheel drive system is engineered to preserve that pure performance feel, splitting power between the front and rear axles through an electronically controlled multiplate clutch in the transfer case. But don't worry about losing your classic slide. It's heavily rear biased, so most of the time the car behaves exactly like a rear-wheel drive machine, sending torque to the front wheels only when it detects low-traction situations and needs to pull you out of a slip.

A massive boost to off-the-line acceleration

All-wheel drive means traction, and traction means speed. While the engine output remains identical to the rear-wheel drive version, the extra grip makes a huge difference when you launch the car from a standstill.

• xDrive 0 to 60 mph time: 3.3 seconds (claimed)
• Rear-wheel drive automatic 0 to 60 mph time: 3.5 seconds (tested)
• Rear-wheel drive manual 0 to 60 mph time: 3.9 seconds (tested)
• Engine output: 473 horsepower from a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six

The catch for manual transmission fans

But here is the catch. If you want the all-wheel drive model, you have to give up the stick shift. The eight-speed automatic is the only transmission available for the xDrive version. If you want to shift gears yourself, you must stick with the rear-wheel drive base model, which still offers the six-speed manual transmission.

How the 2027 BMW M2 performs on the road

Under the hood, the heart of the machine is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. This motor pumps out 473 horsepower. If you choose the manual transmission, you get 406 pound-feet of torque. Opt for the automatic, and the torque bumps up to 443 pound-feet.

It's pure control on the road. Snapping into turns feels incredibly crisp, and the specially tuned suspension absorbs mid-corner bumps and pavement imperfections without upsetting the balance of the car, so you can push harder without fear. But it's still a highly focused performance machine that retains enough civility to be driven every single day.

The EPA rates it at 16 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. That's the official number. But here's the thing: during previous real-world highway testing at 75 mph, an automatic model returned 28 mpg, though that was before a recent 20-horsepower bump to the engine, so you can't expect those same figures now. It's a meaningful difference.

Inside the cabin: high tech meets tight space

The screen dominates everything. It's a massive digital display that sweeps across the dashboard, combining a 12.3-inch gauge cluster behind the steering wheel with a 14.9-inch touchscreen running the latest iDrive operating system. But almost all climate controls, including the heated seats and steering wheel, have been moved into that touchscreen interface, so you can't escape the menus.

The reality of the back seat and trunk

Let's be real about usability. The front row is comfortable and highly adjustable, so that's a win. But the rear seat is a tight squeeze, and passengers forced to sit back there will quickly wish you'd bought a larger sedan, because their knees will press into the seatbacks and their heads will brush the headliner on any bump. The trunk is small too, offering just 14 cubic feet of cargo space, which is enough for five carry-on suitcases, though you'll have to stack them just so to make it work. Fold the rear seats down, and you've got room for 14 carry-on suitcases total. That's the whole story.

Optional upgrades for track enthusiasts

Want to spend extra money? The Carbon package is your ticket. It swaps the standard front sport seats for aggressive, body-hugging bucket seats that save 24 pounds, and if you're chasing that pure, unfiltered track sensation, this is where the real weight loss happens. But that's not all. It also layers carbon fiber across multiple cabin surfaces, so you're getting a much more focused, race-ready atmosphere without any of the flashy gimmicks. It's a sharp upgrade.

The final verdict on the new lineup

It's official: BMW has confirmed that production of the high-performance M2 CS model has ended, and there are no plans to bring it back for the 2027 model year. That’s a tough pill to swallow. So your primary choices now are the standard rear-wheel drive model and the new xDrive model, though the latter adds all-wheel drive grip while the former keeps that classic, tail-happy driving feel that purists have always adored. But don't expect a CS successor anytime soon. We've seen this before, and it rarely changes.

$70,850 is the starting price. That makes the M2 a serious investment in driving fun, one that rewards you every time you press the start button or grab the shift knob. It's quick, agile, and loud. If you live where winters are harsh, or you simply crave the fastest possible launch times, the new all-wheel drive option is a massive upgrade, and you can't go wrong choosing it. But for the purist who wants to save the manual transmission, the classic rear-wheel drive version is still the one to get.