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BMW M2 goes all-wheel drive
BMW M2 gets xDrive all-wheel drive but is it better for it, or simply dumbed down?
Words by: Dan Trent
Published on 3 June 2026 | 0 min read
Social media clips of people losing control of powerful rear-wheel drive cars – usually when leaving petrolhead gatherings – have become something of an online trope. In that context it’s perhaps little surprise BMW has confirmed its xDrive all-wheel drive system will be coming to the M2, the engagingly thuggish handling of its current rear-driven format great for sideways action in the right hands and a controlled environment. But sometimes a bit of a handful in the wrong ones, and on the public road.
This is something of a dilemma for BMW, given the rear-wheel drive handling balance has been a signature of its cars for decades. And something the fans have always loved. But with ever increasing power comes responsibility, and the addition of xDrive – already standard on the M3 and M4 – helps you enjoy that without unexpected diversions into the scenery. That it also helps off-the-line acceleration and cuts the 0-62mph time from four seconds dead to just 3.7 seconds is a nice bonus, ditto if it means that other media stereotype of BMWs slithering uselessly around in the snow in winter conditions can also be swerved.
This is something of a dilemma for BMW, given the rear-wheel drive handling balance has been a signature of its cars for decades. And something the fans have always loved. But with ever increasing power comes responsibility, and the addition of xDrive – already standard on the M3 and M4 – helps you enjoy that without unexpected diversions into the scenery. That it also helps off-the-line acceleration and cuts the 0-62mph time from four seconds dead to just 3.7 seconds is a nice bonus, ditto if it means that other media stereotype of BMWs slithering uselessly around in the snow in winter conditions can also be swerved.
With 480 horsepower to play with it probably helps having it go to all four wheels, not just the rear ones. Though in typical BMW style it’s been done tactfully, and the balance M fans have always loved remains. Just with a safety net when things get slippery.
And if you really don’t care about tyre bills and have a suitable closed circuit or airfield to play on you can turn the system off completely and revert to rear-wheel drive only to enjoy the M2 the way we always have before. The choice is yours!
To help celebrate the updated model there’s also a new – and very eye-catching – Borusan Turkish Blue paint finish coming. If you’re an M purist and want your M2 in rear-wheel drive as it always has been you’ve got a short window of opportunity to get your order in, the new xDrive version arriving late summer this year.
And if you really don’t care about tyre bills and have a suitable closed circuit or airfield to play on you can turn the system off completely and revert to rear-wheel drive only to enjoy the M2 the way we always have before. The choice is yours!
To help celebrate the updated model there’s also a new – and very eye-catching – Borusan Turkish Blue paint finish coming. If you’re an M purist and want your M2 in rear-wheel drive as it always has been you’ve got a short window of opportunity to get your order in, the new xDrive version arriving late summer this year.
