BMW adds all‑wheel drive to M2: 2027 M2 xDrive debuts with 473 hp, $73,600

BMW unveiled the 2027 M2 xDrive on June 2, giving the M2 line all-wheel drive for the first time after years as a rear-drive-only model. The new variant keeps the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six at 473 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, according to BMW and multiple outlet reports. BMW said the added traction cuts the car’s 0-60 mph time to 3.6 seconds with the eight-speed automatic. BMWBlog reported a U.S. starting price of $73,600, while BimmerFile said the car is due in late summer 2026. ### Why did BMW add all-wheel drive to the M2 now? BMW has sold the current-generation M2 as a compact, rear-drive performance coupe, even as larger M cars such as the M3 and M4 have long offered xDrive variants. The new M2 xDrive extends that formula downward in the lineup and gives buyers an all-wheel-drive option without moving up to an M3 or M4. (bmwblog.com) The June 2 debut also follows months of leaks and early sightings. BMWBlog reported in February that a 2027 M2 xDrive listing briefly appeared on BMW’s U.S. storefront before the formal reveal. ### What changes mechanically on the xDrive version? The 2027 M2 xDrive keeps the same S58 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six used in the rear-drive M2, with output unchanged at 473 horsepower in U.S. specification and 443 lb-ft of torque, according to Carscoops and MotorTrend. (bimmerfile.com) The main hardware change is BMW’s M xDrive system, which uses a transfer case and electronically controlled clutch pack to send power to the front axle when needed. (bmwblog.com) The transmission choice narrows with the new drivetrain. MotorTrend, BimmerFile and BimmerLife each reported that the M2 xDrive is automatic-only, using BMW’s eight-speed M Steptronic, while the six-speed manual remains tied to the rear-drive car. ### How much quicker is it than the rear-drive M2? (carscoops.com) BMW said the M2 xDrive reaches 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, about 0.3 second quicker than the rear-drive automatic and roughly 0.5 second quicker than the manual version. BimmerLife and MotorTrend also reported a 3.3-second figure using a one-foot rollout, a common industry timing method. (motortrend.com) Autoblog reported an even quicker 3.3-second 0-60 mph time in its headline, while outlet coverage generally matched on BMW’s quoted 3.6-second standard figure. Carscoops said the gain comes from traction rather than extra power, since output is unchanged from the rear-drive model. (motortrend.com) ### How does the price compare with the regular M2? BMWBlog reported the 2027 M2 xDrive starts at $73,600. BimmerFile said that figure excludes a $1,350 destination charge, putting the delivered base price above the rear-drive M2, which BMW’s U.S. site lists from $69,000. BMW’s U.S. model pages also show how the M2 now sits inside a broader M range that increasingly pairs high-output six-cylinder engines with all-wheel drive. (autoblog.com) The M3 Competition xDrive starts at $88,600 and the M4 Competition xDrive Coupe at $91,500, according to BMW’s current lineup page. ### What does BMW say buyers get besides launch traction? (bmwblog.com) BMW’s xDrive system in the M2 is designed to vary front-to-rear torque split and still allow a rear-biased setup, according to BMWBlog and Carscoops. Carscoops reported that drivers can also switch to a rear-drive setting through the car’s drive-mode controls, preserving a familiar M-car behavior for track or enthusiast use. (bmwusa.com) BimmerFile said the tradeoff is weight and the loss of a manual gearbox on the all-wheel-drive model. The company has not, in the sources reviewed, paired xDrive with a power increase for the M2 itself. ### When will the new version reach buyers? BimmerFile reported the 2027 BMW M2 xDrive will arrive in late summer 2026. (bmwblog.com) BMW’s U.S. consumer site already lists 2027 model-year vehicles across parts of its lineup, indicating the M2 xDrive will join BMW’s next model-year rollout rather than wait for calendar-year 2027. (bimmerfile.com)