2019 BMW M2 Competition arrives boasting twin-turbo engine and 302kW and 550Nm. Australian pricing and availability will be announced soon.

THE 2019 BMW M2 COMPETITION has broken cover with its twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder borrowed from the M3 and M4. It boasts 302kW and 550Nm of torque which is good enough to get to 100km/h in 4.2 seconds when mated with a seven-speed DCT. Australian buyers will be able to specify a six-speed manual at to no cost.

“With the great success the current M2 has enjoyed in Australia, we simply cannot wait for the M2 Competition to arrive,” said BMW Group Australia CEO, Marc Werner.

Beyond its new engine, the M2 Competition gets a bespoke exhaust system with four pipes finished in black chrome, with internal, electronically-controlled flaps to provide “a distinct M-Power sound”. This can be controlled via the centre console-mounted switch.

BMW’s M division has snuffled through the M3 and M4 parts bin and fitted the M3 Competition with a CFRP strut brace form the M3/M4 and the M4’s bulkhead strut… though improve torsional rigidity and turn-in.

The M2 Competition has had its Active M Differential and Dynamic Stability Control recalibrated. The Active M Differential offers ‘active’ adjustment of the lock-up characteristics; the locking effect can be adjusted from 0-100%, and reacts to the car’s steering angle, accelerator position, break pressure, engine torque, wheel speed and yaw rate.

BMW M division’s head of development, Dirk Häcker, said the chassis revisions provide the new M2 with “significantly improved response and more progressive on-the-limit characteristics” than its predecessor. “We have altered the steering mapping, changed the spring and damper tuning and recalibrated the DSC [Dynamic Stability Control] system as well,” said Häcker. “It is still the benchmark in its class in terms of response and reactions, but it now slides with greater progressiveness and enthusiasm.”

In terms of braking, the M2 Competition features a cost-optional braking system with 400mm front discs and 380mm rear, with six-piston calipers at the front and four-piston calipers at the rear. The standard braking package is the same M Compound Braking system as other M cars.

The key changes to the outside are a new skirt that’s been designed with maximum air-flow and cooling in mind, and a high-gloss black grille. On the inside, there’s M2 embossed on the seats, while the BMW M stripes are woven into the seatbelts, and the latest-generation iDrive 6. A rear-view camera with Park Distance Control. Driving Assistant is standard and features Collision Warning, Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function and Lane Departure Warning. Speed Limit Info is also featured on the standard equipment list.

New colours join the list, including Hockenheim Silver which is exclusive to the M2 Competition and Sunset Orange.

BMW Australia said it would reveal pricing and availability of the car Down Under soon, but given how well M cars sell in Australia, we can expect a healthy allocation of cars.