BMW “M2 Next” Digital Concept Looks Like a Steal, Penned by Former Design Intern

As you are reading this, BMW engineers are out there completing the final stage of testing for the 2023 M2, which should deliver a couple of bold moves, some of which might be surprising (more on this below). However, the CGI concept we’ve brought along paints an alternative future for the smallest M Division offering, with the work coming from Nima Farzin.

You may already be familiar with the work of the penning master, since he currently holds the position of senior exterior designer at Califonian-based EV maker Fisker. However, if we look back past his experience with Fisker, and a three-month stint at Chinese automaker FAW, we find that, back in 2019, Nima had previously served as a BMW design intern (he spent six months at BMW Germany and another two at BMW Group company Designworks in California).

Now, the second-generation BMW 2 Series Coupe on which the upcoming M2 is obviously based, only entered production last September. Designed and built exclusively in Mexico, the G42-codenamed 2er shocked many enthusiasts with its design, especially in terms of the light clusters. Then again, that’s something many contemporary Bimmers can claim, not least thanks to their super-sized kidney grilles, which, by the way, spyshots have shown that the 2023 M2 will skip (the rest of the range also sticks to normal-size grilles).

However, the proposal resting on our screens right now steers clear of the kind of styling you can find in the BMW configurator, taking on a retro-futuristic theme.

The clearly drawn, minimalist lights define both the front and the rear ends of this vehicle, which we’ve decided to label as M2 Next, despite the designer simply calling this “BMW 2 Series”โ€”yep, we’re head over heels for this proposal, so why not pay attention to highly dynamic design elements like the ducktail-style posterior and elevate it to an M rank?

The Bavarian automaker’s styling DNA is clearly present and we’re not just talking about the obvious kidney work. So, even when removing the badges, we’d expect many people, be they car buffs or not, to identify this as a BMW.

Even though we can’t check out the profile of the machine, it’s obvious that we’re dealing with classic sportscar proportions, albeit with the aggressively low, highly raked greenhouse bringing a strong touch of futurism to the affair.

A familiar face for this M2 Next CGI?

We’ve seen this sort of stylistic approach on BMW concept cars such as the 3.0 CSL Hommage R of 2015 or the 2002 Hommage the company released the following year and even the Vision M Next of 2019. And we’d certainly love to feast our eyes on it inside a BMW showroom.

Meanwhile, in the real world, the G87-generation M2 is expected to deliver north of 400 hp (expect some 430 hp in Competition trim) from the twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six powering the X3/X4 M, as well as the M3/M4.

However, the rumor mill talks about the 2023 M3 skipping the optional xDrive AWD of its big brother to avoid cannibalization (the lack of proper rear-seat room, despite increased exterior dimensions, should take care of that on its own). Expect to meet the new M2 this summer.

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