Latest news with #M4Coupe
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Here's Why BMW Hasn't Pulled The Trigger On M2 xDrive... Yet
Rumors of an xDrive all-wheel-drive version of the BMW M2 first surfaced around two years ago, but so far, there has been no official confirmation from the automaker. The M2 is still only available with rear-wheel drive, unlike the larger M4 Coupe. However, an executive has told BMW Blog that the M2 xDrive is still an option, while also providing a logical reason for why the grippier AWD setup hasn't yet been introduced on the brand's smallest coupe. It all comes down to production timelines and how often new variants of high-performance M models are launched. Dirk Häcker, the head of research and development at BMW M, told BMW Blog that an M2 xDrive "could" still happen. He was specifically asked why the M3 and M4 have the optional xDrive system but the M2 does not, and responded with this: "I think the M3 and M4 CS are in a later stage. We introduced the M2 about two years ago, so we have started with rear-wheel drive. We now offer the M2 CS, and we have a lot of time to the EOP [end of production] of the car. So there could be also ideas to offer for the future of an xDrive system, but there is no final decision." BMW Blog's sources suggest the xDrive model will go into production from August 2026, alongside the current RWD model. While the possible M2 xDrive is expected to be slightly quicker in a straight line and around a track, the current M2 with RWD is unique in its segment. Audi and BMW don't make comparable small sports coupes, and their closest M2 rivals - the RS3 sedan and CLA 45 S Coupe - are exclusively available with AWD. Furthermore, the M2 is available with a six-speed manual, which both of these rivals lack. The M2 xDrive, if it does materialize, is expected to be sold exclusively with BMW's eight-speed automatic transmission. The six-cylinder engine is also unique to the M2. For now, M2 fans will have to settle for RWD, but the new M2 CS at least offers a hefty increase in power to 523 horses. One can only imagine how devastating the M2 CS would be with AWD, and we wouldn't rule out the possibility of such a model in the future. Ultimately, it looks like the best of the current M2 is yet to come. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Advertiser
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Alpina founders reveal stunning coachbuilt BMW M4 with 443kW
The founders of BMW's wholly owned tuning house, Alpina, have revealed this gorgeous – and much more powerful – coachbuilt version of the German brand's already-rapid M4 Coupe. With the Bovensiepen family having sold Alpina to BMW, they've now teamed up with famous Italian design house Zagato to produce this gorgeous BMW M4-based grand tourer, simply dubbed the Bovensiepen Zagato. Revealed at the Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza on Italy's Lake Como over the weekend, the first product from the Bovensiepens' independent coachbuilding business delivers 443kW of power and 700Nm of torque from its turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. As is the way of the former Alpina tuners, that's significantly more than both the standard M4 manual (353kW/550Nm) and the top-shelf M4 Competition xDrive auto (390kW/650Nm), which is priced at $189,900 before on-road costs in Australia. Bovensiepen says the result is 0-100km/h acceleration in just 3.3 seconds (0.2 seconds sooner than the M4 Competition) and a top speed of more than 300km/h – up from 292km/h. The powertrain gains come in part from a lightweight twin-exit titanium exhaust system from Akrapovic, which is claimed to be 40 lighter than the standard system. Bespoke three-mode Bilstein dampers help harness the extra performance. Bovensiepen claims the Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus settings deliver "a range from pronounced comfort to athletic driving dynamics". But the sleek new Zagato-designed body will likely attract even more attention than this coupe's Akrapovic exhaust. As part of the Bovensiepen family's aim to become "a manufacturer of outstanding automobiles that embody the ambition of fine driving", the Zagato features all-new body panels to make it look significantly different to the mid-size German coupe on which it's based. Said to combine Bavarian engineering with Italian design, Zagato's latest creation features the Milan-based company's trademark 'double bubble' roof and rear window, and a reshaped bonnet and bootlid with integrated rear spoiler, plus a stainless steel grille and fully retractable frameless windows. It bears the Bovensiepen logo on its front and rear, there are Zagato badges on the front wing gills and further branding can be seen on the brake calipers, wheel hubs, boot and centre console, which houses a special build number plaque alongside extra lashings of carbon-fibre. An exact production number has not been revealed, but Bovensiepen says its inaugural special edition will be "strictly" limited after first deliveries take place at the end of the second quarter of 2026. A long list of personalisation options will also be available for the interior and exterior, allowing each vehicle to be "as unique as its owner", says Bovensiepen. "Our goal is to build cars for connoisseurs and enthusiasts who appreciate the perfect symbiosis of design and technology," said Bovensiepen Automobiles CEO, Andreas Bovensiepen. Zagato's chief designer Norihiko Harada said: "It's a kind of blend of Italian charm, sensual and soft design, with a very solid, almost architectural German structure… a beautiful fusion of two automotive cultures. Established in the 1920, Zagato has previously worked with automakers including Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Bentley, Maserati and Lancia. "This project with the Bovensiepen family is particularly special, as it continues the legacy of blending Zagato DNA with that of a new and inspiring brand, starting from its very first creation," said Zagato president Andrea Michele Zagato. The Bovensiepen Zagato was revealed at Lake Como just a day after the BMW 8 Series-based Speedtop shooting brake special edition, which will enter production next year. Next year BMW will also reveal its plan for Alpina, after ex-Polestar designer Max Missoni was hired by the Bavarian brand to style all of its future luxury models including Alpinas. Content originally sourced from: The founders of BMW's wholly owned tuning house, Alpina, have revealed this gorgeous – and much more powerful – coachbuilt version of the German brand's already-rapid M4 Coupe. With the Bovensiepen family having sold Alpina to BMW, they've now teamed up with famous Italian design house Zagato to produce this gorgeous BMW M4-based grand tourer, simply dubbed the Bovensiepen Zagato. Revealed at the Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza on Italy's Lake Como over the weekend, the first product from the Bovensiepens' independent coachbuilding business delivers 443kW of power and 700Nm of torque from its turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. As is the way of the former Alpina tuners, that's significantly more than both the standard M4 manual (353kW/550Nm) and the top-shelf M4 Competition xDrive auto (390kW/650Nm), which is priced at $189,900 before on-road costs in Australia. Bovensiepen says the result is 0-100km/h acceleration in just 3.3 seconds (0.2 seconds sooner than the M4 Competition) and a top speed of more than 300km/h – up from 292km/h. The powertrain gains come in part from a lightweight twin-exit titanium exhaust system from Akrapovic, which is claimed to be 40 lighter than the standard system. Bespoke three-mode Bilstein dampers help harness the extra performance. Bovensiepen claims the Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus settings deliver "a range from pronounced comfort to athletic driving dynamics". But the sleek new Zagato-designed body will likely attract even more attention than this coupe's Akrapovic exhaust. As part of the Bovensiepen family's aim to become "a manufacturer of outstanding automobiles that embody the ambition of fine driving", the Zagato features all-new body panels to make it look significantly different to the mid-size German coupe on which it's based. Said to combine Bavarian engineering with Italian design, Zagato's latest creation features the Milan-based company's trademark 'double bubble' roof and rear window, and a reshaped bonnet and bootlid with integrated rear spoiler, plus a stainless steel grille and fully retractable frameless windows. It bears the Bovensiepen logo on its front and rear, there are Zagato badges on the front wing gills and further branding can be seen on the brake calipers, wheel hubs, boot and centre console, which houses a special build number plaque alongside extra lashings of carbon-fibre. An exact production number has not been revealed, but Bovensiepen says its inaugural special edition will be "strictly" limited after first deliveries take place at the end of the second quarter of 2026. A long list of personalisation options will also be available for the interior and exterior, allowing each vehicle to be "as unique as its owner", says Bovensiepen. "Our goal is to build cars for connoisseurs and enthusiasts who appreciate the perfect symbiosis of design and technology," said Bovensiepen Automobiles CEO, Andreas Bovensiepen. Zagato's chief designer Norihiko Harada said: "It's a kind of blend of Italian charm, sensual and soft design, with a very solid, almost architectural German structure… a beautiful fusion of two automotive cultures. Established in the 1920, Zagato has previously worked with automakers including Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Bentley, Maserati and Lancia. "This project with the Bovensiepen family is particularly special, as it continues the legacy of blending Zagato DNA with that of a new and inspiring brand, starting from its very first creation," said Zagato president Andrea Michele Zagato. The Bovensiepen Zagato was revealed at Lake Como just a day after the BMW 8 Series-based Speedtop shooting brake special edition, which will enter production next year. Next year BMW will also reveal its plan for Alpina, after ex-Polestar designer Max Missoni was hired by the Bavarian brand to style all of its future luxury models including Alpinas. Content originally sourced from: The founders of BMW's wholly owned tuning house, Alpina, have revealed this gorgeous – and much more powerful – coachbuilt version of the German brand's already-rapid M4 Coupe. With the Bovensiepen family having sold Alpina to BMW, they've now teamed up with famous Italian design house Zagato to produce this gorgeous BMW M4-based grand tourer, simply dubbed the Bovensiepen Zagato. Revealed at the Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza on Italy's Lake Como over the weekend, the first product from the Bovensiepens' independent coachbuilding business delivers 443kW of power and 700Nm of torque from its turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. As is the way of the former Alpina tuners, that's significantly more than both the standard M4 manual (353kW/550Nm) and the top-shelf M4 Competition xDrive auto (390kW/650Nm), which is priced at $189,900 before on-road costs in Australia. Bovensiepen says the result is 0-100km/h acceleration in just 3.3 seconds (0.2 seconds sooner than the M4 Competition) and a top speed of more than 300km/h – up from 292km/h. The powertrain gains come in part from a lightweight twin-exit titanium exhaust system from Akrapovic, which is claimed to be 40 lighter than the standard system. Bespoke three-mode Bilstein dampers help harness the extra performance. Bovensiepen claims the Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus settings deliver "a range from pronounced comfort to athletic driving dynamics". But the sleek new Zagato-designed body will likely attract even more attention than this coupe's Akrapovic exhaust. As part of the Bovensiepen family's aim to become "a manufacturer of outstanding automobiles that embody the ambition of fine driving", the Zagato features all-new body panels to make it look significantly different to the mid-size German coupe on which it's based. Said to combine Bavarian engineering with Italian design, Zagato's latest creation features the Milan-based company's trademark 'double bubble' roof and rear window, and a reshaped bonnet and bootlid with integrated rear spoiler, plus a stainless steel grille and fully retractable frameless windows. It bears the Bovensiepen logo on its front and rear, there are Zagato badges on the front wing gills and further branding can be seen on the brake calipers, wheel hubs, boot and centre console, which houses a special build number plaque alongside extra lashings of carbon-fibre. An exact production number has not been revealed, but Bovensiepen says its inaugural special edition will be "strictly" limited after first deliveries take place at the end of the second quarter of 2026. A long list of personalisation options will also be available for the interior and exterior, allowing each vehicle to be "as unique as its owner", says Bovensiepen. "Our goal is to build cars for connoisseurs and enthusiasts who appreciate the perfect symbiosis of design and technology," said Bovensiepen Automobiles CEO, Andreas Bovensiepen. Zagato's chief designer Norihiko Harada said: "It's a kind of blend of Italian charm, sensual and soft design, with a very solid, almost architectural German structure… a beautiful fusion of two automotive cultures. Established in the 1920, Zagato has previously worked with automakers including Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Bentley, Maserati and Lancia. "This project with the Bovensiepen family is particularly special, as it continues the legacy of blending Zagato DNA with that of a new and inspiring brand, starting from its very first creation," said Zagato president Andrea Michele Zagato. The Bovensiepen Zagato was revealed at Lake Como just a day after the BMW 8 Series-based Speedtop shooting brake special edition, which will enter production next year. Next year BMW will also reveal its plan for Alpina, after ex-Polestar designer Max Missoni was hired by the Bavarian brand to style all of its future luxury models including Alpinas. Content originally sourced from: The founders of BMW's wholly owned tuning house, Alpina, have revealed this gorgeous – and much more powerful – coachbuilt version of the German brand's already-rapid M4 Coupe. With the Bovensiepen family having sold Alpina to BMW, they've now teamed up with famous Italian design house Zagato to produce this gorgeous BMW M4-based grand tourer, simply dubbed the Bovensiepen Zagato. Revealed at the Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza on Italy's Lake Como over the weekend, the first product from the Bovensiepens' independent coachbuilding business delivers 443kW of power and 700Nm of torque from its turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. As is the way of the former Alpina tuners, that's significantly more than both the standard M4 manual (353kW/550Nm) and the top-shelf M4 Competition xDrive auto (390kW/650Nm), which is priced at $189,900 before on-road costs in Australia. Bovensiepen says the result is 0-100km/h acceleration in just 3.3 seconds (0.2 seconds sooner than the M4 Competition) and a top speed of more than 300km/h – up from 292km/h. The powertrain gains come in part from a lightweight twin-exit titanium exhaust system from Akrapovic, which is claimed to be 40 lighter than the standard system. Bespoke three-mode Bilstein dampers help harness the extra performance. Bovensiepen claims the Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus settings deliver "a range from pronounced comfort to athletic driving dynamics". But the sleek new Zagato-designed body will likely attract even more attention than this coupe's Akrapovic exhaust. As part of the Bovensiepen family's aim to become "a manufacturer of outstanding automobiles that embody the ambition of fine driving", the Zagato features all-new body panels to make it look significantly different to the mid-size German coupe on which it's based. Said to combine Bavarian engineering with Italian design, Zagato's latest creation features the Milan-based company's trademark 'double bubble' roof and rear window, and a reshaped bonnet and bootlid with integrated rear spoiler, plus a stainless steel grille and fully retractable frameless windows. It bears the Bovensiepen logo on its front and rear, there are Zagato badges on the front wing gills and further branding can be seen on the brake calipers, wheel hubs, boot and centre console, which houses a special build number plaque alongside extra lashings of carbon-fibre. An exact production number has not been revealed, but Bovensiepen says its inaugural special edition will be "strictly" limited after first deliveries take place at the end of the second quarter of 2026. A long list of personalisation options will also be available for the interior and exterior, allowing each vehicle to be "as unique as its owner", says Bovensiepen. "Our goal is to build cars for connoisseurs and enthusiasts who appreciate the perfect symbiosis of design and technology," said Bovensiepen Automobiles CEO, Andreas Bovensiepen. Zagato's chief designer Norihiko Harada said: "It's a kind of blend of Italian charm, sensual and soft design, with a very solid, almost architectural German structure… a beautiful fusion of two automotive cultures. Established in the 1920, Zagato has previously worked with automakers including Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Bentley, Maserati and Lancia. "This project with the Bovensiepen family is particularly special, as it continues the legacy of blending Zagato DNA with that of a new and inspiring brand, starting from its very first creation," said Zagato president Andrea Michele Zagato. The Bovensiepen Zagato was revealed at Lake Como just a day after the BMW 8 Series-based Speedtop shooting brake special edition, which will enter production next year. Next year BMW will also reveal its plan for Alpina, after ex-Polestar designer Max Missoni was hired by the Bavarian brand to style all of its future luxury models including Alpinas. Content originally sourced from:
