BMW has rejected the idea of building an M2 convertible to complement the new M2 hardtop coupe.
M2 chief engineer Frank Isenberg suggests the company already offers a sporty compact convertible — the 2-Series Convertible in M235i guise. It boasts a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six with 322 horsepower, on par with the 1-Series M.
“We’ve got such a nice M235i Convertible,” Isenberg told CarAdvice. “And convertibles are not for racetracks, they’re for cruising.”
The company wants the M2 to remain as ‘purist’ as the 1-Series M coupe, which now fetches more in the used market than it did in showrooms five years ago. The strategy contrasts with the larger end of the M lineup, which includes drop-top versions of the M4 and M6 despite a significant weight penalty.
The M2 is approximately the same weight as the E46-generation M3, first introduced in 2000. Later generations were heavier, and even the latest carbon-clad F80 M3 is around 100 pounds heavier than the E46.
Though a soft-top has been rejected, BMW has not ruled out M2 special editions to follow in the future.
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