Business 207
Volkswagen to Halve Model Range by 2035 Through Natural Transition
BMW M2 Turbo Edition Gains All-Wheel Drive for India, Loses Manual Gearbox
BMW's M2 Turbo Edition, originally a US-only special, will be offered in India with xDrive all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic, dropping the manual transmission. Pre-orders are open on a first-come, first-served basis, with production numbers and pricing still undisclosed.
By Charlotte Redford · 4 min read
BMW's M2 Turbo Edition, first announced as a US-only special before reaching Mexico, is now heading to India with a significant mechanical change: xDrive all-wheel drive. The move marks the latest expansion of a nostalgia-driven model that has steadily outgrown its original single-market exclusivity.
Pre-orders are open in India, but the addition of all-wheel drive comes with a trade-off. The manual transmission is gone. Buyers of the xDrive variant get a two-pedal setup, meaning the third pedal and DIY gear lever that defined the rear-wheel-drive version are no longer available. Like its stick-shift sibling, the all-wheel-drive M2 Turbo Edition comes exclusively in Alpine White, with hand-painted BMW Motorsport stripes running across the body.
The visual package is a deliberate nod to the original 2002 Turbo. A black power dome and reversed «turbo» lettering on the hood recreate the unmistakable look of the classic model, while a dedicated turbo emblem beneath the M2 badge adds another nostalgic touch. BMW has also fitted a carbon-fibre roof and rear spoiler. Buyers can opt for 19-inch front and 20-inch rear M Performance forged wheels finished in Gold Bronze.
Inside, the special edition receives M Carbon bucket seats, an M Alcantara steering wheel and carbon-fibre interior trim. BMW has even added an exclusive turbo badge to the centre cupholder cover, reinforcing the heritage theme throughout the cabin.
The switch to all-wheel drive brings a performance advantage. The M2 Turbo Edition with xDrive accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.7 seconds. Top speed is limited to 155 mph, but the optional M Driver's Package raises it to 177 mph. The drivetrain change also delivers a notable torque boost. The twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six produces 406 lb-ft in the rear-wheel-drive version and 442 lb-ft in this xDrive flavour. That same 37 lb-ft difference applies globally to the regular M2, and not just to the xDrive version. The rear-wheel-drive car with the eight-speed automatic also gets the higher torque output.
BMW India will offer the car in strictly limited numbers, with allocations handled on a first-come, first-served basis. The company has not disclosed the production run or pricing. For now, BMW has announced the M2 xDrive Turbo Edition for India only, with no word on availability in other markets. That may disappoint enthusiasts who would appreciate the added traction and all-weather capability of xDrive.
The M2 Turbo Edition's journey from US-only special to global offering reflects BMW's broader nostalgia strategy. The company is closing out the year with a wave of heritage-inspired editions, following the 325iS and 333i Homage Editions for South Africa. The M2 Turbo Design Edition, which debuted a year ago as a US-only affair, later reached Mexico with a 30-unit run. The Indian xDrive version adds another chapter to that story.
The G87-generation M2 is expected to remain in production through most of 2029, giving BMW ample time to refine its smallest M car further. Whether that means a CS with a manual gearbox or a full-fat CSL remains unclear, but the model's future appears far from settled. For now, Indian buyers seeking the M2 Turbo Edition will have to accept the loss of the manual in exchange for all-wheel-drive traction and quicker acceleration.
7
