M2: would you mind a 4-cylinder layout ?

[Artemis]

Hm, what to think about this 'scoop' ? Rumors, rumors, rumors...
"Evidence of BMW M2 with N55 turbo 6 cylinder engine":
http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=953325

[Artemis]

Porsche boss Matthias Müller announced in a recent interview with Auto Motor und Sport that Porsche will conceive 4-bangers with up to 395hp for the next gen Boxster and Cayman.
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-new...-ar162859.html

[Dee Pee]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Porsche boss Matthias Müller announced in a recent interview with Auto Motor und Sport that Porsche will conceive 4-bangers with up to 395hp for the next gen Boxster and Cayman.
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-new...-ar162859.html

NO WAY!

WAAYYYYY!

I hope they make the Baby Boxster/550 successor soon!

[Pete_vB]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

I am not at all surprised that they would go back to developing 4 cyl motors... For those who have forgotten that BMW and Porsche made 4 cyl motors.. Several Porsche models 4 cyl motors in the past competed directly with BMW years ago..... the 944 and E30 M3 of course were very similar.. and of course there was a 951 which was a 944 turbo.

And here's the thing- if you can achieve your power and delivery targets the smaller, lighter four cylinder will make for a significantly better car.

Take the '73 RS, often cited as the best 911 ever. In 1973 a heavy flat six was required to make 210 horsepower; the 4 cylinder 912 had just 90 hp, barely enough power to get out of its own way. Today, however, you can make nearly 200 hp reliably out of one of those four cylinders, giving a modified 912 the same power to weight ratio as an RS while removing over 100 lbs from behind the rear axle. It's a whispered secret that a 912 so modified will run rings around an early RS in the handling department for a fraction of the price. It doesn't have the cache, peaky power delivery or soundtrack of the real thing, but handling wise it makes a strong argument for a lighter motor.

Of course you can now take that early 911 and give it 400 hp instead of 200, bringing us back to the power and delivery targets. It's a market imperative, unfortunately, that a new car needs to be faster than the old one. It's my strong preference that response and linearity be significantly improved. If they can accomplish those two things with a 4 cylinder then bring it on- it'd be a true modern day E30 M3, and I'll take usable balance over power any day. Sadly I think the easier path to achieving this is through a heavier 6, or a 4 with corners (response) cut. But I'd be happy to be wrong...

[Artemis]

Cross reference: http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=970662

[1&done]

M2 w/ 4-banger = awesome if it's open wheel Ariel Atom weight.

[Artemis]

M2 will be a 6-banger. The 4-banger idea was considered, but shelved.

"BMW M2 (F87) is a Go! Coming Late 2015 - Early 2016
We've recently learned from multiple inside sources (who have been accurate in the past) that the BMW M2 is a go!
The M2 start of production is said to be scheduled for late Fall 2015, which places the first deliveries at the very end of 2015 or early 2016.
Confirming what we reported earlier, we've been told that the M2 will be powered by the N55 turbo inline 6 engine (N55B30T0), producing around 370-380 PS (365-375 HP).
BMW M reportedly also considered a "S48" engine for the M2, presumably an inline four cylinder turbo derived from the (future) B48 engine family. For whatever reason, this engine did not make the cut and we know now that the N55 inline six engine will power the M2.
The code nickname for the M2 is "pyrat2." Why pyrat2? If you recall, the 1M coupe's nickname was "pyrat."
The model code for the M2 will be F87. We do not expect a limited production cycle as the 1M experienced."
http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=976863