The Grand Prix of Hungary had a BMW-shaped sideshow on Saturday: the worldwide unveiling of the BMW M2 with xDrive, revealed because the prize automotive for the 2026 BMW M Award — the annual trophy BMW M has handed to MotoGP’s quickest qualifier since 2003.
The automotive was introduced at Balaton Park Circuit by Carlos Ezpeleta, MotoGP’s Chief Sporting Officer, and Zsuzsanna Pocs, Head of Advertising and marketing at BMW Group Hungary. Following the reveal, content material creator Becky Evans and MotoGP rider Jorge Martin took the automotive onto the monitor for what BMW is asking the “BMW M Racing Steadiness” problem: driver goes for the quickest lap attainable whereas the passenger tries to maintain a bowl of balls from spilling.
The Star Is The New M2 xDrive
The headline is all-wheel drive on an M2 — the primary time the G87 has worn that configuration. Below regular driving, all 473 hp from the S58-derived 3.0-liter inline-six goes rearward — the entrance axle solely engages when wanted. The efficiency numbers: 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds (3.3 with rollout), 0.3 seconds faster than the RWD automotive. The 0-200 km/h dash takes 12.8 seconds. Curb weight in US spec is 3,988 lbs, roughly 174 lbs heavier than the rear-drive automotive with a six-speed guide. High velocity is identical 155 mph, or 177 with the M Driver’s Bundle.
European-market vehicles get the up to date S58 with BMW M Ignite, a pre-chamber combustion system BMW says it developed from racing. The pre-chamber fires earlier than the primary chamber, leading to a extra full burn and decrease gas consumption beneath onerous driving — helpful for monitor day classes the place you’d in any other case are available in early to refuel. The European vehicles additionally make 480 hp on RON 98 gas with a ten.5:1 compression ratio. US vehicles don’t get M Ignite, at the least for now. Compression drops to 9.3:1 to run on 91/93 octane, and output is 473 hp at 6,250 rpm with 443 lb-ft between 2,700 and 5,620 rpm.
What Are The BMW M Awards?
The BMW M Award works on a easy premise: factors are awarded after each qualifying session, utilizing the identical scale as race outcomes. The rider with probably the most factors on the finish of the season takes residence the automotive. Marc Marquez holds the report at eight wins, together with final 12 months’s. Francesco Bagnaia has three. The listing reaches again by Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo, Fabio Quartararo, Sete Gibernau, and Nicky Hayden.
The precise presentation occurs on the season finale, so whoever takes this residence gained’t be doing so till November. Provided that Marquez is on a Ducati and within the championship combat, a ninth M Award for him will not be out of the query.
