To be unveiled late this year

An analysis made by a couple of members of the 2addicts forum has revealed the BMW M2's styling could be influenced by the Vision Gran Turismo concept.

By investigating the latest batch of spy shots with the M2, forum members discovered the prototype's rear vents and the diffuser seem to be heavily inspired by the Vision Gran Turismo concept. The high-performance coupe could also feature the rear vertical reflectors of the X5 M & X6 M duo where these are incorporated in the vertical vents.

More similarities with the Vision Gran Turismo are noticeable from the profile, especially in the design of the side air intake vents. As for the fender flares, these will likely be less prominent than those of the beloved 1-Series M Coupe which the M2 will basically succeed in BMW’s lineup.

Slated to enter production in November, the BMW M2 Coupe is expected to feature a six-cylinder 3.0-liter turbo with 380 HP (279 kW), enough for a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint in 4.4 seconds and a 155 mph (250 km/h) electronically-capped top speed. Power will be channeled to the rear axle exclusively via a 6-speed manual while an optional xDrive system could arrive later during the car’s lifespan.

Deliveries will probably kick off towards the end of the year or early 2016.

You can, with the help of an exhaust fabricator, fit an M Performance exhaust from the larger engined BMW M235i onto your downsized 228i. It adds a lot of rasp to the quite smooth and muted standard setup, and if you like four-pot turbos you will definitely enjoy the difference.

The 228i owner showing off his car in the video below says it took around an hour and a half to fit. He says there’s no real difference between how his semi-custom setup sounds compared to what a 328i with the same exhaust system fitted from the factory.

The only difference is the 3-Series gets a single exhaust, whereas this setup has two. Oh, and you also need the rear bumper insert from the M235i, but it’s not horribly expensive, so this is a cool way to give your own 228i a little bit of extra character.

Enters production in November

The highly anticipated 2016 BMW M2 Coupe has been digitally imagined ahead of this year's very possible official reveal.

Perhaps one of the most exciting M cars in recent years, the M2 is likely scheduled to enter production in November for both European and American markets which means the car will probably be introduced in the metal at Frankfurt Motor Show in September. As expected, it will offer a standard rear-wheel drive layout but later on during the car's lifespan it could get an optional xDrive all-wheel drive layout in select markets.

Succeeding the 1-Series M Coupe, BMW's first ever M2 will be powered by an uprated version of the 6-cylinder 3.0-liter turbo engine which in this application should deliver somewhere in the region of 380 PS (279 kW) channeled to the wheels exclusively through a six-speed manual transmission.

Rumors are indicating it will need just 4.4 seconds for the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint and should top out at an electronically-limited 155 mph (250 km/h) while an optional M Driver's Package should bump the maximum speed to around 170 mph (273 km/h) or so.

BMW will likely start deliveries of the M2 Coupe towards the end of the year or early 2016 at a price tag substantially higher than the M235i Coupe which kicks off at €44,750 in Germany in rear-wheel drive and manual transmission specification.

While we wait for the M2, the M235i is the tastiest thing in this entry level performance category. I like the CLA45 AMG, but I'd buy this instead.