FIRST DRIVE: BMW M2 – 454bhp RWD Manual Coupe + Cayman GT4 & BMW 1M Comparison | Top Gear

The BMW M2 is the smallest, least expensive M car. Only, this new one isn’t really that small (44mm wider than the old one at the front, and 18mm wider at the rear) and it’s certainly not inexpensive at a whisker under £70k. It is, however, the only remaining mainstream manual M car in the UK – and the 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight six’s power goes to the rear wheels only. So is BMW’s 454bhp, rear-drive, manual-optioned M4-lite a recipe for success? Well, we brought along the best-in-class – and an old-time favourite – for a stick-shift showdown.

00:00 - Intro
02:36 - BMW M2
09:50 - Porsche Cayman GT4
14:44 - BMW 1M
19:58 - Conclusion

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[nonstopper]

Ah yes. “The last manual car” for the 10th year in a row!

[maxfrederick]

1M uses the N54 engine. It is absolutely twin turbocharged, not twin scroll unlike the N55 engine in the OG M2

[juanpablodiazguillot]

Never expected TopGear to not do their homework its an N54 and its twin turbo. 2011 the 335i and 135i changed to the N55 twin scroll, but the N54 lived in the 1M and 335iS

[MihneaStoian]

the BMW 1M has the same N54 engine as the 1st gen 135, 335, 435 and the Z4 - TWIN turbo 3L. the N55 is a twin-SCROLL turbo, but it's not as strongly built, and it was available in the later 135 and 335 of the time.

[kimchee]

Embarrassing how Top Gear got the number of turbos on the 1M wrong, and spoken with such authority. These things go through editing, right? And nobody caught that?

[WBizarre]

The trouble with the countless M2 vs. Cayman comparisons is that every journo reaches for the 6-cylinder Cayman. But even the "lowly" GTS is 50% more expensive than the M2. For any sort of price parity you'd have to stick with the ultra-base 718 Cayman with the 4-cylinder, which is still a few grand more than the M2. Has anyone bothered to do an M2 vs. base Cayman comparison?

[TML]

Damn, he was so confident that 1M wasn’t a twin turbo. 😂 oh well, rest of the review was good.

[thijsvw]

Dare i say, that is one beautiful GT4! 😍

[funkeu]

The 1M did have a twin (2)turbo(s) N54 engine not the twin scroll single turbo your presenter mentioned. @TopGear

[georgimihalkov]

So the mid-engined, two seater sports car is the best sports car of the group...Thanks, I certainly didn't see that one coming.

[johnm]

M2: "Everything feels big in test driver is 5 foot 3 inches, and 65Kg)

[Tracertme]

I watched a red BMW Z4 35is follow me the other day and that little car foot print looked so good….. it’s such an under rated car next to the 1M

[imperialginger]

The 1M power was always under quoted from the factory as well (so as not to step on the toes of the M3). Our 1M, completely stock, put out 340whp on a reputable dyno (w/15% loss that's 400hp). I'm confident that they all far exceeded the quoted power.

[dylanbland]

I think you’ll find the 1M is twin turbo as it’s based on the N54. It has a small turbo which hands over to a larger turbo. Awesome review love that BMW has continued the 1M/M2 philosophy

[odinikita]

seriously the lines on the cayman/boxter twins ever since the 981 series came out are just beautiful. they say the F type is beautiful, and it is, but this stands shoulder to shoulder imo.

[izzy]

I am probably not the majority but I think the M2 looks the best here.

[nlocnil]

That M2 looks absolutely sad standing between 2 stunning cars

[danziger]

Really dig all three, but the M2 has gotten too big and heavy. Glad that manuals still exist!

[rafaminus]

That Gt4 seems absolutely beautiful, powerful. 🎉🎉🎉

[MbTrojansurgeon]

If you want the real deal “M” experience…do what I did. 2004 E46 M3 manual. Full refresh and fettle, with lots left over for track days and maintenance.