2023 BMW M2 dyno test shows noticeably more power than advertised

There's no question the 2023 BMW M2 is special. It looks like a proper M car from BMW and performs like one, including having enough power to back up its looks. In fact, it may have more power than it lets on, according to a recent video from IND Distribution. 

It's not the first time we've seen BMW's 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine deliver more power than expected. In October, we reported that the M4 CSL's engine showed a stout 595 bhp, 53 bhp more than BMW's official number.  

The BMW M2’s new twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six, shared with the M4, is rated at a respectable 453 bhp and 406 pound-feet of torque. That's 48 bhp more than the previous M2 Competition and eight more than the most-powerful M2 CS. 

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However, IND Distribution's dyno shows that BMW's official numbers are slightly low. After three runs, its Zandvoort Blue M2 showed a peak output of 465 bhp and 412 pound-feet of torque. That gap between the official and dyno numbers isn't as significant as it was for the M4 CSL, but it's enough to make you wonder if BMW is intentionally pessimistic regarding its official engine power figures.    

In any case, the Motor1 team is enamoured with the new M2. In our recent test, we said that "If you like the M4, then you’ll love the new M2." While offering a slightly different personality than the original M2, the new one proves to be a smaller and more agile version of the M4 with many of the same features. 

More On The BMW M2:

New BMW M2 Competition not coming anytime soon - report

2023 BMW M2 With M Performance Parts Fully Revealed And It's A Lot To Take In

Starting at £61,495, the M2 isn't cheap. It's also not light, tipping the scales at 1,754 kilograms (3,867 pounds). That's just 50 kg (112 lbs) less than the M4 and more than 90 kg (200 lbs) more than the previous M2 Competition. A lot of that weight is due to BMW's modular CLAR architecture, which underpins the M4 as well as this car. However, that heft is more than made up for by the performance, including a 3.9 second 0 to 60 mph time and an exhaust note offering the exciting yet familiar rasp of BMW's most potent inline-six engines.