All Bite, No Bloat: The 2024 BMW M2 Earns Its Crown

The Performance Vehicle of the 2024 is waiting for you at Flemington BMW, 216 US Highway 202, Flemington, NJ 08822.

For years, car lovers have begged manufacturers for a sports car that checks all the right boxes: rear-wheel drive, standard manual transmission, turbocharged power, and just enough real-world practicality to make it livable. More often than not, the dream was compromised. Something was always missing — too soft, too heavy, too expensive, too sterile. Enter the 2024 BMW M2, which earned MotorTrend’s Performance Vehicle of the Year in 2024 by doing the unthinkable: living up to the hype.

Unlike the soulless spec-sheet chasers or flashy pretenders in this segment, the new M2 is the real deal — and it knows it. Built atop BMW’s modular CLAR platform, the M2 borrows the best bits from its bigger siblings, the M3 and M4, but trims the excess. It’s 4.3 inches shorter in wheelbase and nearly a foot stubbier overall than the M4, giving it a compact, planted stance that screams confidence. And with 453 horsepower and a choice of a no-cost manual or lightning-fast 8-speed automatic, the M2 doesn’t just look the part — it delivers on every straightaway, curve, and cold start.

MotorTrend didn’t just hand the trophy to the M2 because it’s fast — though it is. Zero to 60 in 3.5 seconds (auto) or 3.8 (manual) is nothing to shrug at. What earned it top honors was a magical blend of design precision, engineering brilliance, and everyday usability. One judge called it “a German turbocharged hot rod,” which about sums up the vibe: raw performance, polished delivery. The suspension? Tuned for playfulness, yet totally approachable. The rear differential? Smart enough to help you slide just enough — without scaring your date. And the feel behind the wheel? Balanced, responsive, pure.

Inside, the M2 proves a true sports coupe doesn’t have to be a penalty box. There’s real room in the back for two, a decent trunk, and a cabin filled with premium tech and materials — all standard. That’s right: heated leather seats, infotainment, a sound system, and a sunroof come with the base $64K price tag. No need to tick a million boxes unless you're into carbon fiber trim or track-ready bucket seats.

While the world keeps shifting toward soulless crossovers and EVs with soundtracks piped in from the future, the 2024 BMW M2 stays grounded in what driving should feel like. It’s quick, communicative, sharp, and — maybe most importantly — fun. It's the kind of car that makes you look for excuses to take the long way home through Hunterdon County backroads.

So if you've been waiting for the modern enthusiast’s car — no compromises, no caveats — your wait is over. Visit Flemington BMW on US Highway 202 and take the Performance Vehicle of the Year for a spin. The legend is real. And it’s even better in person.