BMW M News: G87 M2 xDrive Production & Electric M3 Plans

Big week for the M division. The first all-wheel-drive M2 is now rolling down the line in Mexico, BMW M's boss went on record about why an electric M3 is happening, and the forums are busy with MY26 allocation talk. Here's everything worth your attention from the last week or so.

G87 M2 xDrive Production Is Officially Underway

BMW confirmed that production of the new BMW M2 with M xDrive began this month at Plant San Luis Potosí in Mexico, alongside the rear-drive G87 models. It's the first time the compact M car gets all-wheel drive, and the headline details matter if you're cross-shopping one against a G80:

• 473 hp S58 straight-six, paired exclusively with the eight-speed automatic — no manual for the xDrive car.
• M Ignite pre-chamber combustion technology debuts here, a BMW-patented process aimed at cutting fuel consumption under high load.
• Market launch in late summer 2026, with the USA, Germany and China as the priority markets.

Over on Bimmerpost, the G87 production-dates thread has been tracking this since the schedule leaked, and the consensus is that xDrive cars will run through the end of the G87 lifecycle. If you're already holding a build slot, our G87 M2 parts catalog covers everything from day-one protection to the first round of bolt-ons.

Van Meel Makes the Case for the Electric M3

On August 27, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel explained why the electric M3 is coming — and notably, he says M isn't being pushed into it. The division is convinced an EV can carry full M credentials. The ZA0 launches next year with four electric motors, simulated gear changes, and a pure rear-wheel-drive mode. Just as interesting for the rest of us: the combustion M3 returns in 2028 as the G84, keeping an inline-six, most likely with mild-hybrid assistance.

Translation: the S58-powered cars aren't going anywhere for a while, and the current G80/G82 platform will be supported deep into the next decade. Our G8X M3/M4 parts collection keeps growing accordingly.

40 Years of M3 at Monterey, Gen M in Argentina

At Monterey Car Week, BMW marked 40 years of the M3 at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, running four generations of the car on track — from the 1992 E30 M3 DTM machine to the 2011 E92 M3 GT. Seeing an S65-era car honored as a milestone should tell you where E9X values are headed.

Meanwhile in Argentina, the BMW Experience 2026: Gen M Edition put more than 400 enthusiasts behind the wheel over two days at the Roberto Mouras racetrack in La Plata — a reminder that BMW is still investing in seat time, not just spec sheets.

What's Hot on Bimmerpost

A few threads worth a scroll this week:

• A MY26 G80 M3 xDrive in Purple Silk Metallic with carbon buckets landed in the G80 photos-and-builds section — one of the better Individual color specs posted this year. Browse the G80 M3 forum to find it.
• The M2 CS 0-150-0 mph test from Car & Driver is generating plenty of debate in the G87 forum about how far the compact chassis has come.
• MY26 buyers are comparing delivery windows as allocation news trickles out ahead of the xDrive launch.

FAQ

When can I actually buy an M2 xDrive?
Production started in August 2026 and BMW says the market launch gets underway in late summer 2026, so first customer cars should land within the next few months in the US, Germany and China.

Does the M2 xDrive come with a manual?
No. BMW pairs M xDrive exclusively with the eight-speed automatic; the manual remains available only on the rear-drive G87.

Is BMW killing the gas M3?
No. The electric ZA0 arrives first, but a combustion G84 M3 with an inline-six follows in 2028, likely with mild-hybrid tech.

Whatever chassis you run, you'll find supporting mods for it in our full BMW M parts collection.