When the BMW M2 first debuted, it was tasked with taking on a few different cars. It would compete with traditional competitors, such as the Porsche Cayman S, while also competing with more unconventional ones, like the Audi RS3 Sportback. The latter of which is one of its biggest competitors, despite being completely different in almost every waye. It was also always much faster than the M2, thanks to its extra power and all-wheel drive grip. Now, though, the BMW M2 Competition is here, packing more power and performance. So can it now hang with its Bavarian rival? We find out in this new video from AutoTopNL.
These two cars are extremely different machines. The BMW M2 Competition is a two-door, rear-wheel drive coupe with a twin-turbocharged I6 under its hood that puts out 405 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. In this video, it also has a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. While the Audi RS3 Sportback is a four-door, all-wheel drive hatchback with a 2.5 liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine, making 400 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque.
Now that the M2 Competition is on sale, it’s the more powerful car of the two, whereas the standard M2 was out-gunned by the hot Audi. Does that help it be any faster, though, especially when you consider the M2 Comp is heavier than the standard car?
The answer, unfortunately for BMW, is no. According to AutoTopNL’s testing, the Audi RS3 is still faster than the M2 Competition to 100 km/g (62 mph) by one tenth of a second. The victory is marginal but a victory nevertheless. While technically down on power, Audi’s 2.5 liter five-pot is one of the best small engines o the planet.
Audi’s off-beat five-cylinder also sounds much better, giving the car some real character. While BMW’s M2 Competition sounds good, European restrictions limit its noise, so it sounds a bit flat. Even when opened up, though, Audi’s little fiver sounds much angrier.
So even with the new engine and extra grunt, the BMW M2 Competition is still not faster than its rival from Audi. It still doesn’t sound as good, either.
