[Artemis]

Originally Posted by lemetier

F30 less than E90, G29 lighter than E89, Range Rover L405 was 900lb lighter than the L322. That's 3 just off the top of my head.

Also part of the equation:

• the G87 M2 is not built from scratch - it's based on a 'regular' series model (G42 2er), including a size increase compared to the F87 M2;
• keeping the 6-cyl engine layout (S58 engine this time around);
• regulations require car manufacturers to indicate more realistic weight figures;
• also safety features evolve;
• new tech gets added.

Needless to remind that BMW did quite some surgery on the E46 M3 to develop the E46 M3 CSL, shaving off 110 kg (1495 kg reduced to 1385 kg - and BMW M could have ventured further down the CSL rabbit hole by including a 6MT instead of an SMGII gearbox) (see for example here, here and here).


Always a pleasure to hear the CSL sing its airbox anth///M:

Apart from "matching the predecessor weight", also a word of caution about unrealistic weight reduction expectations - BMW M engineer Jürgen Schwenker in a Spring 2011 interview regarding the 1M (see here or here):

"Q: Would it not have been possible to reduce the weight of the BMW 1 Series M Coupé to closer to 1,400 kilos instead of the 1,570 kilos achieved? After all, a number of body parts had to be redeveloped anyway. What would have been the additional cost for the customer if the 1,400 kg target had been reached ?
A: It is unrealistic to expect a weight reduction of 170 kilos on an existing basic vehicle. The M3 CSL and M3 GTS show where the reasonable limits lie. It would be necessary to develop a completely new car from scratch – which would, of course, also mean a completely different price scale. We were determined to offer a real BMW M that would also allow newcomers to have some fun with the strongest letter in the world. That’s why we are choosing to go with intelligent lightweight construction methods, e.g. light wheels and specific avoidance of insulating mats. The chassis of the BMW 1 Series M Coupé also helps optimise weight. Both the two-joint front axle, as well as the five-link rear axle of the BMW 1 Series M Coupé are made almost completely from aluminium. Tubular stabilisers, axle guides made from forged aluminium and aluminium shock absorbers complete the lightweight concept for the wheel suspension. The weight of the BMW 1 Series M Coupé is precisely the same as that of the previous generation of the BMW M3, with comparable output and much higher torque. The vehicle weighs 1,495kg (DIN kerb weight) (with 90% full fuel tank without driver and luggage); the 1,570 kg specified are the EU standard weight (including 75 kg for driver and luggage)."

And then there is also the art of figures management that had to be adjusted because of new regulations, requiring car weight figures to be more realistic (no longer the weight figure of a stripped Porsche with PCCB, manual transmission and without airco, without SATNAV & radio, etc. to pull down the weight figure to the minimum level - a minimum weight configuration that only very few customers spec):

Originally Posted by Artemis

On a general note, beware about official weight figures from the past: rules for car weight figures have been tightened. In the past most high performance car manufacturers perfected the art of listing the lowest weight possible with car configurations that almost no customer chose, for low weight bragging rights purposes. Regulations forced the car industry to indicate more realistic figures as regards car weight, fuel consumption, range and CO2 emissions.

For a good example, see here:

And so it's almost inevitable that the G87 M2 6MT weight figure will be higher - at least on paper - than the F87 M2 6MT weight figure (1495 kg) or M2C 6MT weight figure (1550 kg).

Rumor has it that in the early stages of F87 M2 development, BMW also looked into the option of using a reworked N20 engine (4-cyl) for the M2 (N20 Technical Training). A 4-banger would have saved weight and offered reduced emissions. But that did not materialize: in the end an N55 engine variant (6-cyl) was the powerhouse weapon of choice for the original F87 M2 presented late 2015:

Originally Posted by Artemis

For the record and FWIW:

• "Although work has commenced on the "Downsized" M, The M2 or the replacement for the most admired 1er M Coupe.
  It is known as the "Downsized" M because BMW M are investigating the concept of a completely reworked N20 based four cylinder in terms of the successor to the 1M offering the same recipe as before but with lower weight but still offering the entry to M ownership with the key of precision rather than outright power."
  (http://www.f30post.com/forums/showpo...9&postcount=23 - July 2012)
• "BMW M2 Coupe - Successor to the BMW 1 Series M Coupe continues the same formula that made the last car be memorable, no huge competitor in the HP race, four cylinder will bring less weight, which matter most as does more enjoyment and overall feel is considered to be more of a priority than who has the biggest numbers. Already confirmed to be coming by BMW CEO.
  BMW M2 Gran Coupe - Baby Coupe inherits a four door brother and RWD, Direct competitor to the Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG. Scott26 shares that there are now firm plans for an M2 Gran Coupe."
  (http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showp...28&postcount=1 - March 2013)
• "Drop two cylinders of the Autoexpress article [i.e. 4-cyl. instead of 6-cyl.].
  BMW want the fastest four cylinder car in its segment. They also want the M2 to be the most progressive and dynamic car in its segment as well as the lightest performance car. They want a car that has a soul, unlike the Mercedes-Benz AMG A45/CLA 45 which are soulless to drive."
  (http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showp...77&postcount=3 - January 2014)
• "It looks as if they are investigating a more hardcore M2 having seen one at a test track, mixing aerodynamics of the Vision GT and the Racing but identifiable as the M2 but far more muscular and brutal than the standard M2. It could be for racing purpose showcase but I like to think of it as a potential rival to the Porsche Cayman GT4 and the first modern BMW "Batmobile" since the E9."
  (http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...1&postcount=45 - February 2015)

From 6-cyl to 4-cyl: Porsche gave it a shot with the 718 Cayman flat-4, but understood from the feedback that also 'sound' is an important factor contributing to the driving experience with a high-performance car. And so Porsche re-introduced the 6-cyl to claw back (718 GT4, 718 Spyder and 718 GTS 4.0).

For some 718 flat-4 lawnmower noise: 00:00-00:20 and 02:07-06:27: