We've seen it in spy shots dating back more than a year, most recently in September of 2014, but also a month before that and as long ago as May of last year, and we know the M2 will be among the last BMW M models to be offered with a manual transmission.
Now get ready for a teaser campaign ahead of the M2's official online reveal, according to a new report. That reveal will take place in October ahead of the range-topping new sports coupe's global on-sale date around March next year.
BMW Blog says the M2 will be revealed within two months, making its global public debut likely scheduled for either the Los Angeles motor show in November or the 2016 Detroit show in January.
It makes sense for BMW reveal the M2 in the US, that being one of the world's largest M markets, before it's released worldwide – including in Australia – by mid-2016.
According to BMW Blog, the M2 will be available from launch in just four exterior paint colours: Alpine White, Mineral Grey, Black Sapphire and Long Beach Blue, which will be the hero hue, so expect it to appear in the first teaser images of the M2.
As we've reported, the M2 will wind up the aggression of the M235i Coupe on which it's based to 11.
Apart from a chunkier M aero package, the M2 will bring more engine performance than the 240kW/450Nm outputs offered by the 3.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged inline six seen in the M235i.
BMW Blog says the N55 engine, which entered production in 2009 as a replacement for the twin-turbo N54 straight six, will be fitted with a number of components from the 317kW/550Nm S55 engine that powers the latest M3 and M4, including items like the oil pump.
The result is expected to be 272kW of power and 465Nm of torque, making the M2 quicker than the M235i with a 0-100km/h sprint time of less than 4.5 seconds.
More importantly, it will make the rear-wheel drive M2 Coupe competitive in terms of straight-line acceleration with small all-wheel drive performance car rivals like Audi's upcoming 270kW/465Nm RS 3 Sportback hatch and the Mercedes-AMG A 45 hatch and CLA 45 sedan, which by the end of this year will be upgraded with a 280kW/475Nm turbo-four that's said to accelerate them to 100km/h in just 4.2 seconds.
Of course, given the old 135 M Coupe was priced around $100,000, the first M2 will also carry a price premium over the M235i, which currently costs just under $80,000. Although its two-door coupe body and rear-drive layout will be unique in its class, that could make it pricier than both the RS 3 and A/CLA 45, all of which straddle $80K.
Pictured: M235i with M Performance parts