This year BMW is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its M division. The year 2022 will be a busy year for the sporting department, as the series-ready XM, the M3 Touring and the M4 CSL will be presented. At the same time, they are already busy working on the next M2, which is known among BMW connoisseurs under the code name G87.

We’ve already seen quite a few pictures of the Bavarian sports coupe, but these are the best yet. Our Erlkönig hunters were able to immortalize a prototype with a thinner camouflage up close. Thankfully, the exposed grille confirms that BMW isn’t going to overdo it with the size of the kidneys.

The radar sensor located in the middle under the license plate, flanked by two small air inlets, shows that the grille does not reach all the way down, as is the case with the big brother M4 (and the M3).

Positioned above the M240i, the smallest fully-fledged M-car does not shy away from showing its large angular air inlets on the front bumper and the quadruple exhaust pipes at the rear. The subtle rear spoiler doesn’t seem bigger than that of the M Performance model, but rest assured that BMW will be offering a range of M Performance parts to give the M2 a more aggressive look if needed.

The prototype shown rode on 19-inch wheels of size 275/35 R19 on the front axle, where the blue brake calipers are quite visible. The wheel arches looked a bit stronger to indicate a wider lane and the car appeared to be closer to the road compared to the M240i. That suggests it has a stiffer suspension to improve handling.

While the M4 is available with both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive, the latest information suggests that BMW will sell the upcoming M2 exclusively with rear-wheel drive.