My FH5 Log: Dos Por Dos

Ah, the BMW M2. If my memory serves me correctly, this baby M car became my favorite when it was first launched nearly a decade ago. It's the car that often leaves drivers with a rather nice impression at the fit of peak. It's easy to fall in love with the M2 thanks to its driving feel.

As the sun sets on the original M2, the time's come to perform its metamorphosis.

The BMW M2 the world knew has turned and now on its G87 spec, the all-new, second-generation BMW M2 is locked and loaded to pick up the pieces where its F87 predecessor left off.

Having obtained from Forza Horizon 5's Horizon Creatives series update's Dry Season Playlist for 20 points, it's time for me to have the word on this odd-looking version of my favorite BMW M car.

Although this is based on the G42 2-Series Coupe, the M2 G87 features a totally different front face that differentiates it from the normal 2-Series Coupe. Under the hood, the M2 G82 uses the same S58 3.0L turbo six-cylinder engine as the M4 G82 but it's been detuned to produce 460PS of power and 550Nm of torque, which is more powerful than the previous M2 F87 Competition model. It can be mated to either a 6-speed MT or an 8-speed M Steptronic AT with Drivelogic which makes it capable of hitting a 0-100kph time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed up to 285kph thanks to an optional M Driver's Package. That's 5kph more than the old M2. It also features Active M Differential at the rear axle, Dynamic Stability Control, M Drive Professional with M Traction Control System, Adaptive M suspension, and other dynamic know-how involved.

The M2 G87 was designed and produced in Mexico, which makes it fit in the game's Mexican landscape.

Despite its butchered looks, it still drives just like the M2 I've remembered from a long time ago. With the added power, improved dynamics, and classic BMW M know-how, the M2 G87 still delivers just the good parts drivers are expecting. No, wait, it's far beyond expectations of what a proper M car should be. Fast, agile, and down-to-earth enjoyable behind the wheel. It's everything the all-new M2 is all about.

Having enjoyed my dibs on the M2 G87, the main question is how much improvement it gained compared to the previous M2? With that, I went back to the festival grounds to compare two generations of the BMW M2 and find out if the M2's metamorphosis from the F87 to the G87 paid off. Let's roll the VTR.

And now, the results...

M2 F87 - 1m18.445s

M2 G87 - 1m15.909s

I guess metamorphosis really paid off. The G87 model managed to beat the F87 at the rate of 2.54 seconds, I presume.

The BMW M2 G87 is still the undisputed favorite M car in this age of the new normal. Despite its odd-looking design, the added grunt and dynamics made the new M2 perform even beyond the wildest expectations. 

This baby M car has turned.

My GT7 Log: Stars and Us

The first-generation BMW M2 and the Ford Focus Mk3 RS are the coolest things to come out from the mid-2010s. No, I'm not referring to some orangutan who drove both of these cars from a certain streaming TV show. I'm thinking about the starry feeling about these two mid-2010s sports cars.

Both the M2 and the Focus RS are compact midsized sports car wonders that satisfy most drivers behind the wheel. The dynamics and character made these two special in every way but just how different between these two?

Beginning with the Ford Focus Mk3 RS, is known to be the last American hot hatch offered on American soil, although it was fully imported from Europe. It has a 2.3L EcoBoost engine that produces 320PS and it has the strongest braking system ever made for a Ford. Despite being 4WD, the Focus Mk3 RS features Drift Mode that allows this hatchback to drift like a rear-wheel-drive car.

When the first BMW M2 was launched, this successor to the 1M Coupe is powered by a 3.0L six-cylinder turbo engine that produces 370HP of power and 465Nm of torque. It can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed M DCT for the purpose of being quick on the line. The M2 featured in Gran Turismo 7 is the facelifted version, the M2 Competition. This version saw its engine power bumped to 405HP thanks to a new S55 engine sourced from its M4 big brother, capable of hitting a top speed of 280kph thanks to an optional package.

Having gotten to know these two, it's time to give these shining stars a one-lap drive toward memory lane at Brands Hatch. Man, it's just like I remembered. A long time ago in an upside-down country far far away, I put these two on a heated sprint race and found out that the less powerful Focus RS trumped the M2 by a narrow margin.

Now, here we are. Doing this stint again but this time, this is Gran Turismo 7. The M2 went through greater heights while the Focus RS remained the same. Still, what a reunion these two stars are, and looks like they're going to settle this again, this time at Brands Hatch. Roll the tape.

After the two have the time of their lives, here are the results;

BMW M2 Competiton '18 - 1m45.442s

Ford Focus RS '18 - 1m48.725s

It looks like the M2 is the winner of this...friendly rivalry between the two stars.

Rivals! Friends and foe alike, today and tomorrow! It's been an honor to drive these two machines once more even in a different game like Gran Turismo 7.

Sure, the Focus RS is already gone for good while the BMW M2's story continues in new and exciting ways, but these two are proven to be the most enjoyable machines not because of the performance and dynamics but because of the charm they possess. Something reminded us of a certain rivalry a long time ago. 

Sounds girly but it's all about dreaming and rolling. Get it? Dreaming and rolling, that's what these two cars are all about and I love them for it.

Keep your dreams rolling, no matter where you are!

BMW M2 G87

The BMW M2 is regarded as one of the best M cars ever made thanks to its back-to-basics approach and its all about bringing driving back to the drivers. With the all-new G87 model, does the all-new M2 retain the mantra from its predecessor even with its questionable looks?

2024 BMW M2

With prices starting at 72,800 Euros plus additional costs, the all-new BMW M2 G87 promises to retain the magic of its well-loved predecessor but despite its promise, the questionable looks will make speedo boys think twice before laying their finger on it.

While this is based on the G42 2-Series Coupe, the all-new M2 swapped the normal 2-Series Coupe's front design for a butchered one judging by its new headlamps and a rather un-BMW-ish frameless kidney grille design, among the other aerodynamic upgrades implemented to it. Inside, it works just like the normal 2-Series Coupe but the all-new M2 is packed with a choice of either M sports seats or M Carbon bucket seats with the latter weighing 10.8kg less than the former. Easier said than done, they said but whatever.

Under the hood, the all-new M2 is armed with the same S58 3.0L turbo six-cylinder engine as its hideous big brother, the M4, but it's been detuned to produce 460PS of power and 550Nm of torque. That's more than what you get from the old M2. As expected, it can be mated to either a 6-speed MT or an 8-speed M Steptronic AT with Drivelogic which makes it capable of hitting a 0-100kph time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed limited to 250kph. 285kph if you opt-in for an optional M Driver's Package. That's 5kph more than the old M2.

Because the all-new M2 is rear-wheel-drive only, you'll fall in love driving with it more than the previous one, and because of its Active M Differential at the rear axle, Dynamic Stability Control, M Drive Professional with M Traction Control System, Adaptive M suspension, and other dynamic knowhow involved, you'll find various ways to get addicted to it either on the streets of Berlin or at a track day in the Nurburgring, not necessarily in that order.

Despite its controversial looks, the added performance and dynamics made the all-new M2 the one to have at this moment in time. Love it or hate it, this baby M Coupe is ready to show its magic to those behind the wheel, and between you and me, we're getting anxious and jealous to drive one someday. Bring it on, BMW!

Photo: BMW AG

Forza Motorsport 7: Driving the M2

The BMW M2 can be easily criticized by some for not being a proper M car because it has an ordinary BMW engine, basically a turbocharged 3.0L l6 engine on the front, but thanks to its back-to-basics approach, it can be easily regarded as one of the best M cars ever made, which is very exaggerating to think that the baby M car is the best car to live with. Despite being slower than any other M cars of today, the M2 is all about bringing driving back to the drivers and that really is perfection on so few levels.



It's hard to say why I am falling in love with the M2 not because of being small but because it has a unique characteristic I had fallen in love since I first set off with this thing back in Down Under years ago. Why? Because it's enjoyable at so many levels, which is unheard of for a baby M car powered by an ordinary turbocharged BMW engine.



Yes, I know that this car can get a bit twitchy and can be a real pain in the corner in the event of the understeer but with so much character on it, this is exactly why I am starting to fall in love with the M2 more than its M4 big brother, in fact, there's so much to tell about it.



So, the M2, 3.0L straight-6, turbocharged, 365HP, stronger and lighter wheel carriers, improved suspension components, and locking differential from the M3, this M car is all about getting familiar with this car, and even though it's not the fastest M car around, it's still one of the most enjoyable M cars to drive even though you are new to this. No wonder Top Gear host Chris Harris likened it to the old M3s of the last century but he mostly preferred its 1-Series M Coupe predecessor. Speaking of which, who wants to see the M2 round the Top Gear Track? Basically, the prime target was the BMW 1M's 1:25 lap time and let's see if I can do better with its successor. Ready? Cue the tape...



After a lap around the Top Gear track, which took me a fortnight, it did it in 1:24.932, which is amazingly similar to the 1M's lap time. Not bad, even though it wasn't a quick car to do the job rather nicely.

I'm already in love with this M2 because while this isn't the fastest despite its size, this is the car that you can spend a lot of time with until you had enough of it, and no matter how hard I try, it often left me with a rather nice impression at the very end.

FH3 Hot Wheels: To Greater Heights

The BMW M2 has been one of my favorite M cars in Forza Horizon 3. I once challenged it against a Ford Focus RS as well as a Bentley Bentayga for some all intents and purposes and it shows that even though it's not as sharp and as powerful as any of the BMW M-cars, the M2 is better in every tangible way and I can get around with this Bimmer as long as I want, as long as that design I made is with me.



Now, it's ready to take on a brand new challenge, this time at Hot Wheels Thrilltopia because we're in a middle of our Hot Wheels arc of our Horizon trip, and to get itself prepared for this new kind of challenge, I've created a masterpiece just for the M2.







Love the new design I made for this? Made to replicate Yume Nijino's new outfit on the second season of Aikatsu Stars. I know, I know, it's an S4 uniform and with Yume wearing the outfit only the most elite students should wear, it feels great that she finally got the dream of becoming one of them. But even though her dream to be an S4 was fulfilled, there's more work need to be done to defend her title and to that, she needs help from one of her friends. Someone who spins herself like she was thunderstruck, someone who loves to poke her belly, and there she is.



Well, if it isn't the turbocharged, all-wheel drive, Ford Focus RS, with the Rola Sakuraba-themed look I made for it. However, it looked different from the last time. Wonder why...











Okay, now that explains everything. Rola in the same uniform as Lily Shirogane really mean one thing. No, she's not as desperate as she is but because she was easily defeated by Yume, all she ever does is to work as hard as she can before she can join the elite ranks some other time. Now that she's on the same boat as Yume and the others, they're officially partners again. Just like old times.



Anyway, with their designs updated to keep up with the times, as well as some new tricks to their sleeves since our last encounter with these things, let's see if they are ready to go through new heights in this epic roller coaster paradise we are venturing right now. Are these gals ready for the trip of a lifetime?






After a little night out at the Thrilltopia, it's fair to say that even through they've changed a bit, their attitudes never changed a bit and looks like they're up to greater heights, literally! The one who achieved the dream and the other one trying hard to be like her, they're in sync with each other! Speaking of which...



Heh? What's that queenly majesty doing here? Something tells me this isn't over between those two. He he he. Anyway, let's leave it at then and in the meantime, we have the whole Thrilltopia to go around for more as the journey continues.

Forza Horizon 3: The Princess and The Dream

This is the Bentley Bentayga and yes, I know. It was from the Rockstar Energy Car Pack for Forza Horizon 3, I drove it last time on Blizzard Mountain, and I even decorated it with a touch of a princess from an idol school. So now why am I driving it again?



Well, there's one main reason why am I driving it again because I really liked it. I may not be used to driving an SUV made by the company behind the Continental GT but the more I drive the Bentayga, I'm starting to realize that there's more to this hunk of meat because despite being a luxury SUV built to cater against the Range Rover, the Bentayga really behaves like a sportscar and while I still have the Hime decor made by me, looks like everyone's going to upset about why a princess like her trashed the competition like it was nothing happened.







No matter how tough the opponents are, she's just minced them like marinated salisbury steak served on a fancy dinner plate at a five-star restaurant only reserved for VIPs, And if that wasn't enough, this classy SUV with the first-class comfort fit for a princess like her to take her on a ski holiday is not afraid to get her face dirty, especially when a strong cyclone hit Down Under. Yep, she really is that extraordinary for a Bentley...



She really is that good for a Bentley of that size and that Bentayga is no exception when it comes to surpass the competition with its style and performance that makes this Bentley extraordinary. Ahem, sorry about that, but that design I made for the car before is what made me fell in love with the Bentley Bentayga and for such a heavy luxo-barge, it still feels like a sportscar and it's not afraid to take on all comers.

So, the Bentayga really is like an invincible princess that stands the crowd, what's it like to take on against the one who is living the dream?



Yep, our old friend, the BMW M2. Hey, still got that Yume Nijino decor I made for that car since our first encounter! How was it then? Great? Anyway, we got two unrelated machines with two similarly themed designs and what we have here is a match between the princess and the dream. This can make a very interesting match.

For fair play, all of their upgrades have been stripped out and they can reclaim it after the match. With the upgrades stripped out and reverted back to normal, some arrangements have been made. Let's look at the stats; the Bentley Bentayga is powered by a 6.0L W12 engine producing 599HP of power and 663ft-lb of torque. It does 0-60mph in four seconds and onwards to 187 mph (301 km/h). The BMW M2 Coupe, meanwhile, is powered by a small 3.0L 6-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 365hp of power and 369ft-lb of torque. Despite producing very less than the Bentayga, has a 0-60mph time of 4.3 seconds and electronically limited to 155mph, it's two thousand pounds lighter than the Bentley.



Okay, let's translate these numbers into lap times and see who can make it to the Surfers Paradise Festival Site first. A standard Bentayga set the target time of 2:35.989 and the goal for the M2? BEAT THE CLOCK.

Before setting off, there's just one major confession about this stunt; with that grace and demeanor the Bentayga showed, feels like the M2 couldn't stand up to this challenge but with such confidence and optimism, this Bimmer, along with the design themed after Yume, is ready to show everything it has and without further ado, the battle between the greats has begun and I got it on the tape.



The time? 2:31.418! About four seconds faster than the mighty Bentayga! This is the moment I've been searching for! It's like Yume defeated Hime for the school's best idol and yes, you get the point. Anyway, enough about that idol trash because this shows that this isn't about size and power when it comes to competition because when you dream big, you can accomplish everything!



Man, what a night it was! Seeing a M2 defeating the Bentayga is like David pinned down Goliath and for a sportscar that is smaller than any other M car from BMW, the M2 really has a lot of ideas to share with. So, what do you say? Ready for your first day tomorrow morning? I'm looking forward to see what's next with this little M car filled with hopes and dreams for us all. Have fun.

Forza Horizon 3: Rivals, friends and foe alike!

Having managed to escape EA exclusivity following their appearance from last year's NFS game, as a theory that someone tested it and failed, the brand new Ford Focus RS and the newest addition to the Forza Horizon 3 family, the brand new BMW M2 Coupe (part of The Smoking Tire Car Pack) are finally getting a little day out round Australia or so I thought because, between these two machines, they can make a dignified rivalry to show which one is best.

But first, let's start with the basics.

Ever since Ford announced that they decide to sell the new Focus RS on American soil, the speedo boys rejoice because, for the first time in forever, they got a chance to try out the ultra-hot Focus they never tasted for years ever since the foundation of Ford Performance that brought America's SVT and Europe's RS together as one forging force to be reckoned with. It has a 2.3L EcoBoost engine that produces 320PS and it has the strongest braking system ever made for a Ford. Unlike the previous Euro-only Focus RS, the new model is now all-wheel drive, just like the Subaru WRX STi, and it comes with a super-secret Drift Mode feature that allows anyone (almost) to drift this car a la Ken Block Hoonigan clips. For an all-weather hot hatch with some tricks up to its sleeves, I knew that this ultra-hot Focus never fails to impress the speedo boys, especially me.

The new BMW M2 Coupe picks up where the old 1M Coupe left off. In fact, this car is discerning for those who believe that the bigger M4 Coupe is a bit grown-up and matured for no reason. Under the hood lies a brand new 3.0L six-cylinder turbo engine that produces 370HP of power and 465Nm of torque. It can be mated to either a 6-speed manual, which is okay for us, and a 7-speed M DCT for the purpose of being quick on the line. I still remember driving the 1M Coupe a few years ago in past installments and in this M2, the spirit of the 1M comes alive in its new form and the way it moves is just one way there some cockamines began migrating from Bimmers to Audis because the more things change, the more that says the same. For a fun car that is more enjoyable than the M4, the new M2 is a clear example that even the smallest can enjoy crashing piling on anyone, and force them to say "uncle."

Well, that's it for my quick evaluation of these two and because these two crossed the borders just to get a little time out Down Under, I have a better idea that will make these two border-crossing sportscars a lot more interesting for anyone who wished they were migrated from NFS to here.

Rivals! Today and tomorrow! Oh, sorry about that but anyway, speaking of rivals, see the new designs I made for these cars? They're all themed right after the stars of Aikatsu Stars; Yume Nijino and Rola Sakuraba.

While I'm busy preparing what to do with these two, both these specially-prepped machines are showing what they can do by partaking in several events.

So, now that these cars showcased what they're made of, I made a little something for these two cars. It's a challenge involving getting from Coober Pedy Town, which is one of the Bucket List Blueprint Points I set, to the Surfers Paradise Festival Site within 3 minutes and 30 seconds. The fastest time wins and because this is Horizon, it's by any means necessary. Time to hit the concert at the metropolis as these two rivals will show how are they capable.

Lights! Motor! And Action!!!



Is anyone wondering why a piece of background music from Halo 5 Guardians was played? Because it's empowering every time I use it on my own Bucket List challenges. And why is the horn sounded like the Halo theme? I unlocked it at the recent Forzathon event. Anyway, now that these two rivals showed what they're truly capable of, I think the Focus RS beats the M2 despite its power and weight advantage because while the M2 is rear-wheel drive, the Focus RS is all-wheel drive, meaning it has no problem getting through the dirtiest of conditions, although it could use a little drift mode to slip through the corners before arriving through the concert in style.

Still, I love driving the BMW M2 more because although the Focus RS has beaten it by a long shot, it is an enjoyable character that the 1M Coupe retains in this new car and the more I'm getting swooned by its character, the more I'm going to drive this car over and over again, all in the name of breaking its limits.

Like a heated rivalry between those two, this will go on because the more they always change, the more they'll stay the same until one of them comes out on top.

Rivals! Friends and foe alike, today and tomorrow! I'm gonna take a vacation for a while before the top brass yells at me for a bit...