BMW M has unveiled the 2026 M2 Turbo Design Edition, a limited-run model that draws its inspiration from the 1974–75 BMW 2002 turbo. Revealed at Road Atlanta during Motul Petit Le Mans, this is less about chasing new performance records and more about reinterpreting a pivotal moment in BMW’s history.

Finished exclusively in Alpine White, each car receives hand-painted BMW Motorsport stripes that trace the hood, roof, and decklid. The reversed “turbo” lettering on the hood, a faithful nod to the 2002 turbo, remains the visual centerpiece. A carbon fiber roof panel with integrated M tricolor stripes and a carbon M Performance rear spoiler complete the look. It’s retro with precision, but also restrained—evoking heritage rather than recreating it wholesale.

The Echo of 1973

The original 2002 turbo was Europe’s first production car to feature turbocharging when it debuted at the 1973 Frankfurt Auto Show. Its 2.0-liter four-cylinder produced 170 horsepower, a striking figure for its time, and made clear that BMW’s small sedans could carry serious intent. It also established the visual cues—the graphics, the stance, the purposeful aggression—that would define the brand’s sporting identity for decades.

Half a century later, the M2 Turbo Design Edition channels that same DNA, albeit through a contemporary lens. Under the hood is the familiar 3.0-liter S58 inline-six producing 473 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, paired exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission. There are no mechanical upgrades, and that feels deliberate. This edition is about design and sentiment, not lap times.

A Carefully Curated Spec Sheet

BMW’s configuration choices here are telling. The Turbo Design Edition arrives well equipped with M Sport seats trimmed in black Vernasca leather with subtle M-color highlights, carbon fiber interior trim, Adaptive Full LED lights with Shadowline accents, and a heated Alcantara M steering wheel.

For those who want a sharper edge, M Carbon bucket seats can be added for $4,500, along with Matte Gold Bronze 1000M wheels for $6,266, and the M Driver’s Package for $2,500. These options are visually dramatic but arguably more about theater than authenticity. The gold wheels, in particular, flirt with nostalgia but feel modern in execution—less 1973, more 2026 showroom centerpiece.

Between Heritage and Marketing

Priced at $82,900 plus $1,175 destination, the M2 Turbo Design Edition doesn’t move the performance needle, but that isn’t its goal. This is BMW’s way of connecting its turbocharged past to its present, reminding enthusiasts where the M lineage started while acknowledging how far the brand has evolved.

Like the 2002 turbo, it is expressive rather than excessive, a car that leans on identity and history more than outright innovation. It may not push the M2 story forward, but it frames the lineage with care—and in an era of constant reinvention, that’s a statement of its own.

Our Take

In recent years BMW M has shown a growing willingness to create special edition models to introduce interesting design details. What makes this one interesting is its focus on M’s history and specifically one of the cars that laid the groundwork for the entire M philosophy. And they’re doing it not on a $150,000 model but on M’s most attainable product.

The 2002 turbo predated M Division itself, yet its influence is visible in every M car that followed—compact proportions, direct steering, and a slightly unruly character. The M2 Turbo Design Edition could never fully capture that rawness, but it does something few modern cars attempt: it connects today’s performance culture back to the experimental spirit that defined BMW’s rise. In an era when M’s identity is being stretched by electrification and luxury, that reflection feels both timely and necessary.

Executive Summary

Model: 2026 BMW M2 Turbo Design Edition
Production start: January 2026
Deliveries: Early Q2 2026
Price: $82,900 + $1,175 destination
Engine: 3.0L S58 inline-six
Power: 473 hp / 406 lb-ft
Transmission: 6-speed manual only
0–60 mph: 4.1 seconds
Top speed: 155 mph (177 mph with M Driver’s Package)

Standard features:
Alpine White paint with hand-painted 2002 turbo-inspired graphics
Carbon fiber roof with integrated M striping
Carbon M Performance rear spoiler
Adaptive Full LED lighting with Shadowline accents
Carbon fiber interior trim
M Sport seats in black Vernasca leather with M-color highlights
Heated Alcantara M steering wheel
Live Cockpit Professional with Head-Up Display
Wireless device charging

Options:
M Carbon bucket seats ($4,500)
M Driver’s Package ($2,500)
19/20-inch Matte Gold Bronze 1000M wheels ($6,266)

BMW M2 Turbo Edition Gallery