Autocar UK – 07 August 2019

7 AUGUST 2019 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 15

B

MW’s M division is

finalising development

of a lightweight version

of the M2. Carrying the

long-used CS nameplate

into production early next

year, the new coupé builds

on developments brought to

the M2 Competition with the

intention of challenging the new

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 for

dynamic ability.

Set to be priced at more

than £60,000, it will act as a

swansong for the current car

before a new rear-wheel-drive

successor arrives in 2021.

Among the changes for the

CS is a revised aero package

consisting of a front bumper

with a more pronounced

lower lip, revised side sills, a

large rear deck spoiler and a

reprofiled rear bumper. The M

Performance carbonfibre roof

will also be standard, lowering

the car’s centre of gravity.

The interior of the CS is

described by BMW M insiders as

being ‘pared back to essentials

only’ and is expected to feature

the lightweight bucket seats

seen in this prototype.

The new junior M car is

expected to weigh no more

than 1540kg – 85kg less than

the M2 Competition. Sources

say it will retain the older S

unit from the M2 Competition

rather than use the rumoured

new S58 engine that is set

to have its debut in the next

M3. While the focus of the M

CS is more on handling than

power, it’s expected to gain

16bhp over the 404bhp of the

M2 Competition. A six-speed

manual gearbox or seven-

speed automatic transmission

will be available.

Further tweaks are focused

on the chassis, with more direct

steering, firmer springs and

dampers, larger-diameter

anti-roll bars and a reduced

ride height expected. The

prototypes seen testing also

show the use of the M carbon-

ceramic brakes seen on the

M3 and M4. They save 4kg of

unsprung weight at each wheel,

improving handling further.

GREG KABLE

Hardcore M2 targets Cayman

MEET AUDI’S ENTRY-LEVEL ELECTRIC SUV

The E-tron 50 is Audi’s new entry-level variant of

its electric SUV. Range is down from 259 to 186

miles, power from 402bhp to 308bhp, and the

max charging rate drops by 20%. Expect a saving

of at least £10,000 over the £71,000 standard car.

TAXI MAKER LEVC TO WIDEN ITS SCOPE

LEVC will make a lower-spec ‘Icon’ variant of its TX

electrified taxi, but no true low-cost model is due.

CEO Joerg Hoffman, whose firm made its 2500th

taxi last week, also said it needs to move “away

from the London-focused niche” to survive.

Lightweight, CS-badged M2 swansong set for 1540kg kerb weight and 420bhp

HIPHI 1 EV TARGETS ‘HIGHER-LEVEL’ AUTONOMY

Chinese start-up Human Horizons has unveiled

a radical electric SUV concept. The HiPhi 1 has

been developed by a team led by the former

boss of JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations division

and is said to closely preview a production

car due by 2021. The 5.2m-long concept has

562 sensors to offer ‘higher-level’ autonomy.

To p ve r s i o n s w i l l d o 0 -62m p h i n l e s s t h a n fo u r

seconds, with a range of up to 400 miles.

ALPINA READIES POTENT XB 7

Prototypes of an Alpina version of BMW’s X7 have been

spotted at the Nürburgring, just weeks after the maker’s

boss confirmed such a model was in the works. Tell-tale signs

that it’s an Alpina test mule include the multi-spoke wheels

and split lower bumper design with space for the Alpina logo.

Likely called the XB7, it’s expected to get a 600bhp version

of the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, with a diesel also possible.

Stripped-out cabin

gets lightweight

bucket seats (top)

The HiPhi 1 electric

concept should make

production by 2021

SPY SHOTS

BMW M2 CS

Alpina’s take on

the X7 should use

a 600bhp V

NEWS