{"id":31130,"date":"2023-07-06T14:07:56","date_gmt":"2023-07-06T18:07:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=31130"},"modified":"2023-07-06T14:07:56","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T18:07:56","slug":"payne-m2-or-m23-bimmers-supercar-siblings-face-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/payne-m2-or-m23-bimmers-supercar-siblings-face-off","title":{"rendered":"Payne: M2 or M23? Bimmer&#8217;s supercar siblings face off"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Pontiac, Michigan<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 The BMW M3 and M2 are not just the brand\u2019s performance halos, they are the latest inductees to the supercar club. With 450-plus horsepower and handling from the gods (not to mention entries from Rahal Letterman Racing in the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship GT class), they deserve consideration alongside rear-engine coupes like the Corvette C8 and Porsche 911.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">But how different are the Bimmer siblings from one another?<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">For 2024, compact-class M3 (and its M4 coupe twin) vs. subcompact-class M2 are instantly distinguishable by their radically different design experiments. But under the skin, they appear separated at birth. Same manual\/automatic gearbox options, similar twin-turbo inline-6 engines, same mono-pane dash display, same Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/07\/04\/PDTN\/442fa452-2727-4efd-a0b8-9b3cd7daf21b-BMWM2_m1-uphill-fr3-4.jpg?width=990&amp;height=558&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" width=\"619\" height=\"349\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Is the smaller M2 still the better driver\u2019s car? I took an automatic, all-wheel-drive 502-horse M3 Competition and manual, rear-wheel-drive 453-horse M2 to Hell and back (and to M1 Concourse\u2019s Champion Raceway and back) for a taste test of these meaty dishes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Both M3 and M2 have spent a lot of time at the dinner table, bucking up to nearly two tons. Yes, the M2, too.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-2\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Enthusiasts lamented that the G80 generation M3 not only gained front kidneys the size of Tweedledum and Tweedledee \u2014 but the girth to match. The M3 tipped the scales 230 pounds more than its predecessor. For 2024 M2 designers resisted the big kidneys for a chiseled, square look, but it, too, has porked up by 250 pounds over the last-gen coupe to 3,814 pounds\u2014just 70 shy of big brother. Oof.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Credit bigger dimensions, bigger screen, bigger everything (except, lamentably the miniature backseat). Happily, the latest-gen cars have spent a lot of time in the gym to maintain their coordination. Supercar coordination.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/07\/04\/PDTN\/b1a897df-6bc1-473e-9fc5-a15445e1d9fd-BMWM3_m1-uphill-fr3-4.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The 2023 BMW M3 Competition is heavy at nearly 4,000 pounds, but its sophisticated suspension and sticky tires made it a blast around M1 Concourse.\" width=\"488\" height=\"275\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/07\/04\/PDTN\/b1a897df-6bc1-473e-9fc5-a15445e1d9fd-BMWM3_m1-uphill-fr3-4.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/07\/04\/PDTN\/b1a897df-6bc1-473e-9fc5-a15445e1d9fd-BMWM3_m1-uphill-fr3-4.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The 2023 BMW M3 Competition is heavy at nearly 4,000 pounds, but its sophisticated suspension and sticky tires made it a blast around M1 Concourse.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The 2023 BMW M3 Competition is heavy at nearly 4,000 pounds, but its sophisticated suspension and sticky tires made it a blast around M1 Concourse.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Over the daunting, undulating roads of Hell, Michigan, in Sports Plus mode, the M pair were stupid quick. Gulping ribbons of asphalt, they stuck to the road like black on asphalt. Lack of body roll at (speed deleted to keep my license) recalled the precision of a Corvette C8 \u2014 if not quite the Porsche 911\u2019s poise.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-3\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">A big asset of the M3\/M2 is M MODE, which turned the head-up display into a horizontal, digital engine tachometer. Every performance car should have this feature to keep your eyes on the road when using a stick-or-paddle-shift at speed. Add optional all-wheel drive and 503 horsepower for the M3 Competition trim and it delivered impressive acceleration numbers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Engage launch control and the sedan explodes out of the blocks to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds \u2014 a comparable number to the 911 and \u2018Vette. The M3 Comp\u2019s sticker price is a lofty $83,595 with all-wheel drive (the first-ever M3 so offered) \u2014 nearly double the price of the standard $45K 3-series. But as a supercar, that it is a bargain on par with the Corvette C8 ZR2, and $20K cheaper than a 911.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/07\/04\/PDTN\/ea3b25ee-ee91-4a75-af12-9af3bda56750-BMWM3_AndroidAuto.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The high-tech cockpit of the 2023 BMW M3 Competition features programmable M1 and M2 mode buttons, a head-up display with tachometer information, twin digital displays and wireless Android Auto.\" width=\"509\" height=\"287\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/07\/04\/PDTN\/ea3b25ee-ee91-4a75-af12-9af3bda56750-BMWM3_AndroidAuto.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/07\/04\/PDTN\/ea3b25ee-ee91-4a75-af12-9af3bda56750-BMWM3_AndroidAuto.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The high-tech cockpit of the 2023 BMW M3 Competition features programmable M1 and M2 mode buttons, a head-up display with tachometer information, twin digital displays and wireless Android Auto.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The high-tech cockpit of the 2023 BMW M3 Competition features programmable M1 and M2 mode buttons, a head-up display with tachometer information, twin digital displays and wireless Android Auto.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The M2\u2019s stick shift (also available in the M3) gave me more control, if less raw acceleration. The visceral thrill of rowing the 2\u2019s box to redline was complemented by a much-improved, notchier shifter than previous generations. At $20K less than an M3, advantage to M2.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">But with four doors and more rear legroom over the tight M2, the M3 is a supercar you can pack the family in. Advantage M3.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"gnt_atomsnc\" class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_anc\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadAnc\" aria-label=\"Newsletter signup form\">\n<div class=\"label\" hidden=\"\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"message\">\n<div class=\"title\">Get the\u00a0<span class=\"highlight\">Michigan Politics<\/span>\u00a0newsletter in your inbox.<\/div>\n<p class=\"description\">Washington and Lansing, red and blue, we&#8217;ve got your government covered.<\/p>\n<div class=\"frequency\">Delivery: Daily<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"input-container populated\"><input autocomplete=\"off\" name=\"email\" required=\"\" type=\"email\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"clickable\"><\/div>\n<p><label>Your Email<\/label><\/div>\n<div id=\"bar\">\n<div class=\"highlight\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"progress-primary\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"progress-secondary\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">After a day in Hell, the M killer whales had outgrown their rural pond. I would routinely flirt with triple-digit speeds before backing off to avoid attracting attention. Like their supercar peers, there is more performance here that can only be explored on a race track.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">On M1 Concourse in Pontiac, the Bimmers were nimble despite their girth. The chassis have multiple cross braces to add rigidity while suspension tuning keeps the cars hunkered down in high-speed turns. Accelerating out of M1\u2019s Turn 6 hairpin in second gear in the M3, the aforementioned head-up tach flashed yellow lights when it was time to shift at 7,200 RPM.\u00a0<em>BRAP!<\/em>\u00a0I upshifted into third with the right, steering-wheel-mounted paddle.\u00a0<em>BRAP!<\/em>\u00a0Into fourth. Beautiful.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/07\/04\/PDTN\/9c37ced4-8cac-47db-9a0a-ffde42d5da9d-BMWM2_cockpit.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The 2023 BMW M2 is stuffed with tech including M1 and M2 buttons to change vehicle modes, digital screens and wireless Android Auto to get you to your destination.\" width=\"493\" height=\"278\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/07\/04\/PDTN\/9c37ced4-8cac-47db-9a0a-ffde42d5da9d-BMWM2_cockpit.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/07\/04\/PDTN\/9c37ced4-8cac-47db-9a0a-ffde42d5da9d-BMWM2_cockpit.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The 2023 BMW M2 is stuffed with tech including M1 and M2 buttons to change vehicle modes, digital screens and wireless Android Auto to get you to your destination.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The 2023 BMW M2 is stuffed with tech including M1 and M2 buttons to change vehicle modes, digital screens and wireless Android Auto to get you to your destination.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Though BMW uses a single-clutch transmission, it\u2019s as buttery smooth as Porsche\u2019s famed dual-clutch boxes. I hit 120 mph at the end of the straight in the M3 \u2014 114 mph in the M2 \u2014 before giant 15-inch brakes brought the missiles back to earth. My M3 tester had ceramic brakes optioned for $8,500 (cough), but steelies will do just fine.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-4\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Don\u2019t get the $4,500 carbon-fiber competition seats either. They are the most uncomfortable I\u2019ve sat in. They keep you planted on track, sure \u2014 but so do plastic go-kart seats. After my 3-hour round trip to Hell and back, my back was barking so loud I had to lay down. Stick with the standard bolstered leather thrones.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Onlookers lamented the mild external sound of the Ms at speed, but inside they\u2019re satisfying. The twin-turbo inline-6\u2019s acceleration is ballistic, exploding from its 2,750 torque peak all the way to redline (thus the importance of that head-up tac). Upshifts crackle, downshifts burp like Godzilla enjoying a good meal. Standard are the Sport 4S tires, but super-sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber (or slicks) are preferred for track days.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/07\/04\/PDTN\/1cd02436-9d2b-4f6d-aec6-fab7e1ea646f-BMWM3_hell-sign.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Welcome to Hell. The 2023 BMW M3 Competition shredded Michigan's best roads with its explosive power and AWD grip.\" width=\"491\" height=\"277\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/07\/04\/PDTN\/1cd02436-9d2b-4f6d-aec6-fab7e1ea646f-BMWM3_hell-sign.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/07\/04\/PDTN\/1cd02436-9d2b-4f6d-aec6-fab7e1ea646f-BMWM3_hell-sign.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"Welcome to Hell. The 2023 BMW M3 Competition shredded Michigan's best roads with its explosive power and AWD grip.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Welcome to Hell. The 2023 BMW M3 Competition shredded Michigan's best roads with its explosive power and AWD grip.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Interiors use identical tech with a lovely curved screen encompassing a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen. Voice commands are inconsistent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cGo to Hell, Michigan,\u201d I said. The BMW routed me to Hillman, MI. Sigh. I switched to Android Auto.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Other tech upgrades hit their mark. The M3\u2019s automatic mono-shifter (also available in the M2) was tight, intuitive. The touchscreen meant I never had to fool with the rotary iDrive. And I could scroll through radio stations on the head-up display using steering-wheel controls so my eyes never left the road.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/07\/04\/PDTN\/8063d4b2-03c4-457b-b2e8-f9c253383eaf-BMWM2_CS-fr3-4.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The 2023 BMW M2 (right) features the latest digital tech and a superior manual shifter, but the 2020 BMW M2 CS (left) is over 300 pounds lighter, boasts similar power, and is not as polarizing in the style department. The CS remains the best driver's car that BMW has made.\" width=\"513\" height=\"289\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/07\/04\/PDTN\/8063d4b2-03c4-457b-b2e8-f9c253383eaf-BMWM2_CS-fr3-4.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/07\/04\/PDTN\/8063d4b2-03c4-457b-b2e8-f9c253383eaf-BMWM2_CS-fr3-4.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The 2023 BMW M2 (right) features the latest digital tech and a superior manual shifter, but the 2020 BMW M2 CS (left) is over 300 pounds lighter, boasts similar power, and is not as polarizing in the style department. The CS remains the best driver's car that BMW has made.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The 2023 BMW M2 (right) features the latest digital tech and a superior manual shifter, but the 2020 BMW M2 CS (left) is over 300 pounds lighter, boasts similar power, and is not as polarizing in the style department. The CS remains the best driver's car that BMW has made.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Styling is subjective, but I think the M3\u2019s big maw will wear better than M3\u2019s Lego blocks \u2014 as will its four-door utility. Um, assuming you have a extra 20 grand in your pocket. Which M to recommend? Let me tease a third option.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">At 3,489 pounds, the last-gen 445-horsepower M2 CS is the best handling BMW driver\u2019s car I\u2019ve piloted. With a better power-to-weight ratio and armed with a stick, it\u2019s more tossable than the heavy 2024 model. The stick shift is rubbery but time behind the wheel begats familiarity.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-5\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Styling is timeless \u2014 no trendy, art school design experiments here. Wide kidneys and a sleek, muscular body. The trick is to find one since the 2020 CS was only built for one model year. See you in Hell.<strong>2023 BMW M2<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Vehicle type: Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive four-passenger sports coupe<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Price: $62,200 base, including $995 destination charge ($75,345 as tested)<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Power plant: 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged, inline 6-cylinder<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Power: 453 horsepower, 406 pound-feet of torque<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Transmission: Six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Performance: 0-60 mph, 3.8 seconds (Car &amp; Driver, manual as tested)<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Weight: 3,814 pounds (manual)<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Fuel economy: EPA 16 mpg city\/24 mpg highway\/19 mpg combined (manual); EPA 16 mpg city\/23 mpg highway\/19 mpg combined (automatic)<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Report card<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Highs: Improved six-speed manual shifter; M MODE head-up display<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Lows: Overweight; polarizing design<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Overall: 3 stars<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>2023 BMW M3<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Vehicle type: Front-engine, rear and all-wheel-drive five-passenger sports sedan<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Price: $75,295 base, including $995 destination ($109,695 Competition as tested)<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Power plant: 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged inline 6-cylinder<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Power: 503 horsepower, 479 pound-feet of torque<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Transmission: Six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic (only auto in Competition model)<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Performance: 0-60 mph, 2.8 seconds (Competition model, Car and Driver)<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Weight: 3,929 pounds (as tested)<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-7\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Fuel economy: EPA 16 mpg city\/22 mpg highway\/18 mpg combined<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Report card<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Highs: Explosive all-wheel-drive acceleration; roomier second-row than M2<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Lows: Gets pricey; polarizing grille<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Overall: 4 stars<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pontiac, Michigan\u00a0\u2014 The BMW M3 and M2 are not just the brand\u2019s performance halos, they are the latest inductees to the supercar club. With 450-plus horsepower and handling from the gods (not to mention entries from Rahal Letterman Racing in the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship GT class), they deserve consideration alongside rear-engine coupes like the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,87],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31130"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31130"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31131,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31130\/revisions\/31131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}