MUNICH — For a decade, the BMW M2 has been the German automaker's purest expression of the small, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe. Now, for the first time, it sends power to all four wheels.

The new BMW M2 with M xDrive, a 2027 model, adds all-wheel drive to BMW's smallest M car, making it the quickest-accelerating version of the M2 yet. Early reviews suggest the added traction transforms its launch and wet-weather confidence, though some testers say it gives up a measure of the playfulness that made the rear-drive car a favorite among driving enthusiasts.

Since its introduction for the 2016 model year, the M2 had only ever been offered with rear-wheel drive.

A long-awaited addition

BMW executives said demand from the U.S. market alone convinced the company to build an all-wheel-drive M2, according to BMWBlog, which had reported on the car's development for years before its official reveal in June.

"The new BMW M2 with M xDrive opens the next chapter in the story of an icon," Alexander Karajlovic, vice president for development at BMW M GmbH, said when the car was introduced.

Power and performance

Under the hood, the M2 xDrive uses the same twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine as the standard M2, producing 473 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque in U.S. trim. BMW did not add any extra power for the all-wheel-drive model.

Because the xDrive system is offered only with the eight-speed automatic transmission, the car receives the........

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