Heritage Reimagined: BMW Revives the 2002 Turbo Spirit in the 2026 M2 Turbo Design Edition

BMW M is taking enthusiasts on a nostalgia-fueled trip back to the 1970s with the unveiling of the 2026 BMW M2 Turbo Design Edition, a modern-day tribute to the iconic 1974-1975 BMW 2002 Turbo. Revealed during the 2025 Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, the special edition celebrates five decades of turbocharged performance and design, while reaffirming BMW’s commitment to driver involvement in an era increasingly dominated by automation.

Only a small number of examples will be built, with production beginning in early 2026 and deliveries slated for the second quarter of the year. Exclusively offered with a six-speed manual transmission, the M2 Turbo Design Edition carries a base price of $82,900 plus $1,175 destination and handling – a figure that places it squarely between the M2 and M3 Competition but underscores its collectible intent.

A Modern Canvas for a 1970s Masterpiece

The limited edition stands apart through its hand-painted Motorsport graphics inspired directly by the 2002 turbo’s iconic livery. The Alpine White exterior is wrapped in red, violet, and blue striping that traces the car’s contours across the hood, roof, and trunk lid. The effect is completed by a black power dome with reversed “turbo” script, echoing the Autobahn menace of the original 2002’s mirror-lettered nose decal.

A carbon fiber roof panel integrated with M tricolor accents and a carbon rear spoiler from the M Performance catalog bring the homage into the present day. Standard black 19-/20-inch M Dual-Spoke wheels (Style 930M) complete the stance, while optional Matte Gold Bronze 1000M wheels add a period-racing flourish.

Inside: Analog Passion Meets M Precision

The theme continues inside with Black Vernasca leather sport seats featuring M-color highlights—a subtle nod to the exterior graphics. Unique sill plates read “M2 turbo,” while the alcantara M steering wheel and manual shifter plate etched with “turbo” serve as tactile reminders of the car’s purpose.

Optional M Carbon bucket seats are available for those wanting to push the homage toward track duty. The rest of the cabin carries the full suite of M2 technology, including Live Cockpit Professional with Head-Up Display, wireless charging, and adaptive full LED lighting with M Shadowline trim.

Under the Hood: 50 Years of Turbo Evolution

The 2002 turbo may have been BMW’s first flirtation with forced induction, but the M2 Turbo Design Edition shows how far that experiment has come. The 3.0-liter M TwinPower Turbo inline-six delivers 473 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, driving the rear wheels through a traditional six-speed manual. BMW claims 0–60 mph in 4.1 seconds, and a top speed of 155 mph—or 177 mph with the optional M Driver’s Package.

A Collector’s Classic in the Making

Beyond the mechanicals, the M2 Turbo Design Edition is a love letter to BMW’s motorsport heritage and the car that helped define its identity. Just as the 2002 turbo showcased BMW’s bold embrace of new technology in the 1970s, the new edition underscores the brand’s confidence in celebrating performance purity amidst an electrified future.

In an age where heritage often risks becoming mere branding, BMW’s decision to hand-paint each Turbo Design Edition by artisans, and to pair it with a manual gearbox, marks this as something rare: a bridge between eras—mechanical, emotional, and artistic.

The 2026 BMW M2 Turbo Design Edition revives the visual and emotional DNA of the 1974–1975 BMW 2002 turboin a modern M2 shell. Combining hand-painted Motorsport graphics, exclusive carbon fiber elements, and a six-speed manual, it’s a celebration of BMW’s turbocharged lineage and a likely future collector’s piece.