Big Drag Energy: R44 Performance’s 1,500hp xDrive M2

It’s amazing how trends cycle in automotive culture.

Sure, the identical may be said for nearly any culture and subculture. But there’s something particularly fascinating about automotive culture, largely due to the sheer effort we put into our silly hobby. It takes way more effort to vary a body kit than an outfit, and respraying a automotive costs a complete lot greater than repainting your lounge.

Automotive culture within the UK is at an interesting crossroads straight away. The stance movement appears to be losing momentum, and persons are growing bored with the base-level ‘enthusiasts’ who proudly shout about their ‘Stage 74 pop-and-bang tunes’ on their M-lite BMWs or Ford STs. There’s a noticeable shift toward period-correct styling and real performance builds reasonably than an easy Craigslist engine map.

Rhys Herd and his small team at R44 Performance have read the room. Their latest construct would look more at home in a SEMA Show booth than cruising the streets of London, where it currently resides. While this isn’t R44 Performance’s first big-power BMW project, it’s undoubtedly their most extreme.

“We’ve done plenty of big-power builds… but how could we spice things up?” says Rhys “Spice things up” appears like one hell of an understatement – since the goal with this M2 is nothing wanting world domination. Rhys and his team have the desire to make it one among the fastest drag-ready BMWs on the planet, aiming to tackle the American heavyweights on their very own turf.

How? By creating the one all-wheel-drive G87 M2 on the planet – producing a staggering 1,500 horsepower, or roughly the identical as a Bugatti Chiron – and aiming for a 1:1 power-to-weight ratio.

Let’s start with the all-wheel-drive system, or xDrive, for the BMW enthusiasts within the room. The M2 has never been available in xDrive form, but its larger siblings on the G80-83 platform may be had with either rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive options. While it’s not an easy bolt-on swap, it gave R44 a solid start line for his or her G87 conversion.

Though it’s not as massive as within the US, the drag racing scene within the UK is extremely competitive, answerable for the quickest BMWs down the quarter mile.

One such player is Tom Wrigley, a GT4 racing driver and owner of Tom Wrigley Performance – the specialist who undertook the mechanical side of the R44 construct. Tom’s expertise in BMW tuning and conversions made him Rhys’s top alternative for handling the xDrive swap and the engine construct.

Being the primary of its kind, there was plenty of uncertainty going into the conversion. While G-chassis BMWs are based on a reasonably modular platform, there was no guarantee the M3’s front subframe, transfer case, and axles would fit under the M2. But with loads of patience and a few fine-tuning, the xDrive components were successfully mated to the M2’s body shell. The driveline was paired with an upgraded DEKA Stage 3+ gearbox and a transfer case with beefed-up pistons, plates, and seals to handle the planned power increase of three.31 times the M2’s original output.

Earlier this 12 months, I wrote a couple of trio of drag-racing Toyota Supras within the States, each pushing 1,250-1,300hp from their heavily built B58 engines. It’s little wonder that Rhys and the R44 team are pushing their G87’s S58 even further in the search for supremacy.

While the S58 engine stays a 3.0-litre unit, little else is stock. As has been the case for many years, the OEM twin-turbo setup was tossed in favour of a giant single turbocharger – on this case, a Precision Next-Gen Sportsman 8385 (rated for 1,700hp) bolted to a bespoke R44 x TWP single-turbo manifold kit. It’s great to see modern engines receiving tried-and-tested tuning upgrades.

In fact, with such a big single-turbo setup comes the necessity for serious cooling solutions. Enter CSF Race cooling products – the M2 has been fitted with a Level Up charge-air-cooler manifold, heat exchanger, engine and transmission oil coolers. The detail from CSF inside these products is second to none – rock guards are supplied with the warmth exchanger to supply added protection (especially for street-driven cars) while the manifold is a billet item replacing the stock plastic item, There’s also a Funk Motorsport turbo blanket and exhaust wrapping to stop excessive engine bay heat soak.

To achieve over thrice its original power, the S58 engine’s internals have been heavily upgraded. CP-Carrillo Pro-Xtreme forged pistons and connecting rods are paired with the over-engineered OEM crankshaft, while the cylinder head and valve train have been reworked. GSC Power Division supplied a set of billet camshafts, together with stronger valve springs, seals, guides, and valves. ARP head and most important studs, plus upgraded most important and rod bearings, make sure the engine stays together.

Reliability is paramount in a automotive aiming for 7-second quarter-mile times, and that extends to the fuel system. Injector Dynamics 2,600cc injectors are fed by three Walbro fuel pumps along with the OEM high-pressure fuel pump to deliver a robust and consistent fuel supply. A Radium fuel pressure regulator damper, 60mm heat exchanger, multi-pump surge tank, and stainless-steel filter round out the setup.

The engine bay isn’t just powerful – it’s beautiful, too. The OEM plastic covers have been replaced with carbon fibre equivalents. Even the fluid caps at the moment are orange-anodized billet – because why not look good at 200mph?

Speaking of looks, I’ll admit that the G87 M2 took an extended time to grow on me. Even now, standard ones still don’t do anything for me, but with the precise modifications, they turn into… dare I say it… reasonably handsome.

The M2 sits lower because of AST 5100-series coilovers, complemented by fully adjustable suspension arms front and rear from Suspension Secrets, a UK-based geometry expert. And the best feature? The M2 is provided with an AST air-jack system, which, without fail, at all times takes a construct to the following level.

And, in fact, no drag automotive is complete and not using a parachute. On this case, a large 10-foot Simpson Skyjacker is a real statement of intent. I can only imagine the reactions if the R44 M2 rolled through a conservative London neighbourhood.

The automotive also sports a full MHC+ exterior package, including pre-preg carbon-fibre splitters and accessories, complemented by an Alpha-N carbon-fibre bonnet, front fenders, and front bumper ‘aero blades’. Not only does this boast the ‘Edition 1′ kit comprising of splitter, side skirts and diffuser, however it was actually the primary G87 carbon kit available on the market. As a completion, the race livery, designed by Black Fish Graphics, incorporates iconic BMW colors like Miami Blue and Laguna Seca Blue on top of the Inozetek Papaya Orange wrap.

Beneath the wide arches sit two sets of Vossen wheels – 19-inch LC3-02s with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres for the road and 18-inch GEN-05 split rims with Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S rubber for the strip. An MMX carbon-ceramic brake package features 6-piston callipers and 380mm discs up front, paired with Pagid brake pads and braided lines.

What I like most about high-power builds as of late is how usable they continue to be. Despite the roll cage, rear seat delete, fireproof bulkhead, and stripped-down door cards, the R44 M2’s interior continues to be a beautiful place to be.

Tillett carbon-fibre bucket seats keep the load down without sacrificing comfort, and the OEM infotainment system is retained.

The one visible hint that this isn’t a stock M2 is the Momo Monte Carlo steering wheel, but even then, the JQ Werks steering wheel system maintains full OEM functionality.

The technology behind modern drag builds is fascinating, and by all accounts, R44 has ticked every box to compete with the most effective. We’ll need to wait until March eleventh, 2025, to see how the M2 performs at TX2K25 in Texas, but I’m confident the team has what it takes. We’ll be keeping a detailed eye on the M2’s US tour leading as much as the event, so stay tuned for more updates.