Saturday Shift: BMW M2 Goes Factory-Drift Wild, Porsche’s Painful Pivot, and A Nerdy Dive Into Mega Tunnels

I woke up to an inbox that smelled like hot rubber. First clip? A BMW M2 with 1,100 hp going sideways through BMW’s Munich factory like it owns the place. Then came Porsche’s earnings (grim), motorsport notes from Mexico and Sepang (spicy), and a rabbit hole about the world’s longest tunnels. Coffee went cold. Brain did not.

Porsche’s Profits Dip While Three Petrol Icons Edge Toward the Exit

Let’s rip off the band-aid: Porsche’s profits are sliding as the brand reshuffles its lineup. It’s what happens when you try to change the ship’s engines while still steaming ahead. The entry sports cars—Boxster and Cayman—are driving toward an all-electric future, and the petrol Macan is being shown the door in markets where the Macan Electric is ready to clock in.

I had a 718 GTS 4.0 for a week, and I still think about the crisp throttle and that flat-six crescendo from 5,000 rpm to redline. It’s a keeper. But the future’s already tapping its foot: Taycan updates have turned it into a proper distance runner, the Cayenne hybrids pull like freight trains, and if Porsche nails the 718 EV’s regen tuning and weight management, it could be the benchmark electric driver’s car. Big “if,” but Porsche has a habit of landing the plane.

What’s changing at Porsche, quickly

BMW M2, 1,100 hp, and a Factory Floor: Because Why Not

On paper it reads like a fever dream: take a BMW M2, turn the wick up to 1,100 horsepower, and let it dance through the Munich plant after hours. In reality, it’s a slick, tire-vaporizing gymkhana filmed between robot ballet and neatly painted safety lines. The vibe? Industrial art with a very expensive tire bill.

• Power: 1,100 hp from a BMW M2 that’s gone full lunatic
• Location: BMW’s Munich factory—polished floors, tight margins, zero room for error
• Mood: Corporate Ken Block

For context, the stock BMW M2 I drove earlier this year already feels stout at 453 hp. On pockmarked backroads the S58 wallops from low revs, the diff is properly keyed into your right foot, and in the rain you learn respect fast. Double the power (and then some), put it on a surface slicker than a conference room table, and—well—now you’re into art project territory. I watched the film twice, volume up. Daily driver? Not unless your commute includes a pit crew.

Living With a BMW M2: Reality Check

Quick owner-notes from my time with the standard car: the seating position is spot-on once you drop the chair and pull the wheel to your chest, the ride has that Bavarian “firm but not brittle” cadence, and the steering, while precise, still filters a bit more than I’d like on center. iDrive has improved, though occasionally buries simple toggles—like setting the exhaust flap—two menus too deep. Small cabin, big personality. It’s the kind of coupe that turns a grocery run into a detour-heavy errand.

BMW M2 vs Rivals: Quick Nerd Table

Motorsport: Heat, Altitude, and a Hard Reset

F1 Mexico GP: Verstappen Fast on Paper, Wary on Long Runs

Max topped FP2 but admitted the long-run pace “was nowhere.” Mexico City’s altitude turns cooling and aero into word problems, and brake temps can snowball into tire grief. Expect undercut shenanigans and teams nursing brakes like they’re crystal stemware.

MotoGP Sepang: Bagnaia Lands the Punch, Aprilia Stumbles

Pecco Bagnaia pulled a lap from the sauna air to snag pole at Sepang, while Aprilia had the sort of session you don’t put on the fridge. Sepang is all about clean exits and tire discipline. Bagnaia’s halfway there; Sunday decides the rest.

Supercars: A Sobering Shunt Injures Photographers

A heavy incident left multiple trackside photographers injured. Early whispers point to debris and energy moving where barriers didn’t fully catch it. Days like this remind everyone what matters: people going home. Expect procedural reviews and, hopefully, swift recoveries.

Road-Trip Nerd Corner: The Longest Road Tunnels You Can Actually Drive

Autocar’s list of record-length tunnels sent me rummaging through road-trip memories. I ran the Gotthard Road Tunnel after a red-eye once—16.9 km that felt like a meditation session with intermittent truck taillights. Norway’s Lærdal is the king at ~24.5 km, complete with blue-lit caverns to keep your brain from turning to porridge. Tokyo’s urban Yamate Tunnel (around 18.2 km) is a ventilation masterclass disguised as a commute.

• Norway’s Lærdal: ~24.5 km, mood-lit “caves” to break up the monotony
• Tokyo’s Yamate: ~18.2 km, the longest urban road tunnel
• Switzerland’s Gotthard: ~16.9 km, second tube underway to ease maintenance closures

Pro tip: set the HVAC to recirc for a spell, leave a bigger gap than you think, and if you’re in an EV, plan charge stops either side—fans and stop-start can nudge consumption in weird ways. Alpine ski weekend? Fine. Just make the fondue stop after the tunnel.

Quick Takes

• Porsche’s transition will squeeze supply of beloved ICE specials—watch for a spike in lightly used values, then a cool-down as the market breathes.
• The viral BMW M2 drift film is a hoot. But closed set, professionals, and a fleet of fire extinguishers. For the rest of us: autocross day, helmet hair, big smiles.
• Mexico GP strategy: thin air rewards early stops and clean air. Expect bold undercuts and brake babysitting.

Conclusion: The BMW M2 Stole the Show—But the Plot’s Bigger

Today felt like a perfect car-world mash-up: a BMW M2 went full theater inside a factory, Porsche braced for the tricky middle of its electrified future, and racing reminded us that conditions make champions and humility. If you’re heading out, enjoy the drive—preferably not through a workplace with laser-guided robots.

FAQ

Which Porsche ICE models are ending soon?

The petrol 718 Boxster and Cayman are nearing their sunset as Porsche preps electric successors, and the petrol Macan is being phased out in favor of the Macan Electric in many markets.

Was the 1,100-hp BMW M2 factory drift real?

Yes. It was filmed on a closed set inside BMW’s Munich facility with a heavily modified M2 and pro drivers. Fun to watch; not for DIY.

How quick is the stock BMW M2, really?

Figure 0–60 mph in about 4.0 seconds with the auto, a whisker more with the manual. It feels faster on a tight backroad thanks to that torque-rich S58 and a playful rear end.

Why did Verstappen say long-run pace was “nowhere” in Mexico?

Mexico’s altitude reduces air density, complicates cooling, and changes aero behavior. You can be a quali rocket and still struggle over race distance with brakes and tires.

What’s the longest road tunnel you can drive today?

Norway’s Lærdal Tunnel at around 24.5 km is the current champion, with mood-lit caverns to keep drivers alert.