A NEW BMW M2 is to be released in May next year and will come with even more performance than its predecessor.

Priced from £61,495 the new M2 will be able to accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 4.1 seconds with a maximum speed restricted to 155mph.

It's powered by a twin-turbo, straight-six 3.0-litre engine which produces 460hp - 90hp more than the original M2.

An M Race Track package which includes carbon seats and raises the top speed to 177mph will be available as an option as will be a manual gearbox.

The new M2 is part of a model offensive from BMW celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the M high performance marque which has seen the M2 become the biggest seller in the BMW M line up with almost 60,000 models sold across the world.

Fuel economy for the new model is rated at 29.1mpg at best with emissions of 218g/km.

The new M2 will be available with the choice of an eight-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox - each engineered for optimal performance says BMW.

An active differential is another performance aid on the rear-wheel-drive car as is chassis technology originally developed for the larger M3 and M4 models.

Sports suspension and steering are standard and while the car retains its two-door body it is larger than before at 4.57 metres long but sits 11mm lower with a 2.747 metre wheelbase which is 54mm longer than the previous model.

Adaptive LED headlights are standard as is a weight-saving carbon fibre roof while at the rear the M exhaust system protrudes from a diffuser.

The optional MRaceTrack Package includes MCarbon bucket seats for the driver and front passenger, performance track tyres and a hike in the limited top speed from 155mph to 177mph.

The new BMWM2 also features the BMW Live Cockpit Professional as standard as is BMW's Curved Display set up which is modified with M-style content specific for the performance model.

The new M2 will be built alongside the new BMW 2 Series Coupe at the BMW Group's San Luis Potosí plant in Mexico.