The current generation of the BMW M2 is already one of the most sure-footed rear wheel drive sports cars around. But it looks like there’s still demand for something a bit more grippier.

BMW has announced that the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system is now being offered for the first time in the M2’s second generation (G87) model, following the footsteps of its bigger siblings in having the ability to distribute power to all four wheels.

Speaking of which, the M2’s M xDrive works similarly to the rest of BMW’s AWD models. Power is still biased towards the rear, but when the tires at the back start to get overwhelmed, power is then routed into the front wheels. The M xDrive’s system response can also be altered through the M setup menu, where the driver can also opt for strict rear-wheel-drive mode.

In terms of standard equipment and styling, the M2 xDrive is identical to the rear-wheel-drive version. However, the 3.0-liter, inline-six M TwinPower Turbo is now equipped with the BMW M Ignite technology, which basically adds another set of six spark plugs to the engine’s combustion chambers for better emissions and throttle response.

Power is rated at 480 PS and 600 Nm of torque. Thanks to the new xDrive system, the AWD M2 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds – 0.3 seconds faster than the RWD version despite gaining a significant amount of weight due to the added drivetrain components. There's no mention of a 6-speed manual version for the xDrive, which means it's exclusively offered with the 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic.

With the AWD version, BMW now has the M2 capable of all-season driving in almost any road conditions. BMW says the market launch for the M2 with M xDrive will begin this year. And with the M2 being offered in the country, we won’t be surprised if the Philippines is one of the M2 xDrive’s destinations going forward.