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

January 7, 2025

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It’s amazing how trends cycle in car culture.

Sure, the same can be said for almost any culture and subculture. But there is something particularly fascinating about car culture, largely because of the sheer effort we put into our silly hobby. It takes far more effort to change a body kit than an outfit, and respraying a car costs a whole lot more than repainting your living room.

Car culture in the UK is at an interesting crossroads right now. The stance movement seems to be losing momentum, and people are growing tired of 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 rather than a simple Craigslist engine map.

Rhys Herd and his small team at R44 Performance have read the room. Their latest build 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 a lot of big-power builds… but how could we spice things up?” says Rhys “Spice things up” feels like one hell of an understatement – because the goal with this M2 is nothing short of world domination. Rhys and his team want to make it one of the fastest drag-ready BMWs on the planet, aiming to take on the American heavyweights on their own turf.

How? By creating the only all-wheel-drive G87 M2 in the world – producing a staggering 1,500 horsepower, or roughly the same 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 in the room. The M2 has never been available in xDrive form, but its larger siblings on the G80-83 platform can be had with either rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive options. While it’s not a simple bolt-on swap, it gave R44 a solid starting point for their G87 conversion.

Though it’s not as massive as in the US, the drag racing scene in the UK is highly competitive, responsible 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 build. Tom’s expertise in BMW tuning and conversions made him Rhys’s top choice for handling the xDrive swap and the engine build.

Being the first of its kind, there was a lot of uncertainty going into the conversion. While G-chassis BMWs are based on a fairly modular platform, there was no guarantee the M3’s front subframe, transfer case, and axles would fit under the M2. But with plenty of patience and some 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 3.31 times the M2’s original output.

Earlier this year, I wrote about a trio of drag-racing Toyota Supras in 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 quest for supremacy.

While the S58 engine remains a 3.0-litre unit, little else is stock. As has been the case for decades, the OEM twin-turbo setup was tossed in favour of a big single turbocharger – in 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.

Of course, with such a large single-turbo setup comes the need 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 within these products is second to none – rock guards are supplied with the heat exchanger to provide 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 prevent excessive engine bay heat soak.

To reach over three times 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, along with stronger valve springs, seals, guides, and valves. ARP head and main studs, plus upgraded main and rod bearings, ensure the engine stays together.

Reliability is paramount in a car 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 in addition to the OEM high-pressure fuel pump to deliver a strong 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 are now orange-anodized billet – because why not look good at 200mph?

Speaking of looks, I’ll admit that the G87 M2 took a long time to grow on me. Even now, standard ones still don’t do anything for me, but with the right modifications, they become… dare I say it… rather handsome.

The M2 sits lower thanks to AST 5100-series coilovers, complemented by fully adjustable suspension arms front and rear from Suspension Secrets, a UK-based geometry expert. And the coolest feature? The M2 is equipped with an AST air-jack system, which, without fail, always takes a build to the next level.

And, of course, no drag car is complete without a parachute. In this case, a massive 10-foot Simpson Skyjacker is a true statement of intent. I can only imagine the reactions if the R44 M2 rolled through a conservative London neighbourhood.

The car 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, but it was actually the first G87 carbon kit on the market. As a finishing touch, the race livery, designed by Black Fish Graphics, incorporates iconic BMW colours 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 love most about high-power builds these days is how usable they remain. Despite the roll cage, rear seat delete, fireproof bulkhead, and stripped-down door cards, the R44 M2’s interior is still a lovely place to be.

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

The only 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 best. We’ll have to wait until March 11th, 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 close eye on the M2’s US tour leading up to the event, so stay tuned for more updates.