Attn Americans: BMW is building a manual-only, 2002 turbo-liveried M2

Here’s a hand-painted BMW M2 that pays tribute to the original 2002 turbo from 1973. And it’s a factory special: BMW is building a very limited number of these hand-painted M2 Coupes exclusively for the US market.

So, welcome to the Turbo Design Edition, and as the name rather suggests, it’s an M2 Coupe with a face tattoo. There’s no more power on offer from the venerable 3.0-litre straight six, nor any additional handling smarts from its rear-wheel-drive package.

But it’s being offered exclusively as a six-speed manual M2 – yay! – and features a colour combo that’s essentially a 155mph/177mph mobile advertisement for a stone-cold BMW icon.

And thus, it gets an ‘Alpine White’ body colour, with hand-painted BMW M stripes on the edge of the bonnet (hood) and boot (trunk) lid. Stripes also occur on the standard fit carbon roof, while the M2’s so-called ‘power dome’ – the bit of the bonnet that’s very pleased to see you – is finished in black. It features a reversed ‘Turbo’ script that mirrors the original too.

There’s more Turbo badging at the back, along with a carbon fibre M Performance spoiler, dual-spoke wheels finished in black (or gold as an option), more Turbo badging inside, along with carbon fibre trim, a HUD, bucket seats and – as we’ve mentioned – a six-speed gearbox.

And as we’ve also mentioned, said gearbox channels the standard M2’s power, so for the US that’s 467bhp and 406lb ft, able to reel off a 0-60mph time of 4.1s, and a limited top speed of 155mph, or 177mph if you spec the M Driver’s Pack.

Prices start at $82,900 plus a $1,175 destination and handling fee, and as we’ve also mentioned, BMW is only building a limited – though unspecified – number. The standard US M2 kicks off at $74,300, FYI.