BMW 2 Series Coupé - the last of its kind

Six-cylinder in-line engine and all-wheel drive in the compact segment. Only BMW offers such a combination - developed to perfection in the new M240i xDrive Coupé.

Engine in front, drive in rear. This layout counts at BMW to the traditional brand values, for decades, even if some models in the portfolio of the Bavarian automaker are already on the road with front-wheel drive. This includes, for example, the four-door 2 Series Gran Coupébut not the two-door 2 Series Coupé, the new generation of which - internally known as the G 42 - will hit the market in February.

Customer favorite

Even its three-liter, six-cylinder in-line engine is not being retired from BMW in the 2 Series Coupé. On the contrary. Because the demand for this silky-soft and powerful turbo engine was unusually high at over 30 percent even with its predecessor, the product strategists knew from the start that it would remain in the range. From now on it is under the hood of the M240i xDrive Coupé. 

BMW 2 Series Coupé - the last of its kind
The BMW developers have trimmed the new 2 Series Coupé for even more driving dynamics

As the type designation clearly reveals, this variant always has all-wheel drive and will be the provisional top model in the series until around 2023 when the M2 arrives. And not only that, with the M240i xDrive Coupé, BMW also has a vehicle that is unique in its class - and which for its fans is something of a homage to the legendary 02 series turbo. Many also see the M240i xDrive Coupé as the grandson of the crisp 1 Series Coupé.

2 Series Coupé - the bad boy from BMW

Accordingly, the BMW developers have trimmed the new 2 Series Coupé for even more driving dynamics and speak of a "significant increase in agility, steering precision and cornering dynamics" compared to the previous model. The usual compromises in comfort were not deliberately made. After all, the customer knows what kind of vehicle he is ordering. That is why the model is internally regarded as something like the “bad boy in the class room”, as project manager Martin Gruber casually puts it. "We give the M240i a little more leeway in terms of driving dynamics than is normally the case."

This can be seen after just a few kilometers on a winding country road. Once again, the old BMW slogan “For the joy of driving” is not an advertising slogan, but reality in its purest form. The six-cylinder, instead of 235 kW / 320 PS now 275 kW / 374 PS, hangs wonderfully on the gas, as expected, always accompanied by a sonorous sound that only an in-line engine can deliver. Up to 500 Newton meters are sent to the eight-speed Steptronic, which distributes the torque to the axles depending on the situation.

The M240i xDrive Coupé has everything on board for precise and direct driving behavior. This includes variable sports steering, which reacts with different steering ratios depending on the steering angle, as well as an almost even axle load distribution, an electronic sports differential and an all-wheel drive system that emphasizes the rear axle. It is not surprising that the 2 Series Coupé in this form is called "the ultimate driving machine" by its fans.

Cheaper entry price

Those who prefer the more moderate pace, but still love traditional rear-wheel drive, should take a look at the other two engines in the price list. The entry-level petrol engine is the 220i Coupé with 184 hp. The diesel variant is called the 220d Coupé and has 190 hp. At 39.700 euros or 42.800 euros, they are significantly cheaper than the top model at 56.000 euros. 

Old kidney remains

Compared to its predecessor, the M240i xDrive Coupé grew by an impressive eleven centimeters, got a wider track (front +5,4, rear +3,1 centimeters) and a longer wheelbase (five centimeters), but is now three centimeters flatter. The proportions, long hood, short rear, tight overhangs, well set back and small driver's cab create a 3-box silhouette that is otherwise not to be found in this class. And in order to avoid confusion with the 4 Series Coupé, whose huge, vertical kidney aroused so many tempers, the 2 Series Coupé with its grill remains true to the horizontal design.

BMW 2 Series Coupé - the last of its kind
And in order to avoid confusion with the 4 Series Coupé, whose huge, vertical kidney aroused so many tempers, the 2 Series Coupé with its grill remains true to the horizontal design

Every BMW driver immediately feels at home in the cockpit. The layout is similar to that of the 3 and 4 series, the operation, including Alexa voice control, is almost intuitive. Assistance systems are everything that the industry has to offer today, some as standard, others in packages. For the first time, a head-up display is also included in the 2 Series Coupé. Workmanship and material quality are even better than the previous generation. It is impossible not to feel comfortable in the new 2 Series Coupé. The car fits like a tailor-made suit and is a thoroughly driver-oriented car. Project manager Martin Gruber: "The rear seats are one of the least used things."

Technical data


Three-door, four-seater coupé, length: 4,54 meters, width: 1,84 meters, height: 1,39 meters, wheelbase: 2,74 meters, trunk: 390 liters

220i Coupé: 2,0-liter four-cylinder Otto, 135 kW / 184 PS, maximum torque: 300 Nm at 1.350 to 4.000 rpm, eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive, 0-100 km / h: 7,5 s, Vmax: 236 km / h, average consumption: 6,3 - 6,8 l, CO2 emissions: 144 - 155 g / km, efficiency class: not specified, emissions standard: Euro 6d, Price: from 39.700 euros

M240i xDrive Coupé: 3,0-liter six-cylinder petrol, 275 kW / 374 PS, maximum torque: 500 Nm at 1.900 to 5.000 rpm, eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, 0-100 km / h: 4,3 s , Vmax: 250 km / h, average consumption: 8,1 - 8,8 l, CO2 emissions: 185 - 200 g / km, efficiency class: not specified, emissions standard: Euro 6d, Price: from 56.000 euros

220d Coupé: 2,0-liter four-cylinder diesel, 140 kW / 190 PS, maximum torque: 400 Nm at 1.750 to 2.500 rpm, eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive, 0-100 km / h: 6,9 s, Vmax: 237 km / h, average consumption: 4,7 - 5,1 l, CO2 emissions: 122-132 g / km, efficiency class: not specified, emissions standard: Euro 6d, Price: from 42.800 euros

In brief


Why: No other manufacturer offers this drive combination. 
Why not: too little functionality for everyday life.
What else: no direct competitor
When: February 2022

Total
0
Shares
Leave a Comment

Your e-mail address will not be published. Required fields are marked with * marked

Related Posts