More punch, grip for new BMW 2 Series coupe

BMW has outed its new-generation 2 Series Coupe, showing its roomier body, tech-sharing with the bigger 4 Series, all-wheel-drive availability and pricing from $59,900 before on-road costs.

The new coupe, here at the end of the year, also moves closer to the 4 Series by sharing its rear-drive platform – with optional xDrive for the first time – and in its premium M240i guise, the M440 3.0-litre turbo six-cylinder engine.

Even better, the 2 Series Coupe eschews the beaver-tooth face of the 4 Series Coupe and adopts a flatter set of kidney grilles alongside a slimmer headlight cluster.

It also splits from its sibling, the 2 Series Gran Coupe, that has a primarily front-drive 1 Series platform also shared with the Mini model range.

The two models offered this year will be the 220i and 240i xDrive, priced at $59,900 and $89,900 respectively, plus on-road costs.

More emphasis has been placed by BMW on performance with the 4 Series-derived CLAR underpinnings giving the new coupe up to 12 per cent more torsional rigidity compared with its predecessor, and a stance that is wider and lower.

Compared with the outgoing 2 Series Coupe, the new-generation model is 64mm wider, 105mm longer and 28mm lower. The boot has a 390-litre capacity, up 20 litres on the outgoing model.

It also has a 51mm longer wheelbase (at 2741mm) and for the 220i, the track is expanded by 54mm at the front and 31mm at the rear. The dimensions are bigger still for the M240i.

Aside from its new stance, the entry 220i also reflects a sportier bias with standard equipment including M Sport handling package and 18-inch wheels, M Sport interior and eight-speed automatic transmission with gearshift paddles.

Cabin details include carrying over an almost identical look from the 4 Series, and better tech.

Standard kit includes head-up display, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, auto park assist and reversing assist, BMW’s Live Cockpit Professional with 12.3-inch driver’s screen and a 10.25-inch infotainment touch screen, DAB+ digital radio with six speakers; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging for smartphones and a storage compartment pack to boost personal item space.

The coupe also boasts a 50:50 weight distribution that has been secured using aluminium for the bonnet and front fenders.

The 220i retains the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine rated at 135kW/300Nm mated to an eight-speed automatic – the only transmission now offered since BMW halted the manual option.

BMW says the base coupe is good for a 0-100km/h sprint of 7.5 seconds.

Move up to the 240i xDrive and cabin features expand to include additional active cruise control with traffic jam function, glass sunroof, leather upholstery, digital key, electric seat adjustment with lumbar support for the heated seats at the front and a Harmon/Kardon 14-speaker audio system.

The 240i sits on the same platform but gets a wider track that is up 63mm at the front and 35mm at the rear.

It comes standard with all-wheel drive – a first for the coupe in Australia – and the M440 engine rated at 285kW/500Nm for a sprint time of 4.3 seconds.

It will also have the M Sport adaptive suspension and 19-inch alloy wheels.

A simplified option package will accompany the new-gen coupe, offering packs such as M Sport Plus – adding high-performance brakes, spoiler and body kit – for $2500 for the 220i and $1200 for the M240i.

There is also a metallic paint, sunroof and 19-inch alloy pack for $3900 ($1500 for M240i), a comfort pack with heated seats and steering wheel, electric seat adjustment ($3400 and standard in the M240i), and an executive pack for $3000 ($2800 for the M240i).

The prices are designed to bundle popular accessories and save the buyer money  –  certainly a success given metallic paint alone is a $1700 option.

BMW will add a third coupe in 2022 with the 230i with a 190kW/400Nm version of the 2.0-litre engine.