It’s not exactly BMW’s best kept secret, after countless leaked images and the South African BMW configurator went online two weeks early and spilled the beans on the BMW 2 Series specifications. Nevertheless, BMW have made the highly-anticipated BMW 2 Series (think 1 Series Coupe replacement) official with these images and details, and we’re still mighty excited by it.
BMW plans to officially debut the all-new BMW 2 Series in January, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and when it does the BMW 2 Series Coupe will come in two guises, the BMW 228i and the more powerful BMW M235i. The 228i boasts 180 kW from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder TwinPower turbo engine, while the M variant gets 235 kW from its TwinPower turbocharged in-line six-cylinder. This equips the BMW 228i with a sprightly 0 – 100 km/h sprint time of 5.4 seconds, while the BMW M235i will do the business in just 4.8 seconds, before hitting a limited top speed of 250 km/h.
The all-new BMW 2 Series incorporates svelte styling to help differentiate it from its larger 3 Series and 4 Series stable mates and the stand out features include the shorter front and rear overhangs and delicate details around the BMW 2 Series taillights. We do think they could do a little more with the tiny twin-tailpipes though. The BMW 2 Series is a compact little car: just 4 432 mm in length, 1 774 mm wide and 1 418 mm higher, but that still means it is 72 mm longer than the outgoing BMW 1 Series equivalent, but crucially it is 24 mm wider and 7 mm lower for added sportiness. In terms of weight; which is an area BMW have been lagging in lately, the BMW M235i tips the scales at 1 455 kg, some 105 kg heavier than the base BMW 2 Series. One hopes that won’t hold it back dynamically.
BMW Fans are already dubbing the BMW 2 Series the spiritual successor to the BMW 2002 of the 60s and ‘70s because of the ‘2.’ But under BMW’s new naming scheme there’s a far more logical explanation for the naming convention: Dynamic models like coupes and convertibles all have even-numbered names while regular sedans and GTs get odd-numbered names, got it? Good.
As far as transmissions go, a six-speed manual is fitted as standard across the BMW 2 Series range but an eight-speed automatic is available as a much welcome option. Fuel saving is improved with the eight-speed transmission, courtesy of an engine stop-start function and the use of ECO PRO mode. BMW claim the fuel economy for the BMW 228i automatic is 12.3 L/100 km urban and 8.1 L/100 km extra-urban, while the M235i will be rated 12.8 L/10 km urban and 8.5 L/100 km extra-urban.
Interior wise, the BMW 2 Series gets dual-zone climate control and BMW’s iDrive interface with a 6.5-inch display. Opt for the upgraded navigation system and you’ll get a wide-screen 8.8-inch display. Then the options list starts with Adaptive Headlights, High Beam Assistant, Parking Assistant, a rearview camera system, BMW Apps functionality, et al. Real-time traffic formation, web radio functions, social networking and even an M laptimer can all be added through third party apps.
Pricing will start at $33 025 (R323 338 in a direct currency conversion) for the 228i and $44 025 (R431 006 in a direct currency conversion) for the M235i, which sounds pretty impressive for the moment but we expect them to cost a little more when they actually arrive in South Africa in 2014.
