I won’t deny that I’ve recommended BMW’s M135i hatchback to every person looking to get the most performance from their money. At the price it completely turned the hot hatch segment on its head. Here traction is delivered to the rear wheels while the others stick with front or all-wheel drive, it offers eight gears to the usual seven and the brawny 3.0-litre straight six turbo musters more character than any high-boosted four banger could ever dream of doing.
We drive the BMW M235i in South Africa 2014
Performance on this hallowed level makes its styling just about bearable – perhaps the car’s only loose end in an otherwise bulletproof package. Enter the M235i with more piercing looks and a slightly chestier output. How brilliant would this be?
Before I get to answering that, a little introduction to the return of the 2-Series’ badge. BMW’s plan was to assign the even numbers to coupes and the conventional four door designs to an odd number. At least that was the idea until the 4-Series Gran Coupe came along and mucked everything up. But I digress for the burning question is how much more than a re-badged 135i coupe this new model is.
Aside from the BMW M4 this is the most powerful version of the 3.0-litre straight six turbo, gaining an additional 10kW over its predecessor. Power has been nudged up to 240kW and 450Nm which BMW claim (accurately I might add) will propel you from 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds when fitted with the 8-speed auto. Most buyers will choose this option because it’s near flawless but BMW hasn’t excluded the six-speed manual from the range. Slightly slower, the 0-100km/h is dispatched in five seconds, but thrilling if you primary objective is to boil the rear rubber.
It’s not just about the numbers. If you crave figures knocking on the door of 300kW you’d have to look at Merc’s A 45 AMG but the BMW 235i makes up for it with soul. It dances its way through the rev range, purring or bellowing, and it’s less reliant on being in the right gear to serve up that gut-twisting power. Best of all it does all of this in its most benign Comfort mode which is great for those who dislike flicking the gear selector sideways every time they want to catapult beyond some traffic. Selecting Sport and Sport+ only enrich the experience and permit those lairy oversteer slides.
As standard the BMW M235i comes with an electronic-locking rear differential but it was confirmed that South Africa would not be getting the optional mechanical unit which is undeniably the sportier choice. The BMW M235i wider track, 50:50 weight distribution and primary aluminium construction give it the handling edge over the M135i hatch while those wanting more sportiness can opt for the adjustable dampers which come with a 10mm reduction in ride height. Behind 18-inch alloys (19-inch are optional) blue calipers distinguish the car’s high-performance 4-pot braking system.
Factors like fuel economy and carbon emissions, which ultimately led to BMW abandoning normally aspirated engines for their M-Division products, come to fruition in the BMW M235i. All the torque is on tap by 2500rpm and swift progress can be made by just letting the gearbox roll casually through the gears. ECO mode incorporates a coasting function whereby the engine will return to idle during off-throttle periods.
Overcoming some of the coupe’s inherent practicality compromises is a much roomier cabin generated by extended dimensions. Length is up by 72mm, width gains an additional 32mm and the wheelbase spans another 30mm. This translates to an extra 6mm of headroom in front and a further 21mm of legroom for rear passengers. Boot space is an impressive 390-litres. BMW’s hallmark driver-focussed cabins greet you with a slightly angled centre stack, overlapping layers and a snug cabin. Fairly plain in textures and colours but it makes the business of driving fast an easy thing to execute. Selfish? Very. Adding extras to the options’ list only seems counter-productive: most of the M235i’s charm lies in its price.
With the M4 carrying a minimum price of a million Rand, BMW are offering a far more affordable route to scintillating performance with the BMW M235i. Another recommendation to my performance car of the year.
BMW M235i
Engine displacement: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo petrol
Power: 240kW
Torque: 450Nm
0-100km/h: 4.8sec
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Drive: RWD
Wheels: 8J x 18
Tyres: 225/35R18
Weight: 1530kg
Tank capacity: 52 litres
Consumption: 7.6l/100km (claimed)
Price: R556 345
