Ahead of tomorrow’s unveiling, images of the new BMW 2 Series have hit the internet super highway, namely the flagship M235i.
A spiritual successor to the outmoded 1 Series Coupe, the 2 Series measures 4,432 millimetres in length, making it 72 mm longer than the model it replaces and is 26 mm wider (at 1,774 mm) with a 30 mm longer wheelbase (2,690 millimetres). These dimensions help to boost interior cabin space and add 20 litres of boot capacity (now 390 litres).
There’s a choice of three diesel and two petrol powerplants on offer: a 107 kW (143 hp) 218d, 137 kW (184 hp) 220d and 163 kW (218 hp) 225d, along with the 137 kW (184 hp) 220i and M235i pictured here. Packing that delicious 3.0-litre straight six-cylinder fed by a twin-scroll turbo, which churns out 235 kW (320 hp) and 450 Nm, cars with the six-speed manual transmission will crack 100 km/h in 5 seconds, while the optional eight-speed automatic version takes 4.8s. That’s fractionally quicker than the brilliant 1M Coupe, yet it averages just 7.6 litres every 100 kilometres (manual 8.1l/100 km) compared to the 1M’s 9.6l/100 km.
The 2 Series itself features much sleeker styling than its predecessor yielding a Cd of 0.29, with the M235i adopting a more aggressive appearance thanks to its sculpted M Sport bumpers, contoured side skirts, 18-inch M alloy wheels and Ferric Grey mirror casings. It has perfect 50/50 weight distribution and variable sports steering and BMW’s option of a limited-slip differential is a no-brainer.
Due to make its public debut in LA next month, the 2 Series follows the 4 Series as part of BMW’s range realignment, with Coupe and Cabriolet models bearing even-numbered nomenclature and Saloons and Estates receiving the odd numbers.
[Source: Autoblog]