BMW has unveiled the all-new G42 2 Series coupe ahead of its first public event at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The second-generation BMW 2 Series coupe has a rather conventional styling, featuring a simple front end unlike the much talked about 4 Series. The new lighting signature at the taillamp split opinions though.
The taillamps feature the “pincer” design from the facelifted BMW X3, but only featuring the upper half. The front lighting signature conveniently looks like the bottom half of the “pincer” and now houses a single circular LED headlamp unit which BMW says reminiscently of the BMW 02 model.
2021 BMW X3
For the new 2-er, BMW has revised the vertical bars in the wide and horizontally emphasised kidney grilles. The bars now function as active air flaps. The much-loved widened rear arches in the BMW M2 has the styling been transferred to the new coupe, further announcing its rear-wheel drive orientation. First seen in the BMW i4 and then the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, the new BMW 2 Series coupe will also use the flush-fitting door handles.
The new 2-er stands 28 mm lower than its predecessor, and its tracks wider by 54 mm on the front axle and 31 mm on the rear axle and spread further apart over a 51 mm longer wheelbase (2,751 mm). While it certainly has a similar profile as the predecessor, the new G42 BMW 2 Series should more comfortable inside thanks to a 64-mm wider body as well as the aforementioned longer wheelbase.
While the new coupe carries the 2 Series naming, it has no relation to the currently available F44 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, which is built on a front-wheel drive oriented platform. The new 2 Series coupe will continue to be propelling the rear wheels as well as a rear-biased xDrive all-wheel drive system.
BMW says many of the chassis technology has been borrowed from the new BMW 4 Series and given a tailored tuning. The front axle features a two-joint spring strut layout while the rear gets the five-link system. Lift-related dampers from the new 3 and 4 Series are specifically tuned for use in the new junior coupe.
Inside, it is a familiar BMW interior, with the dashboard looking to be lifted from the BMW 3 / 4 Series rather than from the 2 Series Gran Coupe. Three-zone automatic air-conditioning and windscreen with acoustic glazing are fitted as standard.
At the current launch phase, the new 2 Series coupe will only be offered with a two-litre four-cylinder or a three-litre six-cylinder engine. The range-topping M240i xDrive coupe gets the big capacity engine delivering outputs of 374 hp and 500 Nm of torque, resulting in a century sprint time of 4.3 seconds. Torque value remains the same but spread higher to 5,000 rpm, while peak horsepower is 34 more than the previous M240i xDrive coupe.
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The engine in the new 220i coupe meanwhile features identical outputs as found in the BMW 320i sedan– 184 hp and 300 Nm of torque. Benchmark century dash is completed in 7.5 seconds. In the US, the 230i coupe is offered with the 255 hp / 400 Nm four-cylinder engine with the rest of the world is only scheduled to have this powertrain option from the summer of 2022. 0 to 96 km/h is completed in just 5.5 seconds in the US-specifications 230i.
All engines at launch will be paired to the famed 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. The range-topping M240i xDrive will have all the added performance-enhancing items such as M Sport differential, rear-biased xDrive all-wheel drive, M Sport suspension and M multi-piston braking system.
The Sport automatic in the M240i xDrive will also be fitted with a “Sprint function” for instant and dynamic bursts of speed when on the move plus the usual Launch Control function.
All that six-cylinder, xDrive and M Sport rear differential hardware adds significant amounts of weight too, adding 200 kg to the kerb weight of the M240i xDrive. At 1,765 kg, that is just 50 kg lighter than the larger M440i xDrive Coupe and close to 500 kg heavier than the new Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ twins.
The all-new G42 BMW 2 Series will be built at the BMW Group’s new San Luis Potosà plant in Mexico which currently manufactures the BMW 3 Series. The new BMW 2 Series coupe will only be delivered to customers from early 2022.
In the USA, the new 230i coupe is priced from USD36,350 (RM151,200) while the range-topping M240i xDrive coupe starts from USD48,550 (RM202,000), with both prices cheaper than the GR Supra range.
GALLERY
2021 BMW M240i xDrive Coupe
2021 BMW 220i Coupe
