This is the new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. It’s basically a saline version of the 1 Series hatchback and it’s BMWs take on the sleek and stylish Mercedes CLA coupe. Here’s we have 10 things you need to know about it.
Styling
The upfront there’s a unique grille and LED headlights all down the sides frameless doors and a low sloping roofline give the car sporty profile, at the back you’ll find sleek LED lights that give off a real 8 Series vibe.
Driving
The hardcore BMW fans will disappoint because there is no rear-wheel-drive option on the new 2 Series Gran Coupe because it’s based on the 1 Series hatchback, it’s either available as front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive so to make up for that. All cars come with an ARB traction control system, this new traction control system 10 times quicker than the traditional system.
ARB uses a slip controller that is positioned directly in the engine control unit rather than in the control unit for the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system. BMW Performance Control meanwhile breaks inside wheels to help the car turn into the corner better.
Engines
The new 2 Series Gran Coupe will be available with three engines from launch. Two petrol and one diesel. Diesel power comes from the 2-liter 220 D this has 190 horsepower and can go from 0 to 60 in 7.5 seconds and should return around 67 miles per gallon.
Entry-level petrol 218i models come with a three-cylinder 1.5-liter engine with 140 horsepower they should hit 60 in 8.7 seconds and return a decent 56.5 miles per gallon.
The top of the range 306 horsepower M235i which has a 2-liter turbocharged petrol engine, it can go from 0 to 60 in just 4.7 seconds and will hit 155 miles an hour.
M235i
The high-performance 235 I model comes with xDrive four-wheel drive as standard which can send up to 50 percent the power of the car to the rear wheels when extra grip is needed, also standard in this car is a mechanical limited-slip differential that stops the front wheel spinning away power and should make the car feel like it’s got tires made of velcro instead of rubber. Also, you’ll be able to get the M235i with adjustable suspension with comfort and a sport mode.
Price
If you want a 2 Series Gran Coupe on your driveway you can order one now although the car won’t be publicly unveiled until the LA Motor Show in November. Prices will start from around 27,000 pounds that’s around 15 grand more than the 1 Series hatchback but 15,000 pounds cheaper than a Mercedes CLA. You will need to up that figure to around 38,000 pounds for a range-topping M235i.
Practicality
One of the benefits of having the new 2 Series, Gran Coupe based on the 1 Series is that it helps boost practicality, for instance, you get 33 millimeters more legroom in the back than you do in the back of the rear-wheel-drive 2 Series Coupe plus there’s more headroom than in the 1 Series hatch.
You also get a 430-liter boot which is pretty impressive as it’s 40 liters more than you get in the current 2 Series and 50 liters more than the 1 Series hatchback.
Infotainment
The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe gets BMW’s live cockpit plus as standard, this includes a nine-inch central touchscreen and a five-inch digital driver display.
There’s also a touch control system in between the two front seats two USB ports and Wi-Fi, and the system can give real-time updates on things like parking.
Professional
If you upgrade to an M Sport model or the M235i you’ll get BMWs live cockpit professional. This time you get a 10-inch central display and a 10-inch screen in place of the analog instruments the top-of-the-range infotainment system also includes a voice activation system to respond to the words.
Equipment
Sport models come with 17-inch alloys front and rear parking sensors dual-zone automatic air conditioning and a basic infotainment system with a nine-inch center screen. Sport versions are with 18-inch alloy wheels and sport suspension, extra body styling, and sports steering, electric folding mirrors, and upgraded entertainment system.
M235i also gets exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels and sport suspension, a rear spoiler, a performance exhaust system that limited-slip differential on the front axle, and 8-speed automatic transmission with launch control.
Options
The 2 Series Gran Coupe is available with most of the options, you can choose the 9-inch heads-up display which projects info such as directions and speed onto the windscreen straight into your eye line. Finally, you can upgrade the standard 6 speakers 100-watt stereo to a 16 speaker 464 watt Harman Kardon system.
