Automotive

BMW unveils 2 Series Coupe

BMW unveils 2 Series Coupe
The BMW 2 Series has monoblock headlamps
The BMW 2 Series has monoblock headlamps
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Variants of the 2 Series
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Variants of the 2 Series
The 2 Series is a refinement of lessons learned from the 1 Series
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The 2 Series is a refinement of lessons learned from the 1 Series
The 2 Series is BMW's new approach to the compact market
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The 2 Series is BMW's new approach to the compact market
The 2 Series is BMW's new approach to the compact market
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The 2 Series is BMW's new approach to the compact market
Rear perspective view of the 2 Series
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Rear perspective view of the 2 Series
Interior of the 2 Series
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Interior of the 2 Series
The 2 Series comes in three variants
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The 2 Series comes in three variants
The 2 Series replaces the 1 Series
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The 2 Series replaces the 1 Series
The 2 Series is BMW's new aim at the compact market
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The 2 Series is BMW's new aim at the compact market
The 2 Series is longer than its predecessor
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The 2 Series is longer than its predecessor
The BMW 2 Series comes in three variants
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The BMW 2 Series comes in three variants
The BMW 2 Series has a longer bonnet
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The BMW 2 Series has a longer bonnet
The BMW 2 Series has three powerplants
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The BMW 2 Series has three powerplants
The BMW 2 Series is the company's aim at the luxury compact market
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The BMW 2 Series is the company's aim at the luxury compact market
The BMW 2 Series has three powerplants
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The BMW 2 Series has three powerplants
Artist's concept of the BMW 2 Series
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Artist's concept of the BMW 2 Series
Artist's concept of the BMW 2 Series
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Artist's concept of the BMW 2 Series
Artist's concept of the BMW 2 Series
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Artist's concept of the BMW 2 Series
Designing the BMW 2 Series
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Designing the BMW 2 Series
Designing the BMW 2 Series
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Designing the BMW 2 Series
Designing the BMW 2 Series
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Designing the BMW 2 Series
Designing the BMW 2 Series
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Designing the BMW 2 Series
Boot of the BMW 2 Series
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Boot of the BMW 2 Series
Rear seats of the BMW 2 Series
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Rear seats of the BMW 2 Series
Front of the BMW 2 Series
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Front of the BMW 2 Series
Rear seats of the BMW 2 Series
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Rear seats of the BMW 2 Series
Infotainment control for the BMW 2 Series
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Infotainment control for the BMW 2 Series
Boot of the BMW 2 Series
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Boot of the BMW 2 Series
Boot of the BMW 2 Series
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Boot of the BMW 2 Series
Boot of the BMW 2 Series
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Boot of the BMW 2 Series
Front of the BMW 2 Series
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Front of the BMW 2 Series
Cockpit of the BMW 2 Series
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Cockpit of the BMW 2 Series
The BMW 2 Series has dynamic braking
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The BMW 2 Series has dynamic braking
The BMW 2 Series uses the three-box design of its predecessors
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The BMW 2 Series uses the three-box design of its predecessors
The BMW 2 Series has three variants
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The BMW 2 Series has three variants
The BMW 2 Series is longer than the 1 Series
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The BMW 2 Series is longer than the 1 Series
The BMW 2 Series has the most powerful engine of a BMW compact
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The BMW 2 Series has the most powerful engine of a BMW compact
The BMW 2 Series replaces the 1 Series
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The BMW 2 Series replaces the 1 Series
The BMW 2 Series has a rear lip spoiler
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The BMW 2 Series has a rear lip spoiler
The BMW 2 Series has a split grille
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The BMW 2 Series has a split grille
The BMW 2 Series has a rear lip spoiler
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The BMW 2 Series has a rear lip spoiler
The BMW 2 Series' engine
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The BMW 2 Series' engine
The BMW 2 Series has a 30 mm longer wheelbase
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The BMW 2 Series has a 30 mm longer wheelbase
The BMW 2 Series is longer than the 1 Series
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The BMW 2 Series is longer than the 1 Series
The BMW 2 Series has a rear lip spoiler
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The BMW 2 Series has a rear lip spoiler
The BMW 2 Series has monoblock headlamps
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The BMW 2 Series has monoblock headlamps
The BMW 2 Series has three variants based on engine size
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The BMW 2 Series has three variants based on engine size
The BMW 2 Series is intended to be distinct from the 1 Series
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The BMW 2 Series is intended to be distinct from the 1 Series
The BMW 2 Series is rear wheel drive
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The BMW 2 Series is rear wheel drive
The BMW 2 Series has a sportier deisgn
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The BMW 2 Series has a sportier deisgn
The BMW 2 Series rear detail
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The BMW 2 Series rear detail
The BMW 2 Series wheel detail
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The BMW 2 Series wheel detail
The BMW 2 Series is first new BMW compact in ten years
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The BMW 2 Series is first new BMW compact in ten years
The BMW 2 Series has two wheel variants
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The BMW 2 Series has two wheel variants
The BMW 2 Series has a six-speed gearbox
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The BMW 2 Series has a six-speed gearbox
The BMW 2 Series has an eight-speed automatic as an extra
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The BMW 2 Series has an eight-speed automatic as an extra
The BMW 2 Series is available in petrol and diesel engines
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The BMW 2 Series is available in petrol and diesel engines
The BMW 2 Series has echoes of the 02 range
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The BMW 2 Series has echoes of the 02 range
The BMW 2 Series has dynamic brakes
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The BMW 2 Series has dynamic brakes
The BMW 2 Series M235i is the most powerful of the variants
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The BMW 2 Series M235i is the most powerful of the variants
The BMW 2 Series grille
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The BMW 2 Series grille
The BMW 2 Series rear
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The BMW 2 Series rear
The BMW 2 Series wheel detail
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The BMW 2 Series wheel detail
The BMW 2 Series has brake energy regeneration
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The BMW 2 Series has brake energy regeneration
The BMW 2 Series grille
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The BMW 2 Series grille
The BMW 2 Series
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The BMW 2 Series
View gallery - 66 images

For ten years, the BMW 1 Series has been the company’s big gun when it comes to luxury compacts. Over the years, it’s gone through a number of variants and iterations, but now BMW is taking the lessons learned from the rear-wheel drive 1 Series, mixing them with its TwinPower Turbo technology, and has come up with the BMW 2 Series Coupé. Harkening back to the BMW 02 range of 45 years ago, the company is aiming to make the 2 Series distinct from its predecessor and able to see off the car maker’s competitors in the luxury compact market.

The two-door BMW 2 Series won’t be confused with the 1 Series easily. It’s 72 mm (2.8 in) longer than the 1 Series Coupé, has a 30 mm (1.2 in) longer wheelbase, and is 5 mm (0.2 in) lower, but retains the three-box body. The lines are sportier with a strong through-line, wrap around monoblock headlamps, overlapping surfaces, and a rear spoiler lip for greater downforce.

In front, there’s a split grille that’s somewhat overwhelmed by the air scoops below, but blends nicely into the longer bonnet that accommodates a choice of engines, one of which BMW says produces the most powerful petrol-driven of the brand’s M Performance Automobile line-up.

Cockpit of the BMW 2 Series
Cockpit of the BMW 2 Series

The 2 Series comes in three Coupé variants based on engine choice. There’s the basic 2001 coupé that is the first compact BMW with a two-liter, direction injection, in-line four-cylinder, four-valve petrol engine that puts out 184 bhp (135 kW) and 270 Nm (190 lb.ft) of torque.

At the other end of the spectrum is the M235i. It has a six-cylinder, four-valve three-liter petrol engine that ups the ante with 326 bhp (240 kW) and 450 Nm (331 lb.ft) of torque. Rounding out the collection is the 220d, which is a four-cylinder, two-liter diesel that cranks 184 bhp (135 kW) and 380 Nm (280 lb.ft) of torque. Behind all three is a standard six-speed manual gearbox, though eight-speed automatic and sports automatic gearbox options are available.

As far as performance goes, the 220i does 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7 seconds and has a top speed of 235 km/h (146 mph). The M235i hits 100 km/h in a more respectable 5 seconds and pegs the speedometer at 250 km/h (150 mph), and 220d does a surprising 7 seconds and 230 km/h (143 mph).

The BMW 2 Series grille
The BMW 2 Series grille

The wheels also differ between the variants. The 220i and 220d have 16-in, light alloy wheels, while the M235i has 18-in, light-alloy wheels with bespoke tires. All have Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and Adaptive Brake Assistant. In addition, there’s an auto start/stop function and brake energy regeneration.

Inside, the 2 Series is surprisingly simple and even a bit old fashioned, with accents that are almost like something out of the 1960s. The cockpit is designed around the driver with an asymmetrical center console and a free-standing control display. The front seats have a racy feel to them, though the fold-down rear seats are a bit basic, and even skimpy.

In terms of fuel consumption, performance reflects the powerplants. The 220i does up to 6.1 l/100 km (2.6 US gallons/100 miles), the 220 manages 4.5 (1.9 US gallons/100 miles), and the M235i lags at 8.1 (3.4 US gallons/100 miles).

The BMW 2 Series wheel detail
The BMW 2 Series wheel detail

The M235i is the most elaborate of the 2 Series with an M Sport chassis, Xenon Headlights, M Sport brakes, M Sport suspension, and a special M Aerodynamics package available with a special front apron and rear diffuser

The video below introduces the BMW 2 Series.

Source: BMW

View gallery - 66 images
3 comments
3 comments
Robert in Vancouver
BMW's just don't look like German cars anymore.
If you take the name plates off of them, you would assume they are Korean or Chinese cars.
steveraxx
My first 5-Series had cooling problems. So, what exactly do companies like BMW test when they take cars to Death Valley? Because when I got a second new 5-Series, it had to have its entire cooling system replaced at 70K! As well, this car blew a head gasket.
Okay well, you say that was a design problem with the E-39. Hmmm, my 1962 Impala SS still uses the original radiator, has a much higher compression engine, and has never blown a cylinder head. As well, it is faster than my M-5.
Run flat tires. An inability to check either oil levels or transmission levels has put many of us off of ever buying another BMW. No longer a "drivers" car. You are losing your core buyers BMW, too much plastic, defective electronics and very expensive parts are not indicative of a quality piece.
Gregg Eshelman
This looks like a 1990's Pontiac Grand AM.