BMW M240i (2021): the new 2 Series Coupé is almost an M2!

newsabc November 17, 2021

0 26 7 minutes read

Price from 39,700 euros: market launch of the BMW 2 Series Coupé in early 2022

The new 2 Series Coupé is a BMW for traditionalists. Because the Ingredients of the G42 series are classic: small kidneys, two doors with frameless windows, Hofmeister kink, longitudinally installed engines, in the top model still in-line six-cylinder and rear-wheel drive. Or: the rear axle should get at least the majority of the power in the case of all-wheel drive.

OBD adapter

Carly adapter and Carly app

Order the Carly adapter now and save 15% with the discount code AUTOBILD!

Error diagnosis, coding and used car check: With the OBD adapter for Android and iOS you can take back control of your car!

In co-operation with

Carly logo

The price that BMW charges for the two-door 2 Series also remains home-style. The four-cylinder gasoline engine 220i starts at 39,700 euros, the 220d with four-cylinder diesel costs at least 42,800 euros, and the top model M240i xDrive costs at least 56,000 euros. The 2 Series Coupé will be available from dealers overseas from the end of 2021, while in Germany it will take a little longer: In this country, BMW fans can get the January 22nd, 2022 as market launch reserve. The new M2 based on the 2 Series Coupé will follow later. Then probably with 450 HP from the S58 engine and with manual transmission.

BMW 2 Series Coupé is getting longer, wider and flatter

The is responsible for the traditional Bavarian basic construction CLAR platform under the sheet metal of the 2 Series Coupé, on which the BMW 3 Series and 4 Series are also based. This means that the 2 Series Coupé is longer (10.5 cm), wider (5 cm) and flatter (2.5 cm) than its predecessor. The dimensions at a glance:

● Length: 4537 mm (plus 105 mm)
● Broad: 1826 mm (plus 52 mm)
● Height: 1393 mm (minus 25 mm)
● Wheelbase: 2741 mm (plus 51 mm)
● Front track: 1573 mm (plus 52 mm)
● Rear track: 1587 mm (plus 31 mm)

The taillights are positioned strangely low

But the new generation is also optically enhancing: wide kidneys with needs-based lamellar ventilation, sporty apron with jagged air inlets, evil eye as standard and a power dome on the hood. Details like the recessed door handles (we know from the new i4) are the icing on the cake.

At the rear, we have to be honest, we are surprised by the peculiarly low-positioned tail lights with three-dimensional graphics and twin-pipe exhausts. The top model M240i gets trapezoidal tailpipes. All in all, a successful appearance for the G42 series – and the top model has a look that comes close to the M2 of the F87 series.

The interior is strongly reminiscent of the BMW 4 Series

Open the door! Frameless side windows – the coupé world is still in order here. Splendid. And it goes on happily. The seating position on the sports seats of the M240i is what BMW fans are used to: deep! The sports steering wheel is standard. If you let your eyes wander from the driver’s seat, you have to keep saying quietly to yourself: This is the 2 Series Coupé. Why? If you didn’t know better, you could also sit here in the big brother, the 4-series. Should hardly bother anyone, because the usability is intuitive, the ergonomics perfect, even for tall people; the ambience for the driver and front passenger is sporty without pressing. We don’t need to waste long words about the back seats, because no halfway licensed person wants to sit there voluntarily. On longer stages for two, you can fold the standard 40/20/40 divisible rear seat bench and that Trunk volume of 390 liters expand accordingly.

BMW M240i still with in-line six-cylinder

Traditionally, however, utility value is a minor matter with coupés from Munich. So let’s get to the real inner values. In the new M240i A straight six can still boast. 374 hp, 500 Nm maximum torque and all wheel drive ensure proper driving performance: 4.3 seconds from 0 to highway speed and 250 km / h Top. However, there is no longer a manual gearshift, regardless of the engine. Instead, the excellent ZF eight-speed automatic transmission across the board.

More power than the first BMW M2

Driving machine, fun car, drift mobile – these are just a few of the terms used during the presentation of the M240i. The BMW engineers are very proud of the new coupé, which is manufactured in Mexico. The bare numbers also sound promising: The 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder (B58) is known from other models such as the M340i and has 374 hp and a maximum torque of 500 Nm 4 HP and 35 Nm more than the M2 of the previous generation F22 presented in 2015. This is joined by a rear-heavy four-wheel drive, one Weight distribution close to 50/50 and a standard sport differential on the M240i.

Adaptive M sports suspension for a surcharge

But at the beginning, let’s take it easy. Our test car in the stylish presentation color “Thundernight Metallic” costs 550 euros Adaptive M sports suspension with electronically controlled dampers on board, which BMW recommends for a maximum spread between comfort and sportiness. Indeed, the landing gear offers one pleasant comfort with a smooth ride and is far from the rigors of the current M3 / M4, even in the sportiest position.

Used BMW 2 Series with warranty

However, one of the developers also reveals that he personally has the standard on the M240i M sports suspension (was not available for the test) preferred because it is a touch sportier. One thing becomes clear pretty quickly: With the new 2 Series Coupé, all signs point to driving pleasure. So get out of the “comfort mode” and hit the country road!

In order for the M240i to live up to its reputation as a driving machine and to trump its predecessor in all respects, BMW went to great lengths. The new platform allows one larger track width – on the front axle it is 52 millimeters and on the rear axle 31 millimeters more than on the F22. In addition, the 2 Series Coupé takes over the double-joint tension strut strut front axle and the five-link rear axle from the 4 Series. The M240i is fed up on fast, winding country roads and always gives the driver a feeling of security. This is where it makes itself felt through additional striving for driving dynamics increased torsional stiffness noticeable, which means that there is hardly any tendency to roll.

A rear-wheel drive M240i is to follow

The one on the M240i standard all-wheel drive xDrive is fully variable and, depending on the selected driving mode and the driving situation, sends up to 100 percent of the power to the rear wheels. That ensures maximum grip M sport differential with electronically controlled locking function (up to 100 percent). In everyday life this means: The M240i almost always brings its power to the road without any loss of traction. With Launch Control falls the 100 km / h mark after just 4.3 seconds, which means that the M240i is also on par with the 370 hp M2 in this discipline.

If you now fear that the fun factor will fall by the wayside, you can relax: internally, the M240i bears the name “Drift Machine”. Thanks to the variable all-wheel drive in combination with the M sport differential, If DSC is switched off, controlled drifts are also possible to be possible. We couldn’t check that on public roads, but the first race track test will show whether the M240i is actually a “drift machine”. If you don’t want all-wheel drive at all, you have to be patient a little longer; because BMW has revealed that there will be a version at a later date M240i with rear-wheel drive follows. That should be a little easier then, because the M240i xDrive is anything but a flyweight. With 1765 kilos (EU version), it is around 150 kilos heavier than its four-wheel drive predecessor. According to BMW, the extra weight is due to the larger dimensions and increased safety requirements.

The 2 Series Coupé is not a flyweight

After all, the people of Munich have managed to hide the extra kilos well. When driving dynamically feels the 4.54 meter long coupé handy to. With the standard variable sport steering it is an electromechanical rack and pinion steering with which the BMW can be positioned with pinpoint accuracy. If you plan in 1500 euros for the 19-inch rims (double spoke 893 M bicolor), you won’t just get that Michelin Pilot Sport 4S sports tiresbut also one larger wheel dimension on the front axle (245/35 ZR 19 instead of 225/40 R 19). Thanks to the larger contact surface, the steering behavior is very direct – that’s how it should be!

Just this much about the well-known engine / gearbox combination: The Reihensechser is a poem. The maximum torque of 500 Nm is available in a wide speed range between 1900 and 5000 rpm and, together with the Eight-speed sports automatic a perfect duo. In “Sport Plus” mode, the automatic converter slams the gears with such force that the car jerks slightly every time. The thrust is accompanied by one sonorous bass sound from the two trapezoidal tailpipes at the rear.

Technical specifications

BMW 220i Coupe ● Engine: four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine ● Power: 184 hp ● maximum torque: 300 Nm ● transmission: eight-speed automatic ● drive: rear-wheel drive ● top speed: 236 km / h ● acceleration 0-100 km / h: 7.5 s ● Price: from 39,700 euros

BMW 220d Coupe ● Engine: four-cylinder diesel (with 48-volt system) ● Power: 190 PS (+11 PS) ● maximum torque: 400 Nm ● transmission: eight-speed automatic ● drive: rear-wheel drive ● top speed: 237 km / h ● acceleration 0-100 km / h: 6.9 s ● Price: from 42,800 euros

BMW M240i Coupé xDrive ● Engine: six-cylinder turbo gasoline engine ● Power: 374 hp ● maximum torque: 500 Nm ● transmission: eight-speed automatic ● drive: all-wheel drive ● top speed: 250 km / h (limited) ● acceleration 0–100 km / h: 4.3 s ● Price: from 56,000 euros