The BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe Is A FWD Niche-Filler

BMW has revealed a new 'Gran Coupe' version of the 2-series, based on the same front-wheel drive architecture of the new 1-series
The BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe Is A FWD Niche-Filler

A more practical, four-door version of the 2-series sounds quite appealing, doesn’t it? A compact, rear-wheel drive car to fill the gap left by the bigger-than-ever-3-series could be a breath of fresh air in what’s becoming an SUV-dominated line-up.

But before you get excited, although BMW has made something similar to this, the 2-series Gran Coupe is - under the skin - a closer relative of the 1-series hatchback rather than the 2er coupe.

The BMW 2-series Gran Coupe is predominantly front-wheel drive, although the next regular 2-series will be rear-driven
The BMW 2-series Gran Coupe is predominantly front-wheel drive, although…

As anticipated, the 2-series Gran Coupe - first teased earlier this year - sits on the same ‘UKL’ platform as the 1-series. That means it’s predominantly front-wheel drive.

But as with the 1er, that means more space inside for people and people accessories. And should the thought of a front-wheel drive BMW make you shudder, it’s worth pointing out some GCs will have the rear wheels powered as well as the fronts.

Does the 1-series work aesthetically when stretched into the saloon form of the 2-series Gran Coupe? We'll let you thrash that out in the comments...
Does the 1-series work aesthetically when stretched into the saloon form…

The GC is about the same width as the current 1-series and the wheelbase is identical, but it’s around 200mm longer and a smidge lower. At the back, the saloon-style boot opening reveals 430 litres of space - plenty for whatever the average Gran Coupe owner wants to carry. Probably something golf-related.

From launch, the car will be available with three engines. The two petrols - the 218i and M235i - are shared with the 1-series. The base 218i uses a 1.5-litre inline-three turbo producing 138bhp, making the 0-62mph sprint possible in a respectable 8.7 seconds. Then there’s a huge performance gap to the all-wheel drive M235i, which kicks out 306bhp from a turbocharged inline-four and hits 62mph in 4.9 seconds, a tenth slower than the M135i.

The BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe Is A FWD Niche-Filler

The halfway house is the 220d, which uses a diesel engine pinched from the existing 2-series range. Go for the oil-burner, and you’ll have 187bhp and 295lb ft of torque available, making for a 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds.

The cabin gives off a sense of deja vu strong enough to give Morpheus a nose bleed, as it’s lifted straight from the 1-series. Should you go for either the M235i or an M Sport trimmed version of one of the other two, you’ll get BMW’s Live Cockpit Professional 10.25-inch digital instrument binnacle, paired with an infotainment screen of the same size.

The BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe Is A FWD Niche-Filler

The 2-series Gran Coupe available now, with prices in the UK starting at £25,815, rising to £37,255 for the M235i. This, or a Mercedes CLA?

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Comments

HinaXOX

Just…no

10/16/2019 - 11:25 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Niche-filler, fun-killer

10/16/2019 - 14:07 |
2 | 0
Kenji (Oldsmobile Fan) (GoldWing Enthusiast) (wheel nut)

ah yes, the famous hink holl quote: “I sell people and people accessories.”

10/16/2019 - 17:12 |
0 | 0
Mr. Kei (A Random Corolla) (ZoomZoomer32) (Käfer für i

The new BMWs with FWD will cost as much as a good ol’ RWD bimmer but they will be cheaper to produce, so more profit for them… I’m a big fan of FWD cars, but they shouldn’t have done this. Between this and the CLA, I would probably buy a new Fiat Tipo (the new Dodge Neon, for all you Americans): it’s better looking (opinions may vary), cost waaaaaay less to buy and to maintain and parts are very easy to find

10/16/2019 - 21:34 |
6 | 0
Portner

Bmw does it like audi, you cant tell on first sight if its a 2-3-4-5 series anymore, or worse, maybe a 6 series five doors, or wait for it next year we’ll maybe have a 3 door 5 series…

10/17/2019 - 08:25 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

That is one good looking car, and apparently I’m the only one on here that thinks that

10/17/2019 - 11:44 |
2 | 2