The BMW 2-Series was launched in the U.S. in 2o14 as the successor to the 1-Series, and it’s already seen a number of transformations and new permutations. Here, it’s been a rear-wheel-drive-based coupe and convertible. Recently, its family was expanded to include a front-drive-based, four-door sedan—a “Gran Coupe” as BMW prefers to call it. Now, the 2-series coupe is up for an overhaul to match its strange new four-door counterpart, and images of the new model just leaked onto the internet.
We have good news: The signature BMW kidney grille hasn’t swelled ridiculously out of proportion with the rest of the car, as it has on the new X7 SUV and the forthcoming next-gen 4-Series coupe. Also in the happy news category? The two-door 2-Series is expected to remain rear-wheel-drive. Whew—because today’s model is among the last BMWs to even remotely exhibit classic BMW handling feel and driving fun outside of the high-performance M car stable.
From what we can see in the two photos that leaked on French website Le Automobiliste, the new 2-Series coupe looks a lot like its four-door sibling (grille aside). Depending on what you think of the four-door entry-level Bimmer, that can be either good news or bad news. The specific variant we’re looking at in the photos appears to be some sort of performance model; perhaps it’s the next BMW M240i or M235i, an M Sport model positioned between the regular car and the full-blown M model. The badge is there, but it’s a little to hard to see.
Engine options will likely mirror what we’ve seen from the current Gran Coupe. That means the base 2-Series model will get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes some 230 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The sportiest Gran Coupe M235i gets an engine of the exact same size, but makes 301 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque. It isn’t clear whether the two-doors will swap their currently available turbocharged inline-six engines for an up-rated turbo four as part of the redesign (or what an engine shakeup might mean for the awesome M2 variant). But, we won’t know anything for sure until sometime later this year or early next year when the 2-Series coupe makes its debut.
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