BMW fills another niche no one knew we needed
BMW is looking to fill yet another niche with the upcoming BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. Our spy photographers recently caught a prototype testing on public roads and it looks like it’s got the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class directly in its sights.
Compared to the larger 4 Series and 6 Series Gran Coupe models, the 2 Series Gran Coupe has shorter front and rear overhangs and the greenhouse appears more upright. Like the 4 Series Gran Coupe, the 2 Series Gran Coupe will likely have a rear hatch, meaning it should be more practical than the current-generation 2 Series Coupe and Convertible. The prototype that we recently caught also appears to be an M Sport variants as hinted by the blue brake calipers and a lower front fascia with larger air intakes.
Not much else is known about the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe but our spy photographers tell us that this model will sit in between the global-market 1 Series and the 3 Series in size. At 4.5 meters or around 14.7 feet long, the 2 Series Gran Coupe will be slightly longer than the current 2 Series Coupe and Convertible. However, unlike the current 2 Series Coupe and Convertible, which is rear-wheel-drive, the 2 Series Gran Coupe will move to BMW’s front-drive-based UKL platform, which underpins the entire Mini lineup, the X1, the global-market 2 Series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer, and the upcoming X2 crossover. The 2 Series Gran Coupe is also said to feature styling cues meant to recall the iconic 2002.
BMW’s 2.0-liter turbo-four paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission should be the only powertrain combination available in the U.S., and all-wheel drive will likely be optional.
Photo source: CarPix
