When BMW introduced the Gran Coupe division with their models, I personally wasn’t happy with the design of the car if we are being honest. I remember driving the 4 series coupe in Mpumalanga and the car didn’t make sense to me and ever since then, I haven’t been a fan of the Grand Coupe division. When you are not a fan of something you end up hating everything about the car even if it’s not warranted.
Now comes the 2 series coupe and it looks rather different and if ever there was a that BMW has been done well, it’s the 2 series. We have all seen the M2 and the M2 Competition, M2 CS – and even when you are not a fan of speed, you admire that car. That car is perfect, the design, the speed, the sound and the shape. So the Grand Coupe introduces a new era for the division, while the design is different and slightly uncomfortable on my eye, it’s one I can live with compared to the previous designs. This design looks futuristic (reminds me of Star Trek) compared to its predecessors, I know that the most uncomfortable section is the back, but once you get used to it, you realise that the beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Now that the uncomfortable conversations are out of the way, let’s speak about the actual car, I think this fits in well with the people who don’t want coupes anymore and want a bigger car, but don’t necessarily like the 3 series.. The 2 series seems much more fun, the design of the frameless doors at the front and back makes the car, even cooler than the 3 series. Dynamic front end with a fresh interpretation of BMW icons; the slightly angled headlights (full-LED is standard) forming the prominent BMW four-eyed face, draws attention to the familiar BMW kidney grille, which takes the form of a large and connected element. Standard specification for the sporty BMW M235i xDrive range-topper includes BMW xDrive all-wheel drive, a mechanical Torsen limited-slip differential, M Sport steering, and M Sport brakes. The eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission also features a Launch Control mode. The three-dimensional mesh replacing the bars in the kidney grille is inspired by racing cars and adds an alluring visual feature.
One diesel and two petrol engines are available: there’s a 1.5-litre turbocharged, three-cylinder petrol with 103 kW and 220 Nm in the BMW 218i with a 0-100 kph time of 8.7 seconds and it is said to consume a claimed 5.9 L/100 km. The 140 kW with 400Nm, 2.0-litre turbocharged, four-cylinder diesel unit in the BMW 220d that will consume 4.5-4.2 L/100 km. BMW Group’s most powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged, four-cylinder engine – developing 225 kW and 450 Nm with a 100 kph in a claimed 4.8 seconds – in the BMW M235i xDrive .The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe benefits from innovative driver assistance systems filtering down from higher models. The Lane Departure Warning system with active lane return is optional, along with Active Cruise Control, the Driving Assistant including Lane Change Warning, rear collision warning and crossing traffic warning, plus the innovative reversing assistant. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe can be locked and unlocked from a smartphone if the optional BMW Digital Key is specified, the engine can be started as soon as the smartphone is placed in its tray and the Connected Navigation services allow internal and external information to be factored into route planning. BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe drivers will be able to send destinations from various apps straight to their car’s navigation system, store and sync them.
BMW 218i – R 556 800
BMW 220d – R 644 600
BMW M235i xDrive – R 785 100