BMW 2 Series Coupe gets official

BMW has officially taken the wraps off of its latest sports model, the 2 Series Coupe, promising punchy performance with a compact footprint and the promise of M Series power at the top-end. Differentiated from the existing 1 Series by its sharper cutlines, more aggressive grilles, and pronounced hood bulges, the 2 Series Coupe is also 11cm longer than its sibling, not to mention slightly wider and more aerodynamic. Under that curvaceous hood, meanwhile, will be a choice of five engines (depending on market) including the top-spec M235i Coupe pushing out 326HP and 323 lb-ft of torque from its 3-liter in-line six-cylinder with twin turbochargers.

The M235i will be good for 0-62mph in 5.0 second (or 4.8s if you opt for the 8-speed auto gearbox), and 34.9mpg (imperial). At the bottom end of the gas-powered 2 Series Coupe range, meanwhile, will be the 220i Coupe, with a 2-liter four-cylinder – still twin-turbocharged – which takes 7s to get to 62mph and pushes out 199 lb-ft of torque.

Meanwhile, there will be three diesel variants, though not for the US market. Europe will get to choose between the 218d Coupe, the 220d Coupe, and the 225d Coupe, each with a 2-liter diesel engine, but using different levels of turbocharger to push out 143HP, 184HP, or 218HP respectively, and at most 332 lb-ft of torque.

The outside design is typical BMW, though the chunky tail lamps are likely to prompt a little controversy. BMW will offer optional bi-xenon lights which come with LED accent strips.

As for the M235i Coupe, it gets a custom bodykit from BMW's M Sport division, a tuned chassis with the M Sport brakes and variable sport steering, while the standard 18-inch M light-allow wheels can be switched out for 19-inch M Performance light-alloys instead. There's a limited-slip differential, along with Launch Control for those times when you want to impress pulling away from the lights.

On the inside, meanwhile, there's optional navigation with BMW's iDrive system, with a choice of 6.5- or 8.8-inch displays, and a touchpad-topped controller knob to trace in characters with a fingertip. Seats are clad in cloth as standard, though can be outfitted with leather as an option, while the matt metal trim on the dashboard can be optionally switched for brushed aluminum or wood.

BMW's Driving Assistant is optional, with lane departure alerts and collision warnings, and there's cruise control with intelligent braking. Automatic steering during parallel parking is supported in the optional Parking Assistant. Specify the ConnectedDrive Services option and the 2 Series Coupe gets an integrated WWAN connection with Facebook and Twitter integration, voice calling, internet radio streaming, and more.

BMW says the 2 Series Coupe will hit forecourts from March 2014. In the US, only the two gas-powered models will be offered, priced from $33,025 for the 228i, and from $44,025 for the M235i.