By Otsile Kadiege

It has been weeks since the second-gen BMW 2 Series Coupé landed in South Africa and some might have already found new homes. That being said, today BMW South Africa officially announced the newcomer’s local pricing, model derivatives and specifications. The 2 Series Coupé, BMW promises an eye-catching design, traditional driving pleasure, lightweight design and improved aerodynamics.

Radical exterior design

Up front, the new BMW 2 Series Coupé is fitted with the brand’s signature kidney grille with vertically arranged active air flaps in place of the classical grille bars. The latter is flanked by newly designed headlights which come standard with full-LED technology and optional Adaptive LED headlights with Selective Beam. The side profile is clean, simple and wide thanks to wide rear haunches and minimal use of sharp lines. The proportions of the 2 Series Coupé, which uses the chassis of the current 4 Series Coupé, has grown by 105mm in length, 64mm in width and 51 mm in wheelbase. 17-inch light-alloy wheels come as standard, 18-inch M light-alloy wheels included with M Sport specification.

The rear end design hasn’t been well received by the internet thanks to the three-dimensional sculpting of the LED tail lamps. Apart from that, its rear end looks sporty thanks to a boot lid integrated spoiler, rear diffuser and dual exhaust outlets with a trapezoidal design on the M240i xDrive.

The range-topping M240i xDrive has a uniquely designed exterior that sets it apart from the rest of the range. It sports triangular shaped air inlets, M mirror caps, model specific 19-inch M light alloy wheels, model specific badging, unique rear diffuser and trapezoidal exhaust outlets.

Premium sporty interior

Inside, the new 2 Series Coupé gets BMW’s latest cockpit design with leather wrapped multifunctional sport steering wheel, BMW Live Cockpit with a 5.1-inch digital cluster, an 8.8-inch touch display with iDrive 7 featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as an optional extra, three zone climate control, and the optional head-up display unit. The 2 Series Coupé has backlit door panels as well as triangular patterns. As standard, it’s fitted with sports seats and has 40:20:40 split rear seats with individual-seat character which increases the generous 390 litres luggage capacity when folded down.

Optional extras include BMW Live Cockpit Professional with fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 10.25-inch control display, steering wheel heating, electrically adjustable seats including a memory function on the driver’s side, ambient lighting, a Harman Kardon surround sound system and glass slide/tilt sunroof to list a few.

Safety and driver assistance systems

BMW has significantly expanded selection of standard and optional driver assistance systems compared with the predecessor model. Front-collision warning, Speed Limit Info, Lane Departure Warning and Cruise Control with brake function are fitted as standard. Available as optional extras: Driving Assistant with Lane Change Warning, Rear Collision Prevention and rear crossing traffic warning, Active Cruise Control with Stop and Go function including manual Speed Limit Assist, Park Distance Control, Reversing Assistant, Reversing Assist Camera, Surround View and Remote 3D View.

Power and performance

Enthusiasts will be happy to know that the new 2 Series Coupé range will only be rear-wheel drive except for the M240i xDrive which makes use of the Munich based automaker’s rear-biased all-wheel drive system. Sad news, however, is there won’t be a manual transmission. All 2 Series Coupes will make use of the brand’s 8-speed automatic transmission or the optional 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission. Locally the new BMW 2 Series Coupé range consists of three model derivatives, namely 220i, 220d and M240i xDrive.

Pricing and warranty

Local pricing of the new BMW 2 Series Coupé is as follows:

BMW 220i Coupé – R771,900;

BMW 220d Coupé – R819,278; and

BMW M240i xDrive – R1,062,420.

Pricing includes a five-year/100,000km Motorplan.