Rear-drive, too. We can’t wait.
In a world where performance cars now have downsized engines, all-wheel drive, and standard automatic transmissions, driving enthusiasts (like this writer) can’t help but wax lyrical about ‘the good ‘ol days’ where it used to just be a naturally-aspirated motor up front, a do-it-yourself manual by your side, and power sent to the rear. While asking for an NA motor might be a bit of a stretch these days, BMW has heard some of our prayers, and are responding appropriately.
Come 2019, there will be a new addition to its lineup (that’s already bursting at the seams). The 2-Series GranCoupe (which we will now refer to as the 2-GC) will bring a touch more practicality to the 2-Series lineup, which has thus far remained 2-door only. The 5-door 2-GC will also bring with it its own thoroughbred M2 GranCoupe, which will have its scope trained on competitors like the Mercedes-AMG CLA and Audi RS3 saloon, and aim to outdo both with the finesse and agility that BMWs are famed for.
The M2 GC will pack a 272kW longitudinally-mounted engine sending power to the rear, a unique feature in this normally all-wheel drive segment. This, Autocar reports, should give the M2 GC an edge over its rivals, with the promise of greater driver involvement for the, uh, driver.
Further, the M2 GC won’t be too much of a compromise in terms of practicality (relatively speaking), with the sleek body featuring a 5-door body style that will offer easier access into the cargo bay. This will make a huge difference for those who may have been put off by the limited amount of cargo room offered by the M2 Coupe.
And it’s not just room for stuff that the M2 GC will offer more of. The GranCoupe will sport a marginally longer wheelbase, said to be between the 2-Series Coupe and the 3-Series saloon, which has been elongated to make room for the two extra doors and the two extra people in the back.
Passengers of the 2-GranCoupe will also enjoy a new cabin aesthetic, which is set to trickle down into the two-door 2ers when they see a full-model change come 2020. What won’t change (for the 2GC at least) is the engine lineup, which is expected to be carry-over from the present-day 2-Series lineup, comprising of a 218i with a three-cylinder turbo-petrol mill, a 2.0-litre turbo-four in 220i and 225i tunes, and a 3.0-litre inline-six motivating a 235i. Diesel propulsion will be provided by a sole 2.0-litre mill, though it’ll be offered in 218d, 220d, and 225d states of tune. Transmission duties will be handled by either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic.
The M2 GranCoupe, it’s said, will utilise the same 3.0-litre straight-six petrol mill from the 235i, albeit in a much higher-strung state, and will be paired to either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed double-clutch automatic. It’s also reported that the M2 GranCoupe will sport a century sprint time of just 4.5-seconds with the manual transmission, and it’ll roar on to a limited top speed of 250kmh/h.
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