BMW’s local arm has announced pricing and spec for its upcoming 2 Series; a diminutive all-paw coupe set to take on the likes of the Mercedes-AMG A 45 and Audi RS 3.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, BMW New Zealand is set to only bring in one trim level of 2 Series; the full fat 285kW/500Nm M240i xDrive variant. It will land in local showrooms before the end of the year.
Pricing starts at $104,900 for the single model, with a lengthy list of standard equipment attached. This sees the M240i undercut the aforementioned hot hatch rivals, landing it closer to the cousin-creation Toyota GR Supra.
As previously reported, the new 2 isn’t all rear-wheel drive but instead is all-wheel drive — a first for the model. According to BMW it will still feature a fairly generous rear-wheel bias, motivated by the new M Sport rear differential wedged in the back.
Two engines were revealed for the 2 Series at launch; a 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder and a 3.0-litre TwinPower straight six. Kiwis will miss out on the former, with only the inline six appearing locally, paired to an eight-speed automatic.
Its 285kW of power and 500Nm of torque is good enough for a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.3 seconds. Performance heads will also be excited by the prospect of a stiffer platform; BMW boasting that the new 2 Series is 12 per cent more torsionally rigid than the last.
The looks? Unsurprisingly they’ve been a divisive point since the new 2er launched in July. Nevertheless, the muscular shoulder line and the lack of a pair of big M3-esque kidneys on the nose have been welcomed by most armchair pundits.
Standard kit includes 19-inch wheels, a full M-Sport package (including M Suspension, a bodykit, uprated brakes, a spoiler and the like), leather upholstery, heated bucket seats, ambient lighting, Harman Kardon audio, and more.
BMW’s safety suite is also quite comprehensive. It includes rear cross-traffic alert, speed limit sign recognition, BMW’s Driving Assistant level 2 system, and parking assist.
The options list is rather short, with the only optional package indicated in BMW’s release being the Innovations Package. This throws in remote engine start, a heated steering wheel, tyre-pressure monitoring, BMW’s Drive Recorder (for the next track day), sun protection glazing, and an alarm system for $3,650.
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