2 B OR NOT 2 B?(some text hidden)

By Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review word count: 54

The 2 Series Coupe was a car BMW couldn't afford to compromise with the front wheel drive system it fits to its other compact models - and to other 2 Series variants. So instead, we've a stand-alone design that continues the great tradition of the Munich maker's smaller sporting cars. Here's the updated version.

Background word count: 144

Few people had a bad thing to say about the first generation 'F22'-era BMW 2 Series Coupe, a pure bred rear-driven sports two-door launched in 2014, then updated three years later. For its successor, the Munich maker never seriously considered the front wheel drive set-up used on the supposedly sporty 2 Series Gran Coupe four-door model. Instead, this second generation 'G42' 2 Series Coupe, launched at the end of 2021, was developed alongside the brand's current Z4 roadster and is based on the same rear-driven platform as that used by larger 3 and 4 Series models. What's been produced as a result is a proper small sporting BMW. Of the kind you might have thought this brand had lost interest in making. Not a bit of it. In mid-2024, this car got a package of mid-term updates, creating the model we look at here.

Driving Experience word count: 402

The 'G42'-era 2 Series Coupe is one of those cars that just feels right within the first fifty metres, whichever version of it you happen to have chosen. As with this model's E82 and F22-series predecessors, drive dynamics are key, whichever of the engines happens to suit your budget or preference. The foundation here lies with BMW's decision not to switch to the front-driven platform these days used by all its other compact models. Instead, this second generation 2 Series Coupe gets a shrunken version of the CLAR chassis used for the company's middle ranking 3 and 4 Series models. That's welcome, not only because it means this car can be predominantly rear-driven but also because it enables it to offer another very BMW-style feature you wouldn't normally now find on one of its smaller cars - a throaty straight six cylinder engine, fitted to the 374hp M240i variant. This gets the brand's xDrive 4WD system, but you'll be limited to a rear-driven set-up if you opt for one of the more affordable four cylinder 2.0-litre models further down the range. There are two, both with petrol power (the 184hp 220i and the 245hp 230i). BMW no longer offers the 190hp 220d diesel version. The flagship M2 variant has an even more powerful 'S58' version of that 3.0-litre straight six twin turbo engine with 480hp; and the option of a manual gearbox if you want it. Whatever engine is chosen, for likely customers rewarding handling will be a must, so much work has gone into the 'G42' engineering formula here to make sure that's delivered; wider tracks, carefully adjusted wheel camber values and a 12% increase in static torsional rigidity are all crucial here. So is the return to classic 50:50 weight distribution (the previous 'F22' generation model was 47:53). Much too has been borrowed from engineering introduced in the current 4 Series Coupe, notably what BMW calls 'lift-related dampers', which provide extra damping to control body movement over large bumps and better settle the car through the corners. On top of that, there's a low ride height, there are firm springs and anti-roll bars, plus this Coupe gets a clever double-jointed spring-strut front suspension and a 5-link rear axle. We'd like a bit more feel from the 'Variable Sport Steering'; and on the M240i, you really need to find the extra for the M Adaptive Suspension package: otherwise, it's all good.