First Drive: 2014 BMW M235i Coupe

Story and photos by John LeBlanc LAS VEGAS, Nevada — While Germany’s BMW chases a wider audience as it strives to become the world’s largest luxury automaker, the new 2014 BMW 2 Series is a reminder of where the once cultish sporting brand came from.Despite the new name, the compact sports coupe — formerly known as the 1 Series — has the same mission as its predecessor: keep the BMW faithful happy. You know whom I’m talking about: the type of Old School BMW fanatic who thinks every model should have a manual gearbox sending power to the rear wheels that can drive circles around the unwashed masses flailing around in wrong-wheel-drive Audis and Mercedes-Benzes. Like the 2007 to 2013 BMW 1 Series, the new 2 is essentially a shrink-wrapped version of a contemporary 3 Series with seating for two and two more in a pinch. As such, the 2 Series Coupe sits just under the also-new-for 2014 4 Series Coupe (formerly known as the 3 Series Coupe) in BMW’s two-door lineup. And just as the 4 Series has grown up a bit, so has the 2 Series. It’s wider and longer to assuage buyers who thought the 1 Series was a bit tight. Front seat occupants benefit from a bit more headroom in the 2 Series than the 1, while trunk space goes up by 20 litres to 390. The 2 Series also looks more conventional than the outgoing 1. Preceded by the BMW CS1 concept in 2002, the 1 Series was the last remaining model created under the direction of former head of BMW design Chris Bangle, who left the company in 2009. Inside, the 2 Series Coupe’s cabin has also been brought up to current BMW standards. Like its bigger brothers, you’ll find an iPad Mini-like central screen mounted on the dash, standard iDrive controller, and a slew of new-age driver assistance systems for buyers who can’t change lanes, avoid other vehicles or park their own cars. Arriving at Canadian dealers this March, there will initially be a pair of 2 Series Coupes. The first is the $36,000 (all prices are starting MSRPs) 228i Coupe. It’s powered by the same 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in other BMWs, and is rated at 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. BMW is claiming a 5.7 seconds zero to 100 kilometres per hour acceleration time. The model BMW nutters will be most interested in is the $45,000 M235i Coupe. It’s the only 2 Series Coupe (for now, at least) that sports a straight-six gas engine, the brand’s familiar and longitudinally mounted turbocharged 3.0L unit. Rated at 315 hp and 332 lb.-ft., the M235i boasts a zero to 100 km/hr time of five seconds — one-tenth of a second faster than the 2012 M135i. BMW begs you: do not call the M235i an “M2”. Like the limited edition M135i (the first M Performance model sold in the Canada), the new M235i is not a “real” M sub-brand car (like the new M3 Sedan or M4 Coupe). Instead, BMW says M Performance sub-brand models are not as “uncompromising” as the purer M cars, and better line up against cars like Audi’s S models (as per the forthcoming Audi S3 compact sedan). Whatever. Because after a day of some on-track and on-road driving in and around the Las Vegas area, it’s safe to say that the M235i Coupe should keep traditional BMW fans happy. If you think the new 4 Series is too big and heavy, the new M235i Coupe should alleviate that complaint. With less weight to manage and a smaller footprint than the 4, BMW engineers have created a chassis that delivers a high level of grip, control and ultimately driver confidence with the 2. An optional M Performance brake package helps bring the M235i to halt with more confidence. Like its BMW siblings, the M235i Coupe can be tuned to four different driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. Because a car like this is not purchased to save fuel, I spent my M235i seat time exclusively in the last two modes, both of which deliver sharper responses from the steering wheel and gas pedal. Away from Las Vegas Speedway, on public roads, BMW has also addressed one of the biggest beefs with the outgoing 1 Series: its overly stiff ride. BMW says stiffer springs and shocks but softer bushings and bump stops means the M235i can handle larger bumps and sharp road creases without upsetting its chassis as much. I agree. Combined with a longer wheelbase, the M235i is more hospitable on bad pavement than its predecessor by a wide margin. I cannot comment on the car’s six-speed manual transmission, as we were only offered automatic versions of the M235i Coupe to drive, but when slotted into manual mode, the eight-speeder responds promptly and sharply when you need to change gears. If the new 2014 2 Series Coupe’s main mission was to attract potential buyers who feel the new 4 Series Coupe has grown too mature, then mission accomplished. Especially in M235i Coupe form, the 2 Series two-doors are a very appealing proposition to driving enthusiasts in a segment chock full of front- or all-wheel-drive compacts.

Comments