BMW has officially unveiled the 2014 2-Series Coupe, which is designed to replace the 1-Series Coupe.
Set to go on sale in Germany in March, the 2-Series Coupe promises to raise the bar in the premium sub-compact segment in terms of dynamic ability, aesthetic appeal and emotional allure. It is slightly larger than its predecessor as it is 72 mm longer, 32 mm wider and has a wheelbase that has been stretched by 30 mm. The result is an increase in interior space and 20-liter of extra boot capacity (now 390-liter).
The dominant themes of the interior are the driver- focused design of the cockpit, contemporary functionality and high-quality materials. An Easy Entry function for the front seats facilitates access to the two rear seats, which offer 21 mm more legroom than the outgoing Coupe, while headroom for the driver and front passenger has grown by a similar extent. The structure of the surfaces for the instrument panel, center console and door trim is dominated by the “layering” effect created by various overlapping surfaces. The length of the doors is emphasized by the converging lines of the door trim elements.
The 2-Series Coupe is fitted with the BMW iDrive operating system, which includes a freestanding onboard monitor in flat screen design. The Control Display comes in 6.5 or 8.8-inch form with navigation, while the Controller on the center console has a touch-sensitive surface which allows the driver to input characters.
Dakota leather trim is available as an alternative to the standard Sensatec seat surfaces in a choice of three colors. The interior trim strips come in matt Satin Silver as standard but are also optionally available in brushed aluminum or Fineline Stream exquisite wood.
Under the bonnet, a variety of engines will be offered. The 220i features a 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine which produces 184 hp and 270 Nm of torque. This allows the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 7.0 seconds and hit a top speed of 235 km/h.
On the diesel side, the 218d is powered by a 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine that create 143 hp and 320 Nm of torque. It enables the coupe to run from 0-100 in 8.9 seconds (8.6 seconds with the optional eight-speed automatic) and top out at 213 km/h.
The 220d has a 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder diesel engine which churns out 184 hp and 380 Nm of torque. It allows the model to sprint from 0-100 km/h in 7.2 seconds (7.1 seconds with the optional eight-speed automatic) and max out at 230 km/h.
The 225d also uses the 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder diesel engine but it cranks out 218 hp and 450 Nm of torque. The extra power allows the car to complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in 6.3 seconds before hitting a top speed of 242 km/h.
Lastly, the M235i features a 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline-six engine which develops 326 hp and 450 Nm of torque. This enables the car to accelerate from 0-100 in 5 seconds (4.8 seconds with the optional eight-speed automatic) and hit a limited top speed of 250 km/h.
Available in three trim grades (Sport Line, Modern Line and M Sport), the 2014 BMW 2-Series Coupe has a starting price of $33,025 including a $925 destination and handling fee.
