OK, it's not truly being hooned, but a M235i coupe prototype is seen doing doughnut patterns in an empty lot as part of its testing. As a result, we get a great live look at all the various angles of the car - a bit like the car being on a rotating auto show display. We also get a good listen at its exhaust and engine sounds.
There is also a brief look at the F22 2 Series Coupe against the F30 3 Series Sedan, for a glance at how they compare in size/shape from the rear.
Production of the M235i coupe begins this
November 2013 in the Leipzig plant, for an 8 month first-model-year production run (until June 2014). There will be no
235i model in the US or elsewhere, as the M235i will take its place in the lineup.
The M235i will be joined by the
228i coupe in the US. The 228i coupe will also begin production this
November. The production 2 Series will be revealed in the Fall, with its public debut potentially coming at the 2013 Frankfurt auto show in September).
Europe will see additional models, including a 220i, 225i, 218d, 220d and 225d.
An M2 coupe will follow some time later to succeed the 1M coupe, although no prototypes have yet been spotted.
Follow 2 Series news, coverage, and updates @
http://www.bimmerpost.com/2-series/
Some previously posted M235i coupe spy photos:
The BMW M235i will be the very first model of the BMW M Performance cars lineup to come to the North American market. The M235i prototype features shares its wheels, M Sport brakes, and black double exhaust pipes from the M135i. This particular M235i even appears to be painted Estoril Blue II, the launch color for the M135i. A trunk spoiler lip can also be seen clearly, but the rear bumper design is still obscured with very heavy cladding (you can see the raised camouflage panels in the closeup images). We can also see that the 2 Series xenon headlights will feature squared-off angel eyes / corona rings.
The M235i should essentially be a coupe version of the very well received M135i.
For a preview of what to expect from the M235i, the M135i is quoted from 0-62mph (0-100kmh) at 5.1 / 4.9 seconds (manual/auto), but real life tests have already resulted in 0-60 in 4.49 seconds (from
Chris Harris review).