[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

Jalopnik: The M235i Gran Coupe is Actually a Blast to Drive

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Jalopnik has posted their first drive review of the M235i Gran Coupe and came away surprised. Some highlights of what they said:

I was not expecting a bellowing and cracking exhaust note I could hear from 20 feet away.

That and its humble underpinnings may enough to chase off plenty of purists. Thing is, they’re missing out. At least in top-trim form, the 2 Series GC is actually a blast to drive.

While there’s too much front overhang and the profile is awkward—I’ve said it looks too much like a Ford Focus and I stand by that—the important thing is this little thing does not drive like an economy car. And as much as I enjoy Mini Coopers, having owned two myself, the 2GC has a character all its own.

Out on the winding back roads that Clavey and I found near BMW’s factory, the car proved to be both agile and planted—as playful as it was direct and predictable. It’s less like a Mini and more like a legitimate Volkswagen Golf R or Audi S3 competitor, done up BMW style. Or a grown-up Subaru WRX, maybe. BMW’s current all-wheel drive systems happen to be extremely good, and as such, we found only a slight amount of front bias at work.

I didn’t get as much time as I would’ve liked, and I think we’ll get more when the production car launches, but I can say that if you’ve ever driven a Golf R or Audi S3, you get the idea here. They’re very similar. Except the BMW boasts more torque, a smoother gearbox and is, as near as I can tell, quite a bit louder from the factory.

We were pretty impressed by the inside, too, where the GC boasts touches like BMW’s excellent latest iteration of iDrive, a digital display suite and light-up door trim. It doesn’t ever feel cheap in any way.

Will the BMW purists accept the M235i? Can they be made to see it’s a more premium step up from something like a WRX, a Ford Focus ST or even a Mini Cooper S? I’ll withhold final judgment until I drive the real thing, and I still can’t get past those looks.

But for people willing to put platform snobbery aside, I think they’ll be on board with something that seems to be more fun than any of us gave it credit for initially.

Catch the full review at: https://jalopnik.com/the-2020-bmw-m2...ses-1839682007

[AndroidRobot]

Still not a proper BMW with a FWD based AWD sorry not sorry but this is junk regardless. If someone wanted that platform they could buy an Audi

[m630]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

Still not a proper BMW with a FWD based AWD sorry not sorry but this is junk regardless. If someone wanted that platform they could buy an Audi

AWD BMWs sell the most nowadays. Time has moved on.

I'm happy to hear it is a good car. Though, I expected as much. My X2 M35i is a blast, and I'm sure this will be too.

[alex2364]

Doesn't make it any less ugly. And forgot the most important quote:

Let’s be clear about one thing: this is not the same car as the rear- or all-wheel drive 2 Series that everyone loves, the coupe that’s spawned beloved enthusiast hits like the M2 Competition.

[OhMyXM]

Uh, all I gotta say is: Anything with a hint of reputation from THE Hans Stuck will out perform anything in its class. I don't care if it looks like utter hell! They have him as inspiration of performance. It could be a garbage can with wheels and he'd make sure to set records in it. A BMW will always be sneaky quick and fun to drive. Let's all remember why we bought our first BMW to begin with.

Case in point.

[AMB]

Of course it is, Mini's are fun to drive too, but this should not be a BMW(period)

[joshuastein55]

Just curious, but why, if any of you would, buy a 2GC over say, a Golf GTI/R??? I don't see many reasons to if I'm being honest, other than wanting the badge on the hood.

[Saab Story]

The whole reason I left Audi for the F22 M235i and now M240i is RWD, 6 cylinders and the option to get a manual transmission.

Remove all three and there isn't a reason to stay.

[clee1982]

Originally Posted by joshuastein55

Just curious, but why, if any of you would, buy a 2GC over say, a Golf GTI/R??? I don't see many reasons to if I'm being honest, other than wanting the badge on the hood.

I wouldn't, but assume better interior?

edit: to be clear I wouldn't buy either...

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by m630

AWD BMWs sell the most nowadays. Time has moved on.

I'm happy to hear it is a good car. Though, I expected as much. My X2 M35i is a blast, and I'm sure this will be too.

regardless of that a FWD based AWD feels a lot different (not in a good way) compared to a RWD based system.

[GuyOh]

Originally Posted by Saab Story

The whole reason I left Audi for the F22 M235i and now M240i is RWD, 6 cylinders and the option to get a manual transmission.

Remove all three and there isn't a reason to stay.

Well, the next generation G42 coupe will remain RWD.

[///M TOWN]

.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

regardless of that a FWD based AWD feels a lot different (not in a good way) compared to a RWD based system.

Once this car goes 100% Electric that will no longer be an issue.

[6ixSpd]

Originally Posted by m630

AWDs BMWs sell the most nowadays.

Time has moved on.

If sales figures are your major metric of what makes a successful vehicle, then perhaps we should crown the latest Corolla as the best car of them all.

[abundleofbunnies]

Originally Posted by Saab Story

The whole reason I left Audi for the F22 M235i and now M240i is RWD, 6 cylinders and the option to get a manual transmission.

Remove all three and there isn't a reason to stay.

While I agree with you, xDrive vehicles built on BMW’s RWD architecture paired with the ZF8 are great, especially M performance models.

This F44 2er GC 2 is built on FAAR while the next generation G42 2er Coupe coming in 2021 will be built on CLAR. There will be RWD models available, might still be an I6 in the M Performance model, and might still be an optional MT in some models.

[SCOTT26]

Indeed it is. I am driving the more volume orientated in Europe 220d.
And it's very respectable.

[bimmer456]

This is down on power compared to the B58 powered M240i Coupe. Hopefully the aftermarket will make more aggressive tunes for the B48A30T1.

[cbertels]

Originally Posted by 6ixSpd

If sales figures are your major metric of what makes a successful vehicle, then perhaps we should crown the latest Corolla as the best car of them all.

Shots fired!!

[VisualEcho]

I just can't get past that much ugly.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by ///M TOWN

Once this car goes 100% Electric that will no longer be an issue.

I am dreading the day BMW stops making their silly I6 and V8

[KGB_123_99]

Without RWD bias, get an S3. Audi has better fit/finish on entry level models.

[JRobUSC]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

Still not a proper BMW with a FWD based AWD sorry not sorry but this is junk regardless. If someone wanted that platform they could buy an Audi

Do you not see the irony in what you just said? "If someone wanted that platform they could buy an Audi"? That's the problem - people ARE buying Audi's. And Benz's. And other small, FWD-based vehicles that are fun and practical, instead of just fun.

Newsflash - the existence of this car does not impede your ability to get a different car from BMW's (quite expansive) model portfolio. You want something RWD based and less roomy? Great, get yourself a 2-Series coupe, 3-Series, 4-Series, etc. BMW makes plenty of those types of cars, more than anyone else in the market, in fact. But to say "if someone wanted that platform they could buy an Audi"? It makes precisely ZERO BUSINESS SENSE for BMW to just give away thousands of sales per month to the A3, CLA, A-class, etc.