BMW Unveils New 2 Series Coupe and Convertible

This year brings mild changes to the BMW 2 Series in the form of its mid-life facelift, which BMW lovingly calls the LCI (life cycle impulse). While we only had the 2 Series Coupe in its 220i trim level, the Americans have had far more options from the get go. The 2 Series has been available there in both Coupe and Convertible forms as the 228i and M235i, and this new 2 Series brings the updated engines to the model range- meaning the naming designation changes to 230i and M240i respectively. 

These new engines have already been rolled out in cars like the 3 Series and the 5 Series, but for those who aren't familiar we'll recap quickly. The 230i has a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder twin-scroll turbocharged engine with 248 hp and 350 Nm of torque, while the 240i has a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder twin-scroll turbocharged engine with 335 hp and 500 Nm of torque. They are paired with an 8-speed Steptronic transmission as standard, with manual transmissions and the xDrive all-wheel drive system as options as well. 

As for the rest of the car, the majority of the work has gone into aesthetics. The 2 Series isn't as big of a product as say the 3 Series or 5 Series such that BMW would go to lengths to change the geometry and design of the suspension for their respective LCI models. That being said, there is still a lot that can be done with a few nips and tucks here and there. The most prominent change would be the addition of bi-LED headlights and tail lamps which provide a crisper, more modern look.

There are also new alloy wheels, all very pretty but none of which are relevant to what we'll be getting (which may be nothing given the discontinuation of the 2 Series Coupe locally). On the inside there is a redesigned instrument panel, with better materials and palettes than the rather underwhelming choices in the pre-LCI 2 Series. There's been attention paid in order to improve the feeling of interior room, and high gloss black and aluminium is the new choice of finish. There are also plenty of options for stitching and seat materials, from the standard Black and Red contrast stitching, to Dakota Leather seats in Cognac. 

To top it all off is the new iDrive 6.0 system with touch screen functionality that has finally been introduced to this entry-level BMW coupe (and convertible). There may not be gesture control, but touch controls and voice controls are more than enough to navigate through the completely redesigned menus. Driver assistance systemsare also included with the facelift, with things like Active Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warnings. A little peculiar for a small sporty car, but perhaps still usable in the day-to-day commute.