Following the renewal of the 1er, the 2 Series Gran Coupe will receive a new generation for model year 2025 as well. To enter series production sometime during November 2024, the front-biased sib of the 2 Series Coupe has been recently spotted testing in three different specs.
The carparazzi first came across what can only be described as the poverty specification. From the small wheels featuring a generic design to the Nexen large-sidewall tires and the hidden exhaust, it's pretty clear that said prototype is packing one of the lesser four-cylinder engines or a three-pot engine. Because it's twinned with the F70-generation 1er, the forthcoming F74-generation 2er will be offered with a choice of 1.5- and 2.0-liter turbo gassers and turbo diesels.
BMW is expected to launch seven variants in total, beginning with the gas-engined 218 and 220. Notice there's no i after said numbers due to BMW's revised nomenclature. The primary reason why gasoline cars and SUVs will slowly but steadily drop the i is the Bavarian marque's i-series EVs. To this effect, diesels will continue to feature three digits followed by a lowercase d.
There's also the 223 and M235, which are to be joined by the 218d and 220d in the Old Continent. As for the United States market, look forward to the front-drive 228 and two all-wheel-drive models in the form of the 228 and M235. Similar to the 1 Series five-door hatchback, the four-door sedan will come with a dual-clutch transmission by default. A manual would have been extremely interesting in the M235 xDrive, and even more so had BMW continued offering six-cylinder mills.
The 2 Series Gran Coupe was never based on a rear-drive platform, whereas the 1er changed to FWD with the F40 in 2019. Saving a few euros with a transverse front-engine configuration is one thing, but doing it to the detriment of driving pleasure doesn't sit well with those who have experienced a rear-drive BMW.
Photo: Baldauf
Our photographers captured a further two prototypes of the second-generation 2 Series Gran Coupe, which – in stark contrast to the first – feature quad-pipe exhausts, low-profile rubber, and snazzy wheels. One of them clearly shows large brake calipers in red for the front axle, leading us to believe that it's an M235.
Pictured with recessed exterior handles, 1 Series-inspired headlights, and kidney grilles that are way too similar to the 1er as well, all three prototypes combine an infotainment system and the instrument cluster in one continuous panel. BMW calls it Curved Display, and the infotainment system in question is – without a shadow of a doubt – iDrive 9. The X1 and X2 also come with iDrive 9, which is hardly a surprise given their UKL (a.k.a. Untere KLasse) platform.
Untere Klasse is German for lower class. It slots below the rear-biased CLAR platform (a.k.a. CLuster ARchitecture). In addition to the 1er, 2 Series Gran Coupe, X1, and X2, the lesser platform also underpins combustion-engined models from the BMW-controlled MINI brand.
Apparently longer than its predecessor, the F74 allegedly offers up to 430 liters (approximately 15.2 cubic feet) of cargo space in the trunk. At the beginning of 2025, the 2 Series Gran Coupe will be joined by a long-wheelbase model for the Chinese market. Codenamed F78, said model will be offered in 220L, 225L, and M235L flavors. xDrive will be exclusive to the latter.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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