The arrival of the F44 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé has added further complication to the 2 Series line-up, which currently has the rear-wheel drive Coupé, as well as front-wheel drive models like the Active Tourer and Gran Tourer MPV.
But amidst all the confusion, 2 Series product manager Gernot Stuhl said the Coupé model will go on as a rear-wheel drive model in the future, and the high-performance M2 will crown the range, Autocar reports.
The F44 2 Series Gran Coupé is a front-wheel drive model using the same FAAR platform as the F40 1 Series, and the range-topping GC is the M235i powered by the same B48 2.0 litre four-cylinder engine as the F40 M135i. BMW M won’t be making full-blown M versions of the M135i and M235i, with Stuhl saying that “there’s not much missing” in terms of driving dynamics.
In fact, BMW M president Markus Flasch said the front-wheel drive platform is not suitable for high-performance M. As it is, the 2.0 litre engine in the M135i, M235i Gran Coupé, and X2 M35i is the Bavarian company’s most powerful four-cylinder engine, making 306 PS and 450 Nm of torque. This also means BMW will not have a direct rival to the W177 Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4Matic.
The good news is, Stuhl said “there will still be a hardcore BMW M2 for those that want it” when the next-generation 2 Series comes along. He did not reveal any technical details, but said “if you feel you need a compact car with more than 300 hp, there will be an offering for you in the BMW range.”
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Not a problem for coupe car remains as rear wheel drive since the seats for rear passengers are usually redundant not a concern on lag of leg room and access anyway.
Many of my friends driving 20 yr old Proton Putra think they have a BMW. All speed like crazy
Many Malaysians driving Pariadua junk car think they have a BMW. All speed and sapu corner like crazy.
could have kept the 1 series as rwd, saves a lot of trouble?
can sense though, Gernot Stuhl secretly hates the fwd 1er