Written by Jonathan Lim• February 21, 2020• 9:39 am• Happenings

The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe arrives in Singapore

218i and M235i variants are available; prices start from S$160k with COE

The number 2 isn't generally considered an auspicious one, but it's certainly special for BMW. It just launched the new 2 Series Gran Coupe (2 GC) at the Performance Motors showroom on 20/02/2020. It's just a shame the date didn't fall on a twos-day too… (#sorrynotsorry)

 

This after a remarkably quick turnaround time to bring the car into the country and put it on sale – <a href="http://www.burnpavement.com/article.php?id=2161">click here to read our initial impressions when we drove it at its international launch in Portugal just two weeks ago</a>.

Part of that has almost certainly got to do with Singapore’s preference for four-door models, which would make us something of a priority market. For all intents and purposes, the 2 GC is essentially a four-door version of the new front-drive-based 1 Series (note: not an elongated version of the rear-drive 2 Series Coupe). And despite the “Coupe” part of its name, there’ll be a good chunk of local buyers who see this as the cheapest entry into a new BMW “sedan”, similar to its arch-rival, Mercedes-Benz’s CLA when it first arrived seven years ago.

It’s certainly a lot less pricey than its three-pointed starred counterpart: at press time, the 2 GC range starts at S$160,888 including COE for the 218i Luxury (the brown car). For S$3,000 more over the Luxury, you could also get a 218i M Sport, with a different bodykit, suspension, steering rack, brakes, and larger wheels.

These models are front-wheel drive, and pack a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine under its bonnet (shared with Mini’s Cooper models), which produces 140hp and 220Nm of torque; 0-100km/h is achieved in 8.7 seconds and it’ll top out at 213km/h.

The one you’re probably more interested in though, is the M235i Gran Coupe, which costs S$249,888 with COE. This channels the 306hp and 450Nm from its 2.0-litre four-pot engine through an all-wheel drive system, to give performance figures of a 4.9 second century sprint, as well as a 250km/h V-max. This will be the flagship 2 GC; no full-on M model is planned.

Innovations that attempt to help make the 2 GC handle like a BMW should include ARB, a form of traction control that reacts significantly faster than traditional systems to quell power understeer. Working in conjunction with that BMW Performance Control, a yaw sensing system that can brake the car’s inside wheels during a turn before they lose grip, and is claimed to further suppress understeer and ensure neutral cornering behaviour.

In addition to those, the M235i also carries a torque-sensing mechanical limited-slip differential on its front axle, which should give it the sort of front-end bite to match the corner-exit traction that the xDrive system (variable up to 50:50) can provide.

Of course, none of these are new developments, as the 2 GC is mechanically identical to the 1 Series. All the differences are in the rear half of the car: the frameless windows, swoopy roof, and elongated tail.

But while the oily bits should give plenty to please the driver (after all, the 1 Series is a fine steer), passengers will have less to cheer about. We had a sit in the back and unfortunately, the Gran Coupe is certainly no saloon. Legroom is fine…

… but the sloping roofline impinges on headroom quite a bit, and anyone over 180cm in height will find their noggins butting up against the ceiling.

Still, that probably won’t be a deal breaker for those with their hearts set on – let’s remind ourselves here – the cheapest four-door BMW available. For comparison, it’s a significant S$20,000 less than the Mercedes CLA, and astonishingly even undercuts the four-door Mercedes A-Class Saloon as well.

And what of the two-door 2 Series? Well, hardcore petrolheads might want to wait a while before they pull their chequebooks out, as an Autocar interview revealed that the next generation 2er Coupe and Convertible will continue to be rear-wheel drive, and will also spawn a proper M2. Now that is something worth waiting for.

*Note, the Snapper Rocks Blue M235i you see here is a “Launch Edition” model with extra accessories (M Performance rims; M Performance seat belts; black grille, spoiler, and model badges; carbon mirror caps). Price is on application; contact Performance Motors Limited for more information.