This is the BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe, and it is a small, four-door sedan—an area of expertise BMW practically built its reputation on.
Only this one isn’t a rear-drive small, four-door sedan, which is an area of expertise BMW practically built its reputation on, but—as we told you in a previous installment—a front-drive sedan.
It’s actually based on the same chassis architecture as the new 1-Series, and not on the rear-wheel-drive chassis of the new 2-Series Coupe. Despite both of them being called ‘2 Series.’
Anyway, it probably matters not, because most might not even know—or indeed care—that a small BMW sedan is front-wheel-drive. Expect the same range of engines as the new 1-Series hatch, meaning three- and four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines.
And, BMW confirms, a range-topping 306hp M235i xDrive, an AWD sedan with a limited-slip diff. If it’s anything like the M135i—which it will be—then expect something quite rapid indeed.
BMW assures us this Gran Coupe will deploy chassis tech and control systems to make it engaging to drive. Stuff like ‘near-actuator wheel slip limitation,’ pinched from the BMW i3S, that sticks a slip controller in the ECU rather than the DSC module, meaning there’s less slack and quicker reaction times.
“The BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe has been conceived as a global offering,” BMW says, “and represents an appealing addition to the model lineup, in particular markets where the sedan body style enjoys strong popularity.”
We’ll see it sans camo at November’s Los Angeles Auto Show.
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
