BMW 2-Series & M2

[dsgerbc]

That means that the 2 will use an "electronic LSD", which basically uses the brakes to even out power delivery, and a mechanical system will cost extra because it means physically adding an LSD to the car instead of just rewriting some code in the stability control and ABS systems.

Electronic LSDs are fine for most uses, but on the racetrack, they're murder on the brakes, which is why BMW will still offer a mechanical LSD for those who presumably want to thrash their brand new Mazda2... errh... M2?

Wish it was standard, but you can't beat the march of progress.

I know what LSD means and what BMW puts into non-M cars. I have no idea what a 'retrofit' means in reference to a freaking new car. If it's an option - say it's an option.

 

[niky]

Ah. Well, basically, it's an option that's put in after sale, not before it leaves the dealership. Perhaps this is to say that you can do it down the road rather than having to buy it up front.

 

[Alex.]

I got told the M2 would be a track car...

 

[Crash]

The 2 series looks good. I don't like how the new 3/4 Series don't separate the headlights from the grills with complete grill surrounds. I'm glad that they didn't choose to go that route here.

Looks like the M version could be what the M3 used to be a few generations ago.

I agree with you on this. People say the 1M was in some ways the spiritual successor to the E30 M3, and I could see this continuing that lineage.

"M performance mechanical LSD available for retrofit". WTF does that mean?

Probably it's an option that could be ordered at time of purchase or the car could be brought back to the dealer after it's been sold and be fitted with the mechanical LSD. Vast majority of car companies and dealers will not make significant mechanical additions to a car once it's left the factory, hence the "retrofit".

 

[Omnis]

I'd like to know which silly german photographer thought it'd be nice to put a disgusting rustbucket behind the car.

 

[Mike Rotch]

The more I look at pictures, the more I think this is the best looking new BMW model since, well, the current Z4.

The front is very much current Z4, the back very much 1 series but they have done a very good job of flowing the two together coherently.

 

[homeforsummer]

I'd like to know which silly german photographer thought it'd be nice to put a disgusting rustbucket behind the car.

It's a trick of the mind. Like an alright-looking girl with her fat, ugly friend. Makes the car look better by comparison.

 

[Greycap]

It looks very good from the front quarter angles as such views do an excellent job in hiding the fact that there's half a mile of overhang at the rear and practically none at the front, as well as that the amount of vertical metal between the rear wheel and rear window nearly matches the wheel diameter. The exact same problems plague the current Mustangs, move each wheel 10 cm back and shave off the same 10 cm right above the fender lines and damn both of these things would really look good.

 

[Omnis]

It's a trick of the mind. Like an alright-looking girl with her fat, ugly friend. Makes the car look better by comparison.

Except it doesn't.

 

[MatskiMonk]

the fact that there's half a mile of overhang at the rear and practically none at the front

This is a traditional styling cue of BMW's, I like it 👍

 

[Azuremen]

M235i: $44,025
228i: $33,025


Also, it's growing on me, at least from some angles...

Where's the white balance?

I mean really...

The car does look fantastic and I can't wait to see them on the street. Price doesn't seem bad either, given the power on the 228i and weight, have to say I'd consider one of those.

 

[Omnis]

Amateur hour over here.

 

[YSSMAN]

M235i: $44,025
228i: $33,025

As much as I like the car as-is, I really think they're missing a big opportunity by not offering the basic N20 as the 220i. A premium, "compact" sports coupe could do quite well against the BRZ and would happily dance all over the new A3 2.0T and CLA250. I'm not sure why BMW wouldn't want to play that game, unless, they somehow think it'd hurt sales of the Cooper S...

 

[Omnis]

But the 228 is the N20. 💡

 

[YSSMAN]

But the 228 is the N20. 💡

Yes! And no! (Apparently?)

As far as I understand BMW's idiotic naming scheme, there are two different outputs for the N20 in the 3-series. The basic one, the one I want, at 180 BHP, and the "better one" at 241 BHP.

Silly BMW.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

So with this along with the new 3 series coup... sorry 4 series. Who's thinking we'll get a new 8 series? But that said it'll just be a two door 7 series.

 

[E28]

So with this along with the new 3 series coup... sorry 4 series. Who's thinking we'll get a new 8 series? But that said it'll just be a two door 7 series.

I doubt it. The 4 and 2 series' are merely replacements for the 1 and 3 series coupes, with a new naming scheme to bring them inline with the 6 series.

 

[Wolfe]

It's fine that BMW wants to straighten out the naming scheme, but then why does the 6-series Gran Coupe exist?

Anyway, I'm impressed with the 2er so far. It looks really great and I'm heartened to see they're attempting to keep weight in check. BMW really needs to tighten the belt on the entire lineup.

 

[ExigeEvan]

It's fine that BMW wants to straighten out the naming scheme, but then why does the 6-series Gran Coupe exist?

After seeing the 6 series Gran Coupe on Autoblog I thought exactly the same thing.

But hey, Audi have already ruined any logic to using a simple number based naming scheme to differentiate between coupe and saloon models when they introduced the A5 and A7 sportbacks.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Why do people expect a number based naming system to be 100% logical?

Based on the names, I can't tell for toffee if a Fiesta is better or worse than a Focus, which may or may not be better than a Mondeo (what the hell word is Mondeo anyway), there is not indication in the name if a Zafira is a high performance muscle car, or Monaro is a family moving MPV, what the hell does Giulietta mean, and why do people want to drive something called a Corolla, which is a name that in no way describes any part of the cars position in the market or it's marques own range. How do I know that an F430 doesn't have a 3 litre engine compared to the F458's 5.8 litre engine...

... me thinks peoples brains go in to a retarded mode when it comes to BMW, Audi and Mercedes naming strategies. They still make more sense than anyone that uses words to describe models, or marques that change the nomenclature every generation, of refer to the brand within the model name.

It's like people want to pat themselves on the back for "catching manufacturers out" on their own model designations.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Because as an Engineer, I wonder who's decision was it for the Audi A5 Sport Back (An A5 is based on the A4, but the A5 SB is more A4 than it is A5...) to be named as such.

Engineering? Or marketing? An Exec?

 

[YSSMAN]

... me thinks peoples brains go in to a retarded mode when it comes to BMW, Audi and Mercedes naming strategies. They still make more sense than anyone that uses words to describe models, or marques that change the nomenclature every generation, of refer to the brand within the model name.

The worst offender is Infiniti, at this point. Throwing every model in the Qxx, QXxx nomenclature is absolutely ridiculous when considering the amount of advertising that went behind the G models and FX models. Beyond that, the numbers mean next-to-nothing. I just don't understand it.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Because as an Engineer, I wonder who's decision was it for the Audi A5 Sport Back (An A5 is based on the A4, but the A5 SB is more A4 than it is A5...) to be named as such.

Engineering? Or marketing? An Exec?

Well, I doubt there is one person, group, or even department that comes up with it. But, if ExigeEvan ran the Audi marketing department what would the A5 Sportback have been called?

 

[Clark]

Am I the only one who thinks a 235d would be an absolute weapon?

 

[Wolfe]

Why do people expect a number based naming system to be 100% logical?

Because BMW expects us to believe their number based naming system is 100% logical? That's why they've created the 2-series and 4-series. A logical system that upends a series of models spanning almost four decades for the sake of consistency and marketing is a pretty loony excuse for "logic" if they can't keep it straight elsewhere in the lineup.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Well, I doubt there is one person, group, or even department that comes up with it. But, if ExigeEvan ran the Audi marketing department what would the A5 Sportback have been called?

The Audi A4 Wonky-Rear, of course.

 

[McLaren]

M235i: $44,025
228i: $33,025


Also, it's growing on me, at least from some angles...

👍 👍

What an awful starting price, imo.

A brand new 435i starts at $46,000. Unless you just want the smaller car, I don't see any reason not to upgrade to the 4 Series.

 

[MatskiMonk]

What an awful starting price, imo.

A brand new 435i starts at $46,000. Unless you just want the smaller car, I don't see any reason not to upgrade to the 4 Series.

Well, I would hope the 2-er was more fun to drive, since the 4-er has become a little to much like a grand tourer. I guess it's not just smaller, but quite a bit more fun to chuck around.

 

[MatskiMonk]

BMW Motorsport M235i Racing
Available for VLN endurance races and the like...
Replaces M3 GT4
€59,500 +Tax
333hp

http://www.bmw-motorsport.com/en/news/current-news/2013/11/235i.html

 

[05XR8]

That is a little terror. I was driving along side a 135i. Its such a little brute. The 1M even beefier. This 2-series, Im liking. It would nice to delete the whole dash and make it sparse like an E21 323i with just a/c and radio.