BMW suddenly reveals Z4-powered M240i xDrive
Thursday, 8 July 2021
BMW has decided the 2 Series is pedestrian enough and built a new model. Called the M240i xDrive, it doesn’t have a two-litre engine, nor is it front-wheel drive. The new model gets the same 3.0-litre straight six as the M340i and Z4 with the same rear-biased all-wheel drive system.
It’s meant as a step between the normal 2 Series cars and the forthcoming M2, in the same vein as the M340i. The engine makes the same 285kW/500Nm as its 3 Series counterpart, paired with the same eight-speed automatic transmission and the first instance of xDrive on a 2 Series Coupe. BMW says the little two-door will be able to hit 100kmh in 4.3 seconds.
Other performance improvements include chassis components taken from the 4 Series, like the two-joint spring strut front axle and five-link rear axle, which improves handling and ride quality.
The entire suspension is M Sport-spec, including lift-related dampers and variable sport steering, while M Sport brakes and an M Sport differential are also standard. BMW has said a rear-drive M240i is coming too.
**READ MORE:
* Road test review: BMW M3 Competition
* BMW keeps the RWD flame alive
* First drive review: BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
**
In terms of design, the M240i departs a little from the other 2 Series models, owing to its new underpinnings. There’s a long bonnet with new-look adaptive LED headlights, large triangular corner intakes and a regular-sized kidney grille.
Around the back are swoopy taillights that nudge into the bootlid, which gets a small built-in lip as well as a slim spoiler on top. Two exhaust pipes flank a small diffuser. It’s basically the coupe version of the Z4.
While the M240i will probably look better in the metal, as these things tend to, I can’t help but feel that this design would benefit from the M3/M4’s grille.
Call me an apologist for the new look, but there’s something a bit off about the M240i. Perhaps we’ll see that on the M2? Or maybe BMW will leave it on the larger M cars and retain the smaller shape for the range-topping 2 Series.
The taillights also look odd, like they were meant to be bigger. It's a design that nearly works but doesn’t.
There’s not much to talk about with regard to the interior. It’s the same as the 2 Series and M340i. BMW says trapezoidal accents above the armrests in the door are new and, if the optional Ambient Light is added, they are “stylishly backlit.”
In any case, we’ll get the M240i xDrive in Q1 2022. Overseas markets also get a rear-drive, 2.0-litre turbo-four-powered 230i but that wasn’t mentioned for New Zealand. Price will be revealed closer to the launch.