I’ll admit, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is a delight to drive. As refined as you would expect from any BMW product, this compact car delights on all fronts. I was eager to experience this car for many reasons. Apart from it being a new addition to BMW’s line up, it is also the first BMW that I personally have driven that is front-wheel drive. Yes, you heard that right. The news of the new X1 being front wheel drive was the first time I heard of the German company moving away from one of its most iconic elements in its cars and while I didn’t get my hands on that vehicle yet, the 2 Series Gran Coupe follows in the same vein and it just so happens to be the first time that I’ve experienced a front wheel drive Beemer! But more on that later, let’s get talking about the car and what it comes packed with.
The version I had my hands on was the top of the line M Sport and the first thing that grabs your attention is how awesome it looks. The larger grille sits well on this car and the proportions are spot on. I have seen the larger BMW 6 Series and 8 Series Gran Coupes and it is easy to see how that design language has seamlessly carried over to the smaller 2 Series Gran Coupe. The car measures 4526mm, has a wide stance of 1,800mm and is just 1,420mm tall. The low-slung look is further enhanced by the classic coupe silhouette with that sloping roof line. Having said that, BMW has managed to give this car a solid 2,670mm wheelbase which means that you get more than enough space on board for four passengers and the boot can hold 430 litres of luggage. A practical, stylish machine is what the 2 Series is!
All the typical BMW flair is present as well including those awesome looking LED headlights with the neat BMW lettering on the side, eyebrow turn indicators, sharp characterlines and chiselled bumpers. Completing the package are the large alloys that fill up the wheel arches in typical BMW fashion and give this car a solid sporty stance.
The cabin layout makes it clear that this car is meant to be driven and not to be driven around in! The cockpit is focused on the driver and the ergonomics are spot on. The driver gets a 10.25-inch info display instrument cluster and the centre console gets a 10.25-inch-high resolution control display that is touch sensitive and angled towards the driver. The two screens together form the BMW Live Cockpit Professional that allows the driver to access a plethora of information and configure individual requirements.
The car also comes equipped with BMW’s Touch Controller to operate the infotainment system and it goes without saying that all these systems work seamlessly to give you a rather upmarket experience. Sound quality is excellent as is the touch and feel of all the knobs and buttons. As far as space is concerned, the front passengers are cocooned in luxurious seats, however the rear is a bit tight if you happen to be above 6 feet tall. The back seat itself is rather comfortable and thanks to the panoramic sunroof, you don’t feel like you are locked in, rather you enjoy a nice ‘open’ feeling!
Powering the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is a BS6 compliant 2-litre, 4-cylinder engine equipped with BMW’s TwinPower Turbo technology. This diesel engine churns out 190 hp of power and 400 Nm of torque. Paired with an 8-speed steptronic sport transmission, the 2 Series is a rocket! This car can do the 0-100km/h dash in just 7.5 seconds and can hit a top speed of 235 km/h. Coupled with the fact that it delivers 18.64 kilometres to the litre, it is the ideal combination of performance and efficiency. Incidentally, the diesel engine comes with SCR emission control thanks to an AdBlue tank on board that injects a urea solution in to the exhaust gases to cut nitrogen oxide levels.
The car comes with multiple drive modes as well which include, Sport, Comfort and Eco Pro mode that the driver can select as per their liking and driving style. For the more experienced driver, the 2 Series also comes with launch control!
Coming back to where I started off, the 2 Series Gran Coupe is a front wheel drive BMW and it feels different when you hit the road and slam on the gas pedal. You immediately feel the tug rather than the push that is common with rear wheel drive cars and since this car lays down a ton of power when you do, you can feel it in the steering wheel as well, but it doesn’t have that characteristic yaw that most front wheel drive cars have.
This is thanks to some cool tech on board that allows the 2 Series to drive the way it does. BMW has put in some cutting edge technology to get rid of front wheel drive problems – mainly the yaw factor, in order to give it that sheer driving dynamic and stick to the road like it’s on glue. Drawing from their experience with the all-electric BMW i3, the 2 Series Gran Coupe gets an actuator contiguous wheel slip limitation system, or ARB for short. Coupled with the dynamic stability control system, traction is improved at all times and in different driving conditions as well. This has resulted in the BMW 2 Series having a rather neutral steering wheel feel and you don’t get that pull to the side as you accelerate – like most powerful front wheel drive cars normally do.
Built tough and safe, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe comes with all the bells and whistles including ABS, traction control, stability control, cornering brake control and an attentiveness assistant that monitors driver behaviour for signs of fatigue (although I don’t know how anyone could feel fatigued driving this beautiful machine around all day!). It is a feature rich car that delivers on all counts and has been priced rather well too, with the 220d Sport Line going for INR 39.30 lakh and the 220d M Sport pegged at INR 41.40 lakh. A petrol version will be out soon, just in case you were wondering about that! Overall, there is a car you can’t go wrong with and it takes you back the thrill of driving in a compact, efficient and practical form with oodles of class and style tossed in for good measure!