BMW reveals all-new 2 Series Gran Coupe

BMW has revealed the all-new compact 2 Series Gran Coupe, a lower, wider take on the 2 Series sedan. Like the 2 and 1 Series, the new four-door rides on BMW’s front-drive platform. To help traction when cornering, the 2 Series Gran Coupe uses a near-actuator wheel slip limitation system. The system reacts to control wheelspin faster than a conventional electronic setup. The car also includes a yaw distribution system that selectively brakes wheels on the inside of a turn to reduce understeer.

The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe will launch with three engine choices, one diesel and two petrol. The base engine is the three-cylinder petrol unit in the 218i with 140hp. It’s matched to a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel in the 220d produces 190hp. The top model is the M235i xDrive with the 306hp four-cylinder gasoline engine. This one sprints to 100kph in just 4.9 seconds. The 220d and M235i both come with the eight-speed automatic transmission.

Safety includes monitoring of the car’s surroundings via camera image, radar and ultrasonic sensors, with the car alerting the driver of hazards, including pedestrians and cyclists.

Interior features include a head-up display, a Siri-type Intelligent Personal Assistant, Apple CarPlay integration, and remote software upgrade capability. Gesture control, where you wave your hand in front of the instrument panel to initiate commands, is also included.

The BMW Digital Key allows the user to lock and unlock the car via smartphone using Near Field Communication (NFC). Holding up the smartphone up to the door handle unlocks the car, even if the phone battery is dead. The engine can be started when the phone has been placed in the smartphone tray. The Digital Key can shared with up to five other people. Phones like the NFC-compatible Samsung Galaxy models with Android 8.0 and above will work with it.