Rear-wheel drive diesel 2022 BMW 220d M Sport G42 2 Series Coupé unveiled
An all-new G42 BMW 2 Series Coupé will be arriving in dealerships early next year, costing £36,900 for the single diesel 220d M Sport G42 model on offer. The svelte two-door now sits on the same platform as the larger 4 Series Coupé, but sports a more conservative horizontal grille. This architecture means it retains rear-wheel drive, unlike the latest 2 Series Gran Coupé that shares its DNA with MINI models, and therefore is front-wheel driven.
The latest Coupé has grown noticeably, being 105mm longer and 64mm wider, with a 51mm increase in wheelbase, however it’s now 28mm lower than before. It also has 51mm and 31mm wider tracks front and rear, giving it ‘excellent cornering dynamics’ according to BMW. Along with a more aggressive posture, it’s good news for practicality, with the 390-litre boot now easier to access, with 35mm shaved off the height of its loading lip.
Despite its larger footprint, BMW has employed greater use of aluminium to save weight, particularly at the nose of the car where the front wings, bonnet and spring struts are constructed from the material to save 9.6kg. The new grille also features BMW’s active air flap system, that can adjust in ten different stages to regulate air flow into the engine bay, reducing drag when closed.
The 2 Series Coupé’s angular new headlights are inspired by the ‘02’ models from the 1960s and 70s, there’s a long bonnet for a cab-rearward design and a short boot lid with a spoiler lip that ‘typify sporting compact BMW coupés’. All UK cars are destined to be M Sport versions, with an aggressive front lower grille and bumpers, dark exterior trim, dual exhausts and 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, technology has been upgraded to catch up with the 4 Series, and it gets the same 10.25-inch digital instrument panel and 12.3-inch central infotainment display running the latest BMW Operating System 7 software. Thanks to it being an M Sport, there’s also a sports steering wheel with paddle shifters, and a blend of Alcantara and synthetic leather upholstery, along with heated sports seats.
Power comes from BMW’s 2.0-litre turbodiesel with common-rail direct injection, producing 188bhp and 295lb ft of torque. This is enough to propel the 220d Coupé to 62mph in 6.9 seconds, with gear changes taken care of by the standard eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission. The diesel powertrain gains 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, with a starter generator providing an 11bhp boost under acceleration. Fuel efficiency of 60.1mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 122g/km helps it to appeal to private and business drivers alike.