The next-generation BMW 2 Series Coupe has
made yet another public appearance, its first so far on the Nürburgring
Nordschleife. Carscoops photographers spotted a prototype undergoing some high speed
testing on the punishing track while looking totally in control. The second-generation 2 Series Coupe (codenamed G42) will
remain a rear-wheel-drive car as it will migrate to the RWD-based CLAR platform
that’s also used by the latest 3 Series.
This will continue to differentiate it
from other 2 Series-badged models like the Active Tourer and Gran Coupe which
are underpinned by the FWD-based UKL architecture. Driving enthusiasts will be
glad to see that an automaker is still developing a compact rear-wheel-drive
coupe when pretty much everyone else has abandoned the segment (both at the
premium and mainstream levels).
The prototype spotted on the Nürburgring
retains the same camouflage seen during the previous sighting on the streets of
Munich so there’s nothing new to report on the styling front. The coupe appears
to feature the production headlights and taillights, though their shapes are
anyone’s guess at the moment.
Compared to the outgoing car, the new 2
Series Coupe seems wider, more muscular and better proportioned, and we can’t
wait to see it without camouflage. As for the interior, an earlier scoop
revealed that the entire dashboard, including the infotainment system and
digital instrument panel, is identical to the 2-Series Gran Coupe.
Expect BMW to offer the new 2 Series with
several engine options, including four-cylinder petrol and diesel units as well
as six-cylinder petrol power plants on the M240i variant and the M2 Coupe
range-topper. The latter is understood to share the twin-turbo 3.0-liter engine
with the M3 and M4, albeit in a de-tuned setup of around 400 HP. While the M2
is not expected to arrive earlier than 2022, the 2 Series Coupe will land
sometime late this year or early next year.
