- The 2 Series Gran Coupe is BMW’s take on the Mercedes-Benz CLA
- Looks like a scaled-down 8 Series rather than smaller 3 or 5 Series
After a long wait, BMW has finally revealed the 2 Series Gran Coupe. Not to be confused as a 2 Series Coupe with two extra doors, the 2 Series GC is an all-new product and the smallest in BMW’s four-door-coupe line-up. It is positioned between the smaller 1 Series sedan and the 3 Series and is squarely aimed at Mercedes-Benz CLA.
Making use of the same FAAR platform as the 1 Series, the 2 Series GC has a front-wheel-drive layout. In terms of appearance, the Gran Coupe looks like a smaller 8 Series. The bulbous headlamps of the 2 Series Gran Tourer are chiselled while the grille design is akin to the one seen on the 3 Series. The front bumper design varies according to trim levels and matches the overall profile of the car.
The silhouette has a flowing roofline ending up in a well-sculpted boot lid. The taillamp design appears to be borrowed from the 8 Gran Coupe and looks quite attractive for a small compact sedan. Rounding off the exterior are dual exhaust setup, frameless doors and optional 19-inch alloy wheels. In terms of dimensions, the 2 Series Gran Coupe measures 4,526x1,800x1,420mm with a wheelbase of 2,670mm and a boot space of 430 litres.
The cabin, in a typical BMW fashion, is well laid out, clutter-free and similar to the one seen on other BMW vehicles. Under the skin, BMW has provided the 2 GC with near-actuator wheel slip limitation (ARB) from the i3s which allows a controlled wheel sleep and a neutral steering feel.
There are three powertrain options – the entry-level 218i gets a 138bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine while the 220d is powered by a 188bhp 2.0 diesel. The potent M235i xDrive has a 2.0-litre four-pot turbo-petrol under the hood making 302bhp sent to all four wheels. BMW claims a 0-100kmph time of 4.9sec for the M235i with a limited top speed of 250kmph.
The all-new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe will make its global debut in November at the 2019 Los Angeles Motor Show. But it will go on sale in March next year with prices ranging between 31,950 and 51,900 Euros. We expect BMW to bring in the 2 GC in India as well given the success of CLA in the country. It also has the potential to provide an entry point for the brand in India since the 1 Series has been discontinued and the 3 Series is now much more expensive.
