BMW has announced a raft of running changes, including new versions of the 2 Series Coupe and 4 Series Gran Coupe confirmed for Europe – though it’s unclear whether they’ll be coming to Australia.
From July 2022, the European 2 Series Coupe range will gain a new entry-level 218i engine variant, and at the top of the range the M240i now offers a rear-wheel drive model to bolster the existing M240i xDrive all-wheel drive model.
The rear-wheel drive M240i is powered by the same 275kW 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six as its xDrive sibling, driving the through wheels via an eight-speed automatic and M Sport differential. BMW claims the M240i Coupe can sprint from 0-100 in 4.7 seconds, 0.4s slower than the M240i xDrive offered in Australia.
All 2 Series Coupe models from in Europe will gain the new BMW Curved Display as standard, combining a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a massive 14.9-inch central infotainment display. This also sees the introduction of BMW Operating System 8, the company’s latest version of iDrive.
M440i Gran Coupe
The 4 Series Gran Coupe, meanwhile, gets two new six-cylinder models for the European market: a 430d xDrive turbo-diesel as well as an M440i with rear-wheel drive.
Unlike the existing Australian-market M440i xDrive Gran Coupe, the European model gets 48V mild-hybrid assistance with the 3.0-litre turbo inline six for enhanced efficiency, and quotes a power output of 275kW rather than 285kW.
The M440i Gran Coupe features an eight-speed auto and M Sport rear differential like the smaller M240i Coupe, and claims a 0-100 time of 5.0 seconds. By comparison, the M440i xDrive takes 4.7 seconds.
Beyond the new engines, the 4 Series Gran Coupe range (including the electric i4) will be offered with a new M Sport Package Pro option from July 2022 in Europe, including an extended M High Gloss Shadow Line, M Shadow Line lights, an M sports brake system with red brake callipers and M seat belts.
The 4 Series Coupe and 4 Series Convertible don’t score the same changes, but gain a new paint finish in Skyscraper Grey metallic.
2023 M3 Sedan
BMW Operating System 8 will be enhanced later this year in the European market, with new functions and enhanced capabilities for the BMW Maps navigation system and BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant.
“In addition to new map displays, the navigation system provides information about special sights and features along the route travelled on frequently used routes even when route guidance is not activated,” BMW says.
“When using the eDrive Zone function, it will in future be possible to differentiate between conventional environmental zones and completely emission-free areas within an urban area in the plug-in hybrid models of the BMW 3 Series and the BMW X5.”
“In the cockpit of BMW M cars, the BMW Operating System 8 will feature an M specific user interface in future. In the BMW iX and the BMW i4, the additional Augmented View display, which can be used with BMW Live Cockpit Professional, is also shown in the Information Display,” the company said.
We’re still waiting for BMW Australia to confirm whether any of these changes will be reflected on local models, and if so when they’ll reach showrooms.
Given previous form, expect the BMW Operating System 8 to roll out into the 2 Series Coupe at some point, as well as the M Sport Package Pro option to become available in future for the 4 Series Gran Coupe, as well as the 5 Series, X5 and X6 as per the same media release.
Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest.
Keyword: BMW M240i, M440i with rear-drive unconfirmed for Australia