2022 BMW 2 Series Coupe revealed, manual dropped

The 2022 BMW 2 Series Coupe has been unveiled in Europe, with a range of four- and six-cylinder petrol engines expected to be offered in Australia in late 2021 or early 2022.

The all-new 2 Series will see the manual transmission dropped by BMW for the new model, as well as missing out on the controversial 'coffin grille' found on other BMW models of late, instead adopting sharp triangular shapes across its exterior, 

While a high-performance BMW M2 is expected in late 2022 – which is rumoured to retain a manual transmission – the flagship model in the standard 2 Series range will be the BMW M240i xDrive, powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol six-cylinder engine.

Thanks to a lack of stringent emissions regulations, it's possible Australian models could see 285kW and 500Nm from the M240i – more power than will be offered in Europe – sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The M240i xDrive will hit 100km/h from a standstill in a claimed 4.3 seconds, eventually topping out at an electronically-limited 250km/h.

A mid-range 230i will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine producing 190kW and 400Nm, powering the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic. It will do the 0-100km/h sprint in a claimed 6.0-seconds.

The entry-level 220i will also use a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four mated to the eight-speed auto, taking 7.5 seconds to hit 100km/h from a standstill thanks to a lower output of 135kW and 300Nm.

Inside, the new 2 Series will see a range of screens offered, up to a maximum 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen for infotainment duties – with the latter running BMW's iDrive 7 operating system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The vehicle is now longer, wider, and lower than the outgoing model, while its wheelbase has been extended by 51mm and tracks widened.

Underpinning the vehicle is the brand's latest modular CLAR platform, which increases torsional rigidity by 12 per cent while retaining near-50:50 weight distribution.

Full Australian pricing and specifications for the 2022 BMW 2 Series Coupe will be revealed closer to its local launch, which is expected in late 2021 or early 2022.