Test bench | BMW M240i: other times…

The M240i is a BMW as we loved them: sleek, agile and fun to drive.

Eric LeFrancois
special cooperation

don’t cut

Sales are down, but BMW maintains its offer. The 2-Series coupe has its descendants in the hope that one day motorists will tire of SUVs and rediscover the beauty and dynamism of the coupe.

Revealed to the face of the world a year ago, this cut grows by 105 millimeters compared to the old model and grants itself a gain of 64 millimeters in width. This opens the door to an increase in the wheelbase and tracks (63 mm at the front, 35 mm at the rear) to better put the car on the pavement. Also with this in mind, the roof loses altitude (- 28 mm), as does the ground clearance (- 2 mm).

Beyond the numbers, some will consider first – it’s a coupe, right? – his line. The rather tortured silhouette will probably not allow him to get out of the line, even less to twist his necks in his path. The stylists will retort that here the form follows the function and that the visual aspect of this coupé has led to a (very slight) reduction in the aerodynamic drag coefficient while minimizing the phenomena of lift at high speed.

From heart to stomach

Energetic, this M240i is powered by a suave supercharged 3-litre six-cylinder in-line engine. Voluntary, powerful and responsive, this engine responds instantly, without failing, over a wide rev range. The automatic transmission that accompanies it maximizes the potential of this mechanism, but… the presence of paddles on the steering wheel is only a pale substitute for the hands of those enthusiasts capable of feeling a clutch pedal while guiding the gear lever towards the appropriate report. Alas, the manual transmission is not on the lineup. This will be exclusively reserved for the future M2 (see other text).

You can throw this little BMW around the corners without any apprehension. The rear axle reacts healthily and the front axle sits where you want thanks to the very direct steering, pleasantly weighted in its assistance, but less intuitive than desired.

Although it has nothing particularly leicht (light in German) with its approximately 1700 kg, this BMW is conducted with finesse. Well wedged in his seat, the right foot resting on the accelerator pedal, we enjoy the solicitation as she shows the heart to the work.

It is still necessary to learn to dose the very strong and quick to react braking and to be wary of the rather wide turning radius, annoying during parking maneuvers. Since a sports coupe worthy of this name cannot install its occupants in cotton wool, the M240i is naturally based on firm suspensions. These stick better to the road and they have the merit of curbing body movements brilliantly. They will be criticized, however, for stamping on the irregular coatings. No one is obliged to do the impossible, and it is at this price that you really “feel” a car. The presence of run-flat tires (known as run-flat) will not please everyone. Many owners of the brand condemn these tires for their excessive firmness and, above all, the cost price.

Come winter, the all-wheel drive – standard – will reassure more than one if they keep in mind the low ground clearance of this vehicle. That said, the xDrive drive mode provides the M240i with exemplary traction in all conditions with the added bonus of a more or less pronounced propulsion temperament depending on the possible settings. Never mind, you have to push quite hard to waltz the rear axle. This is no doubt why the two best qualities of the M240i lie in the confidence it inspires and the pleasure it provides, without even encouraging people to break the speed limits.

We squeeze a little

Little friendly reminder: we are on board a coupé, not a wagon. So access to the front seats and the exit are not really a problem, but the occupants of the (two) rear seats will not share this opinion. And as soon as their butt lands on the bench, his discomfort will be added to their list of complaints. They do not benefit from the increased measurements of the vehicle. On the other hand, the trunk, yes. This one sees its volume increase without, it should be specified, opening this selfish car to family use. However, we welcome the effort that has been made to improve its versatility by allowing the space to be configured. The backrest of the rear seat (40-20-40) and a lower sill make loading easier.

The dressing of the cabin deserves even less leniency. The stylists commissioned to brighten up life on board showed their usual attention to detail and a keen sense of ergonomics. On the other hand, they didn’t rack their brains to create a slightly original atmosphere. In fact, this model is afflicted with a rather bourgeois and starched interior design. Naturally, there is the possibility of embellishing it a little using the personalization options, but the result obtained is not up to the requested sum. Better to stick to the basics.

Technical sheet

Engine

• L6 DOHC 3-litre turbocharged
• 382 horsepower between 5800 and 6500 rpm
• 369 lb-ft of torque between 1800 and 5000 rpm

Performance

• Weight: 1756 kg
• Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 4.3 seconds
• Top speed: 250 km/h

Gearbox

• Standard: 8-speed automatic
• Optional: none
• Drive Mode: Integral

Tires

• Front: 225/40R19
• Rear: 255/35R19

Tank capacity, gasoline recommended

Dimensions

• Wheelbase: 2741mm
• Length: 4558mm
• Height: 1404mm
• Width: 1838mm¹

1. Exterior mirrors excluded

False binoculars

Do not confuse the Series 2 Gran Coupe (our photo) with the Series 2 coupe. The latter covers a totally different architecture. Indeed, the body of the Coupe 2 Series is placed on a rear-wheel-drive platform with the engine mounted in a longitudinal position. The Series 2 Gran Coupé takes over the foundations (front-wheel drive and transverse engine mounting) of the Mini. No, the sensations behind the wheel are not the same.

Always more far

BMW no longer made a secret of the marketing of an M2 for a long time. The latter multiplies the driving sessions for its official presentation scheduled for the fall. For now, the Bavarian brand says nothing about the technical characteristics of this vehicle, except that its performance will be “very close” to that of the late M2 CS (444 horsepower). Unlike the M240i in our test bench, the M2 will benefit from a manual gearbox (six reports), which will relay the power of its thruster to the rear wheels alone.