the Bucket: Bucket Seat: BMW M240i xDrive

People often ask me what's the best car I've ever driven and it's a difficult one because I've driven a lot of great cars so it's hard to pinpoint one that has been "the best". Also there's so many factors that make certain cars great, each with their own "x factor" that make the drive with them memorable. While I can name some of the more expensive and exotic brands that I've gotten behind the wheel off, it wouldn't feel right as some of the more mainstream manufacturers get it right with some models too. Not too long ago I got to spend some time with a car just like that, a car where the manufacturer developed with a purpose, and that purpose was to bring joy to whomever drove it, that car was the new BMW M240i xDrive.

DESIGN

Looks are subjective and with most of BMW's designs of recent, this one too received a mixed bag from the greater motoring community. Whole the new 2 Series doesn't come with the big buck-tooth grille, the rear end was the issue if concern for many. Personally, I don't see the problem, the car is designed beautifully with all the right curves and looks, it's a proper coupe design with its short-wheel base stocky stance and menacing figure. It is very different to the 2 Series Gran Coupe which came out a few years ago, that was based on the 1 Series, this is brand new design based on technology from the old 4 Series that see's it gain a wider wheel tract, stiffer chassis and 3cm lower than the previous model. This particular model I had on test is quite a special one, as its the only example so far in the country that features the full M Sport bits and pieces in exposed carbon fiber. Finished in "Thunder Night Metallic" which is a purple that funny enough seems to be the colour of choice for most manufacturers now with each finding creative names for it. The combination works quite well with the dark contrasts of the carbon fiber and the shadowline package which see a black finish to various elements. The car came with the optional extra 20" M Sport Star Spoke Alloy Wheels which really add to the menacing character of the car. The 2 Series features a more common kidney grille style from BMW unlike its bigger brother, the 4 Series, and the grille is active which see's it closed when required. Moving to the rear, which is the area that has caused the most controversy, the car is shaped to taper to the back with has a straight off hexagonal shape. and the lights take on a similar shape as well. Many feel that this isn't very BMW like but it doesn't take you a while to find similarities with previous gen BMW designs for example the E90 BMW 3 Series. The interior of the new 2 Series is pretty similar to the G20 3 Series, obviously customized to suit the slightly smaller cabin.

PERFORMANCE

Now we get to the crux of the matter with the new BMW 2 Series, at the heart of the car it features BMW's award winning B58 engine which is a 3.0-litre, straight six motor that produces 285kW and 500Nm of torque. With the TwinScroll turbo, the engine is extremely reactive with minimal lag when power is required. Coupled with BMW's Sports 8-speed Steptronic automatic gearbox, it is literally a marriage made in heaven where the two talk so perfectly with each other that there isn't a need for one to swap over into manual mode to make use of the paddle shifts. The M240i does feature BMW's four-wheel drive system, xDrive which powers all four wheel but the car is rear-axel biased where by more power is sent to the rear wheels of the car. This is very apparent when launching the car, BMW claim the 0-100km/h time is 4,2 seconds but on my few attempts it was much quicker than that, even hitting below the 4 second mark. We know it can go fast in the straight line but with my time with the car, I found it to be even better on the bends, the cars low center of gravity combined with BMW's perfect 50/50 weight distribution make it an absolute demon when hitting the winding roads. The downforce generated by the cars design keep you planted and with the four-wheel drive gives you more confidence to speed up when exiting corners knowing that car will do what you want it to do. M240i has upgraded brakes which increase the stopping power on a car of its size, couple this with the clever rear differential and adaptive multi-mode suspension makes this a track ready car which begs my next question, how much more better can the upcoming M2 actually be?

COMFORT

Which this cars suspension is much stiffer and features large 20" alloy wheels, the ride quality of the 2 Series is very comfortable for a sports coupe. Driving modes do play a big part in this where EcoPro and Comfort mode ease up on the sports suspension while Sports and Sports+ make it much more rigid and stiffer but with the nicely styled sports leather seats, its still maintains that level of luxury that won't give you lower back pains when exiting. The car comes with dual-climate control, heated seats for the driver and front passenger. Both seats are electronically adjustable with the driver getting memory seats with up-to 3 settings. While the BMW M240i does feature two rear bucket seats, it's worth noting that it isn't the most comfortable place to sit and can get quite claustrophobic for them, what is nice though is when getting into the back seats, there is a lever located at the back of each chair that when pulled forward it automatically moves forward to give the passenger a nice big entrance to get to the rear, and when the lever is released to put the seat back, it automatically adjusts to the position it was. This negates the previous issues faced in previous coupes that find the front passenger having to re-adjust their seat to their preference prior to the seat being pulled forward for the rear passengers to get in. This car was loaded with extras, stand out for me has to be the BMW Adaptive LED headlights, BMW Connected drive which has your integrated mobile apps which are enabled wireless and even has the option to download a virtual key to your phone, using NFC and other technologies, you can drive the car without having the actual key. Other options that were included were a glass sunroof, Harman/ Kardon sound system, and that M Performance parts.

VERDICT

When you look at the M240i xDrive on the whole, its not much different to the Z4, which has the same engine, same sort of chassis being a coupe roadster but the drive is so much more different in the two, its actually more aggressive that the Z4 and has a certain level of practicality to it compared to the Z4. Everything about this car works well, from the comfort of the car, to the luggage compartment being large enough to get two golf bags (with the drivers out), yes I tested this myself. Also while this engine is widely used in the BMW model range, I genuinely feel its best suited to this car, as a drivers sports car it delivers the perfect amount of power and the notes from the trapezoid shape tailpipes produce a beautiful orchestra when in full thrust. Unlike the larger coupes, the 2 Series is the perfect length, meaning you won't find your self in awkward situations at shopping centers if someone parks to closely to you as the doors aren't as long as that of the 4 or 8 Series. Overall, this car blew me away, yes there is a impractical part to it like any sports car with the fuel economy being the biggest red flag, but if you buying a car like this, the last thing in your mind is your average consumption. It really is a beautiful car and you will fall in love with driving again when getting behind the wheel of this, for me this is the perfect sports coupe and others should take note of what BMW have done, but coming back to my question previously, if this car is so great how are BMW going to better the M2? Having more power is one thing but could it be too powerful?