It's no secret that the 2017 model year update turned the BMW 2 Series into a bomb and we're talking about the M240i here.
Packing the new B48 turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six, the pumped-up M235i, if we may call it so, goes dangerously deep into M2 territory.
You see, while the M240i has 340 hp and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque, the M2 packs and extra 30 hp, and a similar peak torque. However, the M2's dual-clutch tranny shifts quicker than the eight-speed auto of the M Performance car.
However, we're here for a real world comparo, which is exactly what we get in the video below. This brings an unorthodox acceleration comparison involving the pair of Bimmers. To be more specific, this doesn't actually see the two cars being driven side by side, offering a dashboard instruments "race" instead.
While the M2 does grab the lead from the start, the M240i takes over once the two get past 110 mph (180 km/h) or so. Even though we don't get to see the testing conditions, this footage comes to show just how close the two incarnations of the 2 Series are.
However, if you were in the market for an M2 and are now considering saving some cash by going for an M240i instead, there are two things you need to consider.
First there the handling part of the comparison. Alas, the M240i has maintained the M235i's handling characteristics, meaning that while you do get tons of grip, the car doesn't let go in a linear way. Lack of a limited slip differential aside (the M2 has such hardware), this is also connected to the setup of the vehicles, which means the M Performance sportscar doesn't make a good drifting machine, an accolade the M2 is entirely worthy of.
Then there's the upcoming 2018 BMW M2 update - along with the normal 2 Series (here are some spyshots), the M2 should get its mid-cycle revamp next year. In fact, the prototype we spied lapping the Nurburgring earlier this year might not be the spiced-up M2 CS as we initially thought, but a test car for the revamped M2.
And you can bet your downpayment money on the fact that the refreshed M2 will no longer allow the M240i to get that close to it.
In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist. Full profile
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