autoevolution
 

BMW M235i Coupe Track Test

With BMW now entering every possible niche on the market, we’re bound to see a couple of new models pop up every now and again. While some might think of it as sacrilege and others welcome this change we suggest nobody says anything until they drive the new cars.
BMW M235i Track Test 1 photo
Photo: Scre
That’s what happened to us as well, before we jumped behind the wheel of the new 2 Series. We thought that taking the 1 Series Coupe out of production and replacing it with a completely standalone model would turn out to be a mistake.

Furthermore, launching a car with the M badge on the boot but not true to the M character would be an even bigger disaster. We couldn’t be farther from the truth. The thing is, we should’ve learned from our experience with the M135i.

The M235i uses basically the same engine but with a slight power advantage, as the 2er has 6 HP more than the 320 put out by the N55 3-liter 6-cylinder turbocharged unit in the hatchback. Torque levels stay the same at 332 lb-ft (450 Nm).

Both of them share a lot of the underpinnings and yet they feel rather different. The chassis on the 2 Series feels a bit more wobbly than on the hatch, which is a paradox in itself. Maybe it’s because we had the xDrive version of the 1er but the difference was still there.

However, the M235i is faster and looks a lot better, saving us from having to look at that hideous front fascia on the F20 1 Series. On the track, despite not being a proper M car, the little 2er that could proves to be more than a handful.

In corners, there’s a little roll but the sound the engine makes, the manual gearbox (a rarity these days) and the rear-wheel-drive configuration combined with the smoothness of the 6-cylinders under the bonnet and the excellent power delivery make it more than fun to drive.

The guys from CAR asked Deon Joubert, ex South African racecar champion and avid reader to take the M235i around the Killarney track. After his time behind the wheel, Deon was rather impressed with the performance. Check it out.

If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories