BMW 2 Series 2016 News

2 Series Coupe and Convertible gets new engines, new designations, more equipment, and becomes petrol-power only with model range update.

Luxury SUV sales growth continues during first five months of 2016.

Major engine enhancements to BMW's entry-level M Performance models will arrive before the end of the year.The Bavarian brand says it will "pass the baton" from the existing turbocharged six-cylinder engines powering M135i and M235i models to the typically more powerful and less thirsty new engine that will launch in models dubbed M140i and M240i.The upgrade affects three models in Australia: the M135i five-door hatch, M235i coupe and M235i convertible.The power boost is backed by a 7 per cent drop in fuel use, with the claimed official consumption now down to 7.9L/100km. As is becoming the norm with most makers, performance increases despite the engines being less thirsty.In this case 0-100km/h times are down to 4.6 seconds using the eight-speed auto that is already on M Performance models here. The convertible's extra mass adds 0.1 second.Power increases from the current 240kW/450Nm to 250kW/500Nm — incredibly, that matches the figures of the bahn-storming 1 Series M coupe cult car built in 2011-12.That car has only now been superseded by the M2 coupe, which can run to 100km/h in just 4.3 seconds, thanks to outputs of 262kW/465Nm, trick componentry and weight-saving measures.Prices for the existing M Performance models start at $62,900 for the M135i and top out at $86,500 for the M235i convertible.Expect minor increases across the range, given the engine updates are likely to be backed by refreshed fenders and features.BMW Australia spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher says the new powertrain should fuel already strong local demand for the company's performance variants."We don't have any specifics other than the release at this point but we do know Australians will welcome the added performance," she says."Until the arrival of the M2 the M135i and M235i models were our go-to hot hatch and fast coupe respectively and there is still a big market that appreciates a good engine without wanting to engage every day with a full-on M model."The gear ratios in the eight-speed auto have been stretched to match the extra power.Drivers can choose to perform multiple downshifts on the paddle-shifters when entering a corner, with the car then matching ratios to revs as they drop.Left in auto mode, the transmission can employ predictive shifting — checking with the satnav to match ratios with the contours of the road.

The cost of top-down motoring in a Mercedes-Benz is about to get $20,000 cheaper.

Luxury brands vie for attention with opulence and drop-tops.

An eccentric Swiss company has created a car with a periscope-style camera to scan the road ahead and a steering wheel that can be stowed – so you can browse the web on the way to work.The Rinspeed Budii (pronounced "buddy") is the star concept car at this week's Geneva motor show, due to open Wednesday March 4, Australian time.The Swiss firm based its latest flight of fancy on the BMW i3 electric car, which has been pulled apart and rebuilt so it is unrecognisable – and loaded with advanced equipment from more than two-dozen technology suppliers.The periscope uses laser and camera technology to read traffic and detect obstacles, while the steering wheel can be used as a makeshift table to rest a lap-top while the car finds its way through traffic.The steering wheel can also be swivelled from the left to the right side of the cabin depending on where the vehicle is sold – or can be slid across at a moment's notice if the driver is too tired.A dedicated app for smart phones (and smart watches) enables owners to set the air-conditioning temperature of the car minutes before they are due to start driving, and activate the electric car's recharging cycle.Although the Rinspeed Budii concept car is not equipped with autonomous driving technology, it does provide an insight into what the inside of self-driving cars could look like.There are large iPad screens in the sun visors, with road information for the driver, and a TV or DVD player for the passenger.The central cabin control screen is as large as a TV, and the display automatically reduces the amount of information shown based on what the driver uses most."The vision of autonomous driving will soon become reality and will fundamentally change the interaction of man and automobiles," says Rinspeed boss Frank Rinderknecht.The car industry is gradually increasing the level of automation in modern vehicles, starting with radar cruise control with "stop-start", which keeps a safe distance from the car ahead, automatically comes to a stop and restarts once the traffic is moving again – without the driver having to touch the brake or accelerator pedals. This technology is available in luxury cars today.The next step is "on-ramp to off-ramp" automation on freeways. Experts believe it will be 10 to 15 years before the technology is good enough to handle the complexity of city and suburban driving."The autonomously driving car will require more than solving technical problems and legal issues in the next two decades," said Mr Rinderknecht. "We not only have to redefine the interaction of man and machine, but must also raise questions about responsibility, tolerances and expectations."Police and insurance companies have already made it clear drivers will still be responsible for obeying the law while behind the wheel of autonomous cars, just as a pilot must stay alert and in control when a plane is on auto-pilot."Even the best technology will not be perfect, albeit less prone to error than humans. That is something we will have to accept," said Mr Rinderknecht. "In the future, cars will do just as we do: they will keep learning every day, and as a result will get better and better at mastering the complex challenges of modern-day private transport."Rinspeed has a long history of creating unusual concept cars. Last year it showed a Tesla electric car with the seats facing backwards – towards a large screen TV – to illustrate how quickly autonomous technology was developing.In 2013 Rinspeed showed a tiny city car in which drivers and passengers stood while strapped to a seat rest; the idea was to create a super-small vehicle that can carry five or more people in comfort.Although the latest Rinspeed concept car does debut a number of world firsts, it wasn't the first company in the world to dream of a bird's eye view of the traffic ahead. Last year Renault unveiled a concept car called the KWID which had a camera drone beam live images back to a screen in the dashboard.It is fitting that so many supercars and racing machines for the super-rich are due to bow at the 2015 Geneva motor show. You need a tax haven to be able to afford to buy – or bend – any one of these.Clearly a recession is around the corner. History shows when super cars become common as muck the global economy collapses, the car industry contracts, and we start all over again.In the meantime, here's a taste of how Europe's filthy rich are living it up as we race towards a fiscal cliff.We don't know what the name means either, but what we do know is that this is the new two-seater sports car concept from the German-owned British brand Bentley. The 'EXP-10 Speed 6', to give its full name, is a pointer to a new model to sell alongside the Bentley coupe and sedan that are already on sale and the SUV that is a few years away from showrooms. The press blurb waxes lyrical about the design and the "expression of muscular, athletic surfaces inspired by the aerodynamic shapes of aircraft fuselages and wings". But nowhere does Bentley mention what type of engine it has. Perhaps 'six' is a clue.For some people, even Lamborghini supercars aren't fast enough. That's why cars like this are born. Lamborghini has extracted 50 extra horsepower and trimmed 50kg of bodyweight from the regular V12 Aventador to produce this limited edition lightweight model. It's called (deep breath) the Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce. All you really need to know is that with 750 horsepower (or 560kW in modern parlance) it can reach the speed limit in just 2.8 seconds and will likely cost more than $800,000 when it goes on sale in Australia late this year.Only 24 of these will be made and, as the saying goes, if you have to ask the price, you probably can't afford it. You will need especially deep pockets given this is a race car, and spare parts won't exactly be "off the shelf". The entire body and chassis are handmade from lightweight carbon-fibre. And the U-shaped steering wheel looks like something from a fighter plane. The Aston Martin Vulcan is the company's latest track weapon, said to have a handy 800 horsepower from its 7.0-litre V12. This is Aston Martin's answer to a one-make racing series for the super-rich.Aston Martin's first sedan since 1976 was released as a limited edition for the Middle East in 2014; now the company has extended production of the aptly-named Taraf to other global markets – in both left- and right-hand-drive – but will cap the number built to 200. Price "remains confidential" but the British press report it will cost £400,000 (approximately $800,000 in Australian dollars, but closer to $1 million by the time Luxury Car Tax and GST are added). Each car will be powered by Aston Martin's 6.0-litre V12 as the engine deal with Mercedes-AMG is yet to start.Do not adjust your eyes: this is the new, second-generation Audi R8. You can tell because it has vertical slats in the lower section of the front bumper, a bigger bulge in the side vents, and squinty headlights. Despite the visual similarities with the original, every panel is new. And the 5.2-litre V10 has been given a tune-up: 449kW in its most powerful guise. On sale here early next year from an estimated $400,000.After 10 years and 450 sales (at €1 million plus taxes apiece) the last ever Bugatti Veyron will bow at the 2015 Geneva motor show. In the end, the world's fastest car had an epic 895kW of power and a mind-boggling 1500Nm of torque from its quad turbo W16 (yes, two V8s mounted back-to-back). Top speed: an average of 431km/h over 1km and a 0 to 100km/h time of 2.5 seconds, which is faster than a Formula One car. The good news: Bugatti is developing a successor.The 488 GTB is the first turbocharged mid-engined Ferrari since the epic F40 supercar made from 1987 to 1992, and is only the second turbo V8 in the company's modern era after last year's California T. As with almost every brand, Ferrari is moving to turbocharging because it can extract more power from smaller engines that burn less fuel. A sign of the times, the 488 GTB (reviving the 40-year-old badge from the 308 GTB) easily eclipses the F40's output (351kW/577Nm) with an impressive 492kW of power and 760Nm of torque to create a 0 to 100km/h time of 3.0 seconds.This may look like another bad-ass Mercedes AMG GT but the bigger news is under the bonnet. It's the last hurrah for the high-powered and highly-strung 6.3-litre V8 that has been at the heart of almost every Mercedes-Benz AMG V8 model for the past decade. And it's going out on a high as the engine to be used in Mercedes' GT3 racer next year.British F1 firm McLaren has joined the long list of supercar makers with a new racing program: the P1 GTR is powered by a 1000 horsepower twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8. The show car is finished in the same colour scheme as McLaren's LeMans winner from 20 years ago. McLaren's one-make racing series for the well-heeled kicks off later this year.German sports car maker Porsche has finally done what diehard fans have demanded for more than 10 years. It has fitted the bigger and more powerful 3.8-litre six-cylinder engine from its 911 flagship into the smaller, more affordable and mid-engined Cayman. The result is a car that promises to out-pace and out-manouvre the iconic 911, which is precisely the reason Porsche was so reluctant to build it in the first place. In local showrooms by the end of the year with a price we're guessing will top $200,000.Meet Mercedes-Benz's monster truck, and one of the most expensive four-wheel-drives in the world. The G500 is based on the legendary Mercedes G-Class body (originally developed for military use but has since been made for civilians) and uses AMG's new twin turbo 4.0-litre V8. But the big news is the desert-racer suspension and the massive 22-inch wheels and tyres – and a price tag likely to cost in excess of $500,000. Fortunately it rides so high there isn't much chance you'll scratch it.Not every car at the Geneva motor show is expensive, inaccessible and unlikely to ever hit the road. But nor is every new car actually a car. Between the regular passenger vehicles is an increasing array of small SUVs.The world's biggest selling car (and the top-seller in Australia for the past two years in a row) is due for a facelift mid-year. New headlights combine with a futuristic-looking grille and sleek front bumper to give it a freshen-up. It's also tipped to get a rear-view camera as standard on every model (bringing it up to speed with the Corolla sedan and the Yaris hatch). The photo is of a hybrid version sold in Europe but Toyota Australia still has no plans to introduce the petrol-electric Corolla.This car should erase any doubts about Hyundai's continued climb up the sales charts. The new Hyundai Tucson (the first European reveal for an all-new Hyundai) is due in Australia in August. Underneath its miniature Hyundai SantaFe looks is a choice of 2.0-litre petrol, 2.0-litre turbo diesel and 1.6-litre turbo petrol power.The initials "GT" are usually associated with iconic Falcon V8 sedans or Ford's US-made Ferrari-fighting sports car, but BMW has decided to add the badge to its first people mover. The 2 Series "Grand Tourer" is the seven-seat version of its 2 Series front-wheel-drive hatch. Note the longer body, taller roof and the bigger boot to fit the third-row seats. On sale later this year.With its bright red paintwork, dark grey alloy wheels and sleek lines you could be forgiven for thinking this could pass for Ferrari's first ever wagon. In fact, it's a Kia. This concept is a pointer to the new generation Optima sedan, which will also be available as a wagon for the first time. Due on sale in Australia late this year.This cool-looking concept comes from Mitsubishi, which has a habit of making its production cars look nowhere near as exciting as the motor show tease. Here's hoping we're wrong. This is the preview to the all-new ASX compact SUV due in showrooms next year. The concept has plug-in hybrid technology but we're not certain that'll make the production version. Petrol and diesel engines will likely be standard fare.Nissan's luxury brand Infiniti (which doesn't know how to spell "infinity") is about to join the baby SUV boom with the oddly-named QX30. Car makers are switching to letters and numbers because apparently we're running out of car names that don't offend someone somewhere in various languages. Expect a showroom version of this to appear next year.It's difficult to know whether this is a tall hatchback or a squashed SUV. The Lexus LF-SA (be careful how you say that) concept is said to be a pointer to the brand's first pint-sized SUV for the city. As is the case with previous Lexus concepts, the showroom version won't look anything like this unfortunately. Imagine this car with normal doors, much smaller wheels and tyres, regular headlights, and then squint a bit, and you have an idea how the real thing will look when it arrives next year.This is a concept intended to warm us to the look of the new generation Audi A4 and A6 wagons due in the next two years. The concept also previews "production ready" plug-in hybrid technology, joining the long list of European brands embracing electrical cords to reduce the emissions ratings for their petrol-powered cars.We're not sure if this looks like a Kia, or if the latest Kia cars look like Citroens. But just to be clear this is the facelift for the Citroen DS5, with a slightly cleaner front-end look while the rest of the car is unchanged. That said, it still turns heads, three years on. The update should be in Australian showrooms by the end of the year.The photos of the new Ford Focus RS hot hatch were released last month, but the vital signs and "tech specs" will finally be made available during the car's first public outing. Powered by the same 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder engine used in the Mustang, and matched to an all-wheel-drive system, it promises to become Ford's fastest and most powerful hot hatch.The Honda Civic Type R has been in the making for almost as long as the Nissan GT-R. Here's hoping good things come to those who wait. We've seen the concept before, and we know it'll be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, but the production version of the Civic Type R finally bows at Geneva. There is just one catch: Honda says we might not see the car in Australia until 2017 because the priority is to get the Honda NSX supercar in local showrooms next year.Is your idea of sleeping under stars simply a hotel with a five-star rating? This could be the camper trailer kit for you. Jeep has created a trailer in the same shape as the tail-end of its new city-sized SUV, the Renegade. It comes with a wide screen TV and a massive sound system to annoy other campers. But fear not: it's only a motor show tease. You will not be able to buy this source of public disturbance at a Jeep dealer any time soon.

The third addition to the BMW 2 Series range will hit local showrooms next month, with the Convertible joining the coupe and front-drive Active Tourer bodystyles.Priced from $54,900, the 1 Series Convertible replacement is slightly less expensive than its predecessor which started at $56,000 and came with less standard equipment.While the 2 Series drop-top is around $7,000 more expensive than its most obvious Audi A3 Cabriolet rival, the entry BMW is more powerful and fitted with more standard equipment like satnav and a reverse camera.The 2 Series Convertible range will only be available with petrol power from launch, with the 135kW/270Nm 220i as the entry point to the range.As standard, you get the eight-speed automatic transmission with rear-wheel drive, auto start-stop fuel saving system, satnav, 17-inch alloy wheels and reversing camera with rear parking sensors.Stepping up to the $68,900 228i Convertible brings the more powerful 180kW/350Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a 0-100km/h time of 6.0 seconds.The mid-spec convertible also gains variable sport steering, 18-inch alloys, front parking sensors, Bi-Xenon headlights and leather upholstery on top of the standard items fitted to the 220i.The range-topping $85,800 M235i Convertible is powered by a 240kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbocharged straight six that can fling the sporty drop-top to 100km/h in 5.0 seconds.On top of the standard equipment in the 228i, the M Performance model gets adaptive suspension, beefier brakes, redesigned 18-inch alloys, more aggressive front and rear bumpers, sports steering wheel and BMW’s Professional navigation system which has a larger 8.8-inch infotainment screen – up from the 6.5-inch screen in lesser variants.The 2 Series Convertible is fitted with an electronically removable fabric roof which can be raised or lowered in 20 seconds at speeds of up to 50km/h, while additional sound insulation over the old 1 Series drop-top has reduced interior noise by up to 7dB.Thanks to its slightly larger dimensions compared to its predecessor, boot space has swollen by 30-litres to 355-lites, which drops to 280-litres with the roof down.Structural rigidity has also been improved, with the open-top 2 Series boasting a 20 per cent increase in torsional stiffness and 10 per cent better bending resistance compared to the old 1 Series.The new BMW 2 Series Convertible will arrive in Australia towards the end of February.

Drop-top BMW 2 Series and M235i performance variants break cover. The new 2 Series Convertible will join its hard-top sibling and the family-oriented 2 Series Active Tourer when it goes on sale locally next year.The 2 Series Convertible is more closely related to its coupe brother than the front drive 2 Series Active Tourer. With an identical wheelbase, the convertible sticks with the classic rear-wheel drive and longitudinal engine formula.From the door mirrors down the styling also closely follows the 2 Series coupe, but the removal of the fixed metal roof looks to have given the new model proportions that are reminiscent of the handsome E46 3 Series convertible from two generations ago. Unlike the folding hardtop 4 Series Convertible, the 2 Series Convertible features an electrically operated fabric roof which can be opened and closed in 20 seconds at speeds of up to 50km/h. As standard the roof is coloured black, while Anthracite and Brown are available as options. The 2 Series Convertible is effectively the replacement for the outgoing 1 Series drop-top. The new model is slightly longer and wider than its predecessor, while torsional rigidity has increased by 20 per cent. BMW claim the increased exterior dimensions have resulted in a more spacious cabin and 30-litres of additional cargo space at 355-litres.  That figure shrinks to a still substantial 280-litres with the roof open. Globally, the 2 Series Convertible will launch with four different engine options, with six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmissions available. The range kicks off with the entry 220i, which is powered by a 135kW/270Nm four-cylinder engine capable of completing the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.5 seconds. Fuel consumption is listed as 6.2L/100km when the eight-speed automatic transmission is optioned. The 220d adopts BMW’s familiar 2.0-litre turbodiesel unit, producing 140kW and 400Nm - 5kW and 20Nm of extra punch over its 220d Coupe equivalent.  The diesel convertible can achieve 4.1L/100km in automatic guise, with a 0-100km/h sprint time of 7.4 seconds. The mid-range 228i Convertible uses a 180kW/380Nm four-cylinder engine with enough gusto to hit 100km/h in 6.0 seconds, while capable of returning 6.1L/100km.  The range-topping M235i Convertible is powered by BMW’s mighty 3.0-litre single turbo straight six engine which pumps out 240kW and 450Nm. That’s enough grunt to push the 1675kg convertible to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds – three tenths slower than the M235i coupe. Like the M235i Coupe, the convertible adopts a unique chassis tune, bigger brakes, and revised aerodynamic and styling features. BMW claim the new M235i Convertible will have class-leading dynamics, but with an extra 130kg over the coupe, the hardtop M235i will likely remain the better driver’s tool.

Watch the hot BMW M235i take on the Cape Town CBD – sideways.What's cooler than seeing BMW's new 240kW/450Nm M235i rear-drive small coupe slide its way through the closed streets of the South African metropolis of Cape Town? Five of them in formation of course, and particularly so with the skilled hands of world-class drifters Samuel Hübinette, Rich Rutherford, Rhys Millen, Conrad Grunewald and Dai Yoshihara at the wheel. Directed by Hollywood stunt expert Mic Rodgers, and coordinated by Riley Harper, the M235i "Drift Mob" video shows exactly how naughty the M235i can be with the stability control set to Off. 

With the BMW 1 Series convertible exiting the scene, we've been waiting for the 2 Series to arrive and fill the gap. And we're now getting a glimpse of how it will look in open form with Carsguide's spy photographer snapping a prototype testing in Europe.Expected to be unveiled later this year, and possibly arrive in Australian showrooms in the first half of 2015, the convertible will echo the styling of the 2 Series coupe.The power-folding soft-top -- which in these shots is retracted into the boot -- will keep weight down, with the aim of helping retain as much as possible of the car's dynamic ability.Expect the engine line-up to largely follow that of the coupe, which arrived here in February with the options of three turbo versions: the 135kW/270Nm 2.0-litre 4-four-cylinder 220i, 135kW/380Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel 220d, and 240kW/450Nm 3.0-litre six-cylinder M235i -- all mated to eight-speed automatic transmissions driving the rear wheels. A 228i will join the range later this year.Expect the convertible pricing when it arrives to start at least $10,000 above the coupe, which kicks off at $50,500 for the 220i and tops out at $79,900 for the M235i.