BMW releases updated 2 Series Coupe and M2 in Singapore

BMW Asia has announced the release of the facelifted 2 Series Coupe and the M2 for sale in Singapore, in tandem with the grand opening of the BMW Eurokars Flagship Centre at Leng Kee Road on 23 October 2024. 

The refreshed 2 Series Coupe lineup brings with it exterior and interior upgrades, as well as extra digitalisation that promises to help it keep it apace with BMW's latest models. Meanwhile, the M2 has also gotten similar upgrades to keep it fresh - but more importantly, arrives with a slight bump in power, even as it continues to be available with a manual transmission for the most purist drivers.  

The M240i has its own version of the M specific design features that helps to optimise the cooling air supply and aerodynamic balance

But back first to the 2 Series Coupe: Two variants will be made available in Singapore, including the standard 220i Coupe and the sportier M240i xDrive. 

New paint jobs, light-alloy wheels, trim strips, and seat upholstery help add a modern look to BMW's baby coupe. As standard, the 220i will have 19-inch double-spoke M light-alloy wheels as standard, while the M240i sports 19-inch BMW Individual light-alloy wheels in a Y-spoke style.

In its interior, the BMW Curved Display, comprising a 12.3-inch Information Display and a 14.9-inch Control Display, serves as a platform for the new BMW iDrive with QuickSelect based off the BMW Operating System 8.5. A new M leather flat-bottom steering wheel also comes as standard.

BMW is also offering M sport seats on the refreshed 2 Series Coupe - available as standard in the M240i - which offer a plethora of adjustment options and lumbar support, as well as lateral support during dynamic cornering. Standard equipment on the 220i includes a Fine-Brushed Aluminium trim upholstery, while the M240i gets an M Carbon Fibre trim instead.

The 2 Series Coupe sports a distinctive front end with round headlamps, a BMW radiator grille, and power domes on the bonnet, with the M Sport Package's features now made standard

Under the hood, both variants of the 2 Series Coupe offer the same power as before. The rear-wheel driven 220i continues to be powered by a four-cylinder petrol engine, which offers 181bhp and 300Nm of torque, allowing it to go from 0-100km/h in 7.5 seconds before hitting a top speed of 236km/h.

The all-wheel drive M240i, on the other hand, is powered by a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine offering the same 369bhp and 500Nm of torque as before, allowing it to go from 0-100km/h in 4.3 seconds with a top speed of 250km/h.

Standard features include the M Sport suspension in the 220i, while the M240i sports the Adaptive M Chassis, and gets variable sport steering. The latter also comes with an M sport differential and M sport brake system.

Both the 220i and M240i share a range of standard systems such as the Parking Assistant, which handles all parking manoeuvres, and an electrically operated glass sunroof

Moving on to the M2, two variants will be available for sale: The M2 and the manual M2 Purist Edition, with the latter arriving at a later date.

For its exterior, the M2 continues to set itself apart from the 2 Series Coupe with its M-specific horizontal kidney grille and three-section split lower air intake, which help to enhance cooling of its powertrain components and brakes. You'll notice something subtly different on its grille, though: Its model lettering is now painted over black, with a silver-coloured border (the same can be found on its boot lid too).

Elsewhere, the M2 continues to come with a lightweight M Carbon roof that is said to help improve its agility. M light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design come as standard in the M2, with 19-inch wheels at the front axle and 20-inch wheels at the rear axle.

In a tribute to past BMW 02 models, the model-specific LED single circular headlight can generate both low and high beams

On the inside, the M2 likewise gets a Curved Display housing a 12.3-inch information display and a 14.9-inch touchscreen, which now runs the updated BMW iDrive control/operation system based off the BMW Operating System 8.5.

In addition, the standard M leather steering wheel sports a flat-bottomed rim and modified spokes, with standard M Sport seats in the M2 and standard M Carbon bucket seats for the Purist Edition (also available as an option with the M Race Track package for the M2).

As mentioned, however, the headline for the updated M2 is its bump in power: Its 3.0-litre straight-six engine now offers 473bhp and 600Nm of torque (an increase of 20bhp and 50Nm respectively), allowing it to go from 0-100km/h in 4.0 seconds - one-tenth of a second quicker than the outgoing M2 - before it hits a top speed of 250km/h.

The BMW iDrive control/operation system based off the BMW Operating system 8.5 can be used to control the temperature and ventilation of the M2

Those who still prefer to drive stick will be delighted to know that BMW is making the M2 Purist Edition available here at a later date too, which sees the standard M2's eight-speed automatic transmission swapped out for a six-speed manual one instead. 

Here, however, the car's straight-six produces the same peak torque as before of 550Nm. While the M2 Purist Edition is therefore slightly slower from 0-100km/h, taking 4.2 seconds to complete the sprint, its standard M Driver's Package brings its top speed to a higher limit of 285km/h instead.