For those looking to complete their journeys with both zero local emissions and the driving pleasure typical of BMW, the BMW 225xe iPerformance offers a combination of sportiness, economy and everyday usability unmatched in its segment. The plug-in hybrid's electric drivetrain offers an electric range of 45 kilometres (28 miles) and teams up with the three-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo engine to deliver sporting performance characteristics and the long range over extended journeys expected of a combustion engine.

In 2014 BMW embarked on a new approach to spatial functionality with the launch of the BMW 2-Series Active Tourer. It offered generous amounts of space within a compact exterior, together with excellent versatility and high levels of driver engagement. The first ever Sports Activity Tourer (SAT) from BMW quickly gained in popularity and turned into one of the brand's highest sellers. It was followed a year later by a second model version in the form of the BMW 2-Series Gran Tourer, complete with a longer body, extended wheelbase and up to seven seats. By the end of 2017, these two models based on BMW's compact front-wheel-drive architecture had amassed in excess of 380,000 buyers, with almost 70 per cent opting for the Active Tourer. With conquest rates as high as 80 per cent, the majority of customers are new to the brand. The most important market is Germany, which absorbs about 25 per cent of total production. China is next up, followed by the UK. This success story is set to continue with the arrival of the updated models in March 2018. The new arrivals promise to be shining examples of the classic BMW core values of sportiness and expressive design.

BMW updates the M2 with a detuned M4 engine and more visual punch. Yes please

Meet the BMW M2 Competition. You can forget any notion of this being a desirable options pack – BMW describes it as a “complete reworking” of the standard M2, which the Competition replaces completely.

It’d be very easy to argue the BMW M2 needed no such reworking; it’s a mega little sports coupe and a bruising alternative to an Audi TT RS or Porsche 718 Cayman. But the list of tweaks leave us feeling assured BMW hasn’t ruined the recipe, it’s just lobbed in a load of scotch bonnets to make it punchier than ever.

In short, it’s closer to the ethos of the old 1-Series M Coupe than ever. Out goes the M2’s single-turbo 3.0-litre straight-six engine, replaced by a similarly sized twin-turbo unit borrowed from the BMW M4.

It’s a bit less potent here, presumably for politics’ sake. But with 404bhp and 406lb ft, it’s still up ten per cent on the old M2, more than enough to counter a 55kg weight gain (to 1,550kg). It’s good for 0-62mph in 4.2secs on its way to a limited 155mph top speed, or 170mph if you spec the optional ‘M Driver’s Package’. Performance is largely on par with its closest foe, the latest Audi RS3 saloon.

Other changes are a little more subtle: beefier brakes sit beneath those exceptional new alloy wheels (look at them immediately, if you haven’t already), while the steering is tweaked and the stability control retuned. It’s now less likely to interrupt when you’re nicely in control of a drift, but will hopefully still save you from post-car meet YouTube infamy.

The whole thing looks a bit more up-for-it, too, with proper M car wing mirrors and the option of orange paint like on the 1M. But it’s beneath that skin where the changes get really nerdy. Open the bonnet and there’s a carbon strut (from the M4) to make the front end stiffer, and thus turn-in more precise. There’s also been a focus on limiting how much the oil supply moves around during hard driving, ensuring all of the engine’s components stay well lubricated.

Then there’s LDS. If you don’t know (and shame on you), that stands for lightbogendrahtspritzen. If you still don’t know (seriously, shame on you), that’s the spraying of very thin metal onto the coating of the cylinder bores, protecting them with a durable but very light material.

Back in the real world, a six-speed manual remains standard-fit, while the optional seven-speed twin-clutch auto now comes with a centre-console button to make its shifts more aggressive. Just like bigger, more grown-up M cars do.

That’s the whole M2 Competition in a nutshell, really; lifting the M2 from a beefed-up 2 Series Coupe to a full-on baby M4. Which makes its three-grand price rise – to £49,285 – seem like a bit of a steal.

Hands up, who wants a go?

The M2 CS will apparently be a limited-edition car only for the United States.

BMW introduced the M2 Competition only a few months ago as a replacement for the regular M2, but already we’re hearing rumors about more amped-up versions of the performance coupe. Anonymous sources close to the matter cited by BMWBLOGare saying the Germans are working on not one, but two limited-run M2s due to be unveiled in the following years.

The first to hit the market is apparently the M2 CS, which will be a special edition version scheduled to come out in 2019 exclusively for the United States. Customer deliveries are set to commence at the beginning of 2020 and the car will feature an array of upgrades over the recently launched M2 Competition. The report goes on to mention BMW’s engineers will shave off some weight by installing more lightweight parts as seen on the M Performance Parts concept lighter by approximately 132 pounds (60 kilograms) than the standard car.

While weight will go down, power is expected to go up. It’s perfectly doable considering the M2 Competition has borrowed the M4’s engine, but in a de-tuned configuration. It pushes out 405 horsepower and 406 pound-feet (550 Newton-meters) of torque, so it definitely has room to grow and get closer to the base M4’s output.

BMW won’t ignore the rest of the world as while the U.S. will get the M2 CS, the plan is to introduce an international M2 CSL just a few months later. It will allegedly go on an even stricter diet while gaining more muscle compared to the CS. This one too will have limited availability as the report mention the car will be offered for only about a year, quite possibly as a last hurrah for the current-generation 2 Series.

It remains to be seen whether this interesting rumor will pan out, but it could happen considering BMW has promised to dust off the “CSL” badge and has also trademarked the suffix for M1 through M8 models.

About a year ago, a Bimmerpost power user called "ynguldyn" posted key info on the 2020 Toyota Supra months before the Japanese coupe was unveiled, and that info was spot on. The mystery poster is back with specs on the coming BMW M2 CS, a hotter version of the M2 Competition(pictured, which we just drove) seen in various spy shots but so unknown that BMW watchers weren't sure if it would be called CS or CSL. According to ynguldyn, CS is the name, the Coupe Sport trim to pack 445 horsepower and a manual transmission.

If the power number comes truth, that's a mighty figure for a couple of reasons. BMW put the M4's 405-hp S55 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six in the M2 Competition for emissions reasons, and installed a larger kidney grille and front intakes for cooling. But the carmaker is reported to have said it couldn't make the M2 more powerful because the M2's various nostrils couldn't inhale enough air to deal with a higher tune. It appears the guys in white coats found the key to that conundrum.

The other reason 455 hp makes a splash is because that would give the M2 CS one equine more than the M3 and M4 with the Competition package. True, the M3 and M4 have gone out of production while we wait on the next-gen cars. But the M2 CS could still lord over its bigger brothers for a year.

Ynguldyn says the transmission options will be "both manual and DCT," which we'll figure is a six-speed manual and a seven-speed dual-clutch.

A carbon roof — which BMW didn't offer on the M2 Competition to ensure daylight between it and the M4 — will come standard. Black Sapphire, Alpine White, and Hockenheim Silver are the three traditional color choices, joined by the new Misano Blue. A black interior is predicted to be the only choice, with an Alcantara-covered steering wheel among the few options.

M Carbon ceramic brakes can supposedly be added; they aren't an option on the M2 Competition. Those brakes add $8,150 to the price of an M4 Competition.

Price is the touchy subject regarding the M2 CS. BMW priced the 2019 M4 CS — which couldn't be had with a manual transmission — at $103,100, about $30,000 more than the M4 Competition. The M2 Competition starts at $58,900, and everything from $68K to $80K has been mooted. There were stories long ago about the M2 CS being limited to 1,000 units, though. If that's the case, price won't matter.

The first-ever BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe sees BMW bringing the four-door coupe concept that has already enjoyed great success in higher vehicle classes into the premium compact segment for the first time. This more dashing alternative to the classical sedan celebrates its arrival with a fresh dose of individuality, aesthetic appeal and emotional engagement, backed up by innovative control/operation and connectivity tech, excellent everyday usability and the dynamic capability for which BMW is renowned. The BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe will go on sale worldwide, the extrovert four-door coupe providing a particularly alluring gateway into the BMW product range.

Built exclusively in Leipzig, Germany, the BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe represents the entry point to BMW ownership in the USA, and so it is fitting that the new model celebrates its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2019. Around 20 per cent of 2-Series Gran Coupe models produced will find their way to the USA, while other key markets are China (from the end of 2020) with a target figure of 15 per cent and Europe, which should account for around a third of deliveries. Here, Germany (7 per cent) and Great Britain (6 per cent) are the major players. The BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe therefore has all the ingredients to fuel the enthusiasm of new, design-led customers in urban areas for BMW's hallmark driving pleasure. It represents an appealing addition to the model line-up, in particular in markets where the sedan body style enjoys strong popularity.

The success story of four-door BMW coupes began in 2012 with the BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe, which was followed two years later by the BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe. The new BMW 8-Series Gran Coupe has been available since September 2019. And the market launch of the BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe in early 2020 will complete the family line-up. Like its larger siblings, the BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe reveals a strong focus on design with bold, sporty and emotionally rich lines, frameless side doors and a highly expressive, flamboyant appearance. And it combines these elements with a high level of everyday practicality, including excellent interior space and a large load compartment.

As its sporting looks imply, the BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe has its sights set on establishing the dynamic yardstick in its class. The advanced BMW front-wheel-drive architecture, which the BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe shares with the new BMW 1-Series along with an array of other technological developments, provides an outstanding toolkit for the job at hand. Furnished with cutting-edge chassis technology and innovative systems, e.g. in the field of control system technology, the four-door coupe raises the bar in terms of driving dynamics and agility. And in BMW M235i xDrive form it comes as standard with BMW xDrive all-wheel drive.

The BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe is the perfect choice for young, urban customers for whom sportiness, cutting-edge connectivity and ample on-board space rank highly. Market launch will get underway in March 2020, with prices in Germany starting at €31,950 for the BMW 218i, €39,900 for the BMW 220d and €51,900 for the range-topping BMW M235i xDrive.

The world may be gaga for coupe-like crossovers and SUVs right now, but BMW has given purist driving enthusiasts a momentary reprieve from the high-riding tide with its latest hardcore model, the 2020 BMW M2 CS.

On Tuesday, BMW ushered this performance coupe into the world, and the Bavarians' new M2 CS cares not for the casual driver. No, instead, this new model promises to be everything BMW fans have always loved about "The Ultimate Driving Machine." Up front sits a version of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six the standard M2 Competition uses (an engine borrowed from the M3 and M4 Competition). However, the mad men and women inside the German automaker's M division have gone ahead and juiced the straight six with an extra 39 horsepower, for a total of 444 hp. Compared to the M2 Competition, torque remains unchanged at 406 pound-feet.

All of that power flows through -- grab your party poppers -- a standard six-speed manual gearbox to the rear wheels, though a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is available. The manual is something many of the brand's faithful sorely missed from other M2 models. With the stick shift in place, 0-60 mph comes in 4 seconds, while the quicker-shifting DCT does the same sprint in 3.8 seconds. Planting the accelerator should reveal a sweeter soundtrack, too, thanks to an active exhaust system with various modes.

Although BMW has yet to reveal how much the coupe weighs, the M2 CS has gone on a carbon-fiber diet. Carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) finds its way to numerous areas, including the splitter, rear spoiler and mirrors.

The weight-savings effort continue throughout the vehicle -- engineers have clearly worked hard to lighten this enthusiast machine. The wheel hubs and control arms are made from forged aluminum; the transmission tunnel inside again boasts CFRP construction to shave six pounds from the cockpit (versus a standard 2 Series) and the hood boasts traditional carbon fiber, weighing 50% less than its steel equivalent. Looking to purge more weight? A CFRP hood is also available.

The M2 CS should be even more capable of carving apexes at your favorite racetrack, thanks to its standard adaptive M suspension. The M2 Competition model, in contrast, relies on fixed dampers. Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes are available for CS drivers to flip through, and an electronic locking differential also helps guide traction properly in slippery conditions.

If you're looking for options, the M2 CS is light on them. Buyers will be able to pony up for beefier carbon-ceramic brakes over the standard M compound vented discs, matte gold wheels to replace the standard 19-inch jet-black ones and stickier Michelin Cup 2 tires are on the availability list, though even the standard car gets summer performance rubber.

Plopping inside reveals a cabin awash in Alcantara with red stitching and a few M2 CS logos to remind you this isn't your standard-issue M2 -- or an M2 Competition, for that matter.

Now, the question will be how many of these fine machines will make their way to the US. This is a limited-run car with just 2,200 planned globally. The US should get a few hundred of these, at least, but don't expect them to be an easy find. Production will kick off in March of next year and pricing will be released closer to launch. That said, don't count on this model being particularly affordable: today's M2 Competition starts at $58,900 plus $995 for destination, and this M2 CS figures to be a chunk costlier still.

Spy shots published on Instagram have seemingly revealed the second-generation BMW 2 Series well ahead of schedule. The images show the car's front and rear ends with absolutely no camouflage.

This is one of the rare instances where we see a new car in the metal before discovering it as a concept or spotting it fully camouflaged undergoing shakedown testing. Posted by photographer Wilco Blok, the images show a silver, German-registered coupe in a car-sized elevator hidden deep inside a testing facility. They confirm the front end receives bigger headlights, wider kidney grilles fused into a single unit, and re-shaped air dams chiseled into the lower part of the fascia. The 2 doesn't look anything like the 2 Series Gran Coupe, BMW's new entry-level sedan.



Out back, the most noteworthy change is that the L-shaped lights are gone. The rear diffuser occupies more real estate on the bumper, and it's flanked by wider exhaust outlets. The rest of the car is under a cover, but it doesn't look like its proportions have changed significantly. And, although we can't see its dashboard-to-axle ratio, we're certain the 2 carries on with rear-wheel drive rather than adopting front-wheel drive, like the Gran Coupe. BMW is taking some of its models into front-drive territory, but it knows better than to make the 2 anything but rear-biased.

Although powertrain specifications weren't leaked, the next-generation 2's specifications sheet will likely look a lot like the current car's. Expect a four-cylinder engine at the bottom of the range, a straight-six above it, and either rear- or all-wheel drive. Transmission options remain unconfirmed, and it's too early to rule out a plug-in hybrid option. The hot-rodded M2 will undoubtedly make a comeback, though it won't be available at launch.

BMW hasn't commented on the images, and it has said very little about the next-generation 2 Series. We expect the coupe will make its official debut in the coming months, likely online, and it might arrive in showrooms in time for the 2022 model year. It will be joined by a convertible model a little bit later in the production run.