With the M2 now available in manual and automatic variants, while the M240i is available in rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, enthusiasts are spoiled for choice when it comes to purchasing a Bavarian compact sports coupe. But what if you can’t financially move up to the M models? BMW sells several four-cylinder versions of the G42, with the most powerful being this 230i recently tested in Australia.
The smaller 2 Series was an RWD version, but BMW also offers an xDrive model with the same 255 hp and 295 pound-feet (400 Newton-meters) of torque. Unlike the model sold Down Under and in the US, the European version is the same car a little less strongprobably due to stricter emission regulations in EU countries.
the BMW 230i coupe was subjected to several acceleration tests on a dry private road and passed them with flying colours. To accurately measure its performance, a Racelogic data logger was installed in the cab. In automatic mode with active launch control, it accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.49 seconds, around three tenths of a second faster than advertised.
Without launch control, the car took 6.33 seconds to get the job done, while manual shifting resulted in a sprint time of 6.01 seconds. More relevant in everyday traffic when overtaking is the 230i Coupé’s ability to accelerate from 37 to 68 mph (60 to 110 km/h), which took a respectable 3.77 seconds. He managed the quarter mile in 13.78 seconds at a catch speed of 166.1 km/h (103.2 mph).
Lest we forget that the second generation 2 Series coupe is larger and heavier than its predecessor. This RWD 230i weighed 1,493 kilograms (3,300 pounds). The car featured here is not an MY 2023 as it lacks that iDrive 8 introduced with the model year changeincluding for M240i and M2.
For those who don’t necessarily want a straight-six, the 2.0-litre B48 four-cylinder engine packs more than enough punch for a car of this size. After all, BMW also sells less powerful 220i and 218i versions in some markets, with the latter only offering 154 hp.
Source: PDrive TV / YouTube
(embed)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vrpXRtp7yE(/embed)
