It might not be officially an M machine, but it’s
the closest we will ever get to an actual M2, unless of course BMW decides to
go ahead with their concept M2 that was showcased earlier this year.
The M235i bears the famous letter from the
legendary tuning arm on its bootlid and backs that up with enough “oomph” to
outrun older generation M3s. Making the deal even sweeter, it’s in the same
price range as the VW Golf R and Audi S3 and significantly cheaper than the A45
AMG, offering similar pace but with a proper rear-wheel drive in a two-door
coupe shell.
The
M235i Coupe gets a unique front fascia, with elongated and slimmer-looking
headlamps to give it a more streamlined and aggressive look
A direct replacement for the 135i Coupe,
which packed the same turbocharged straight six in a rear-wheel driven two-door
coupe body and a 5.3 second zero to hundred timing, the new model get’s a name
change simply because of BMW’s new naming system states that odd numbers are
reserved for four doors whilst even numbers for coupes and convertibles.
326bhp
and 450Nm grants the M235i a 4.8 seconds century sprint time
Just like the new M3/M4, the M235i gets
similar body treatment with styling cues such as sharp muscular bumpers to
emphasize increased width and presence, albeit a little more subtle. To top it
off, the car gets silver-mirror caps, a small bootlid spoiler and 18-inch
alloys to differentiate it from the garden variety.
At the heart of the M235i is a highly tuned
326bhp straight six with a twin-scroll turbocharger that’s paired to a ZF
8-speed automatic transmission. Right out of the box, the M235i’s suspension is
way stiffer than the M135i, stopping that amount of horsepower requires massive
four-piston calipers up front and two-piston ones behind, both of which have
been painted signature M blue.
M235i's
kidney grille has 16 vertical bars and leans forward very slightly as it rises,
shark-nose style
Categorised as an M Performance model (like
the M550d), the M235i is not a full-fledged M car, though it’s the flagship
model until the M2 that has yet to be confirmed, arrives. In the flesh, the
M235i is a lot more proportionate than the 1 Series coupe it replaces, and
despite the size increase, BMW claims that both the old 1 Series coupe and the
new M235i weigh the same – 1,455kg. The new Coupe weighs only 15kg more than
the current M135i hatch that’s 7 ponies lesser too. 0-100 timing for the M235i
is a blazing 4.8 seconds.
The
boot is 20 litres bigger than that of the old 1-series Coupé. It accommodates
big suitcases with ease
But regardless of what it’s called, the
sure-win formula of a two-door rear-wheel driven BMW coupe is sure to delight
even the most jaded of drivers. Jump into the driver’s seat and you will be
surprised just how quickly you can adjust the supportive yet comfortable sport
seats and M Sport steering wheel into a low and snug driving position that
feels just right. Fire up the start button and listen to the 3.0-litre forced
induced six-cylinder engine roar to life and settle into a deep bassy idle.
