The M235i Coupe has received some very positive reviews so far and that is reassuring for those diehard fans who thought BMW lost its way by expanding into so many new segments and neglecting what they knew best: building fun to drive, small RWD coupes.
Motor Trend’s latest episode of Ignition features the new M235i, the smallest and least expensive performance car in the automaker’s U.S. lineup.
Powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged straight-six engine which sends 320-horses to the rear wheels, the BMW M235i is indeed a fun car to drive, with Carlos Lago and Randy Pobst appreciating its balanced chassis, good steering wheel response and, most of all, the engine.
Despite being force-fed, the unit has no turbo lag and feels more powerful than the declared 320 hp. Add to this the 8-speed automatic transmission that Lago deems is better than many twin-clutch gearboxes, and the M235i sounds like a proper M car.
The only problem is that the BMW M235i wasn’t developed by the M division, despite its M badges. Lago found this confusing and frustrating, especially since performance features like the differential, sports suspension and uprated brakes are optional extras.
By Dan Mihalascu
VIDEO