BMW M2 Gran Coupe Coming Next Year With 365HP And New Interior

BMW‘s M2 family is expanding not only with the more hardcore M2 Competition, but with a Gran Coupe version as well.

Set to rival the likes of the Audi RS3 Sedan and Mercedes-AMG CLA45, the five-door liftback will go on sale next year, reports Autocar.

Powering it will be the 3.0-liter M TwinPower Turbo inline-six of its two-door sibling that’s expected to maintain the same output, namely 370PS (365hp) and 465Nm (343lb-ft) of torque. In the M2 Coupe, the engine is mated to a either a six-speed manual gearbox or an eight-speed automatic. Naught to 100km/h (62mph) takes 4.5sec in the former and 4.3sec in the latter, and top speed is electronically capped at 250km/h (155mph) in both. We expect the M2 Gran Coupe to boast nearly identical, or the same, performance.

In addition to the two extra doors, the M2 Gran Coupe features a longer wheelbase that’s said to sit halfway between those of the 2-Series Coupe and 3-Series saloon and is meant to offer more legroom for the rear passengers.

The interior of the car will be completely new, and will eventually be adopted by the replacements of the current 2-Series Coupe and Cabriolet, which will arrive in 2020.

However, the M2 won’t be the only offering in the new Gran Coupe body style, as the German automaker will also launch petrol and diesel engine variants of the car.

The 134hp 1.5-liter three-cylinder unit will power the 218i, the 220i and 225i will get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 181hp and 242hp, respectively, whereas the 235i should come with a 362hp 3.0-liter inline-six. Diesels will include different variations of the 2.0-liter four-cylinder, making 148hp, 187hp, and 221hp in the 218d, 220d, and 225d.

Customers will have to choose between two transmission options, a six-speed manual and an eight-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive will be standard and all-wheel drive an option.

Moreover, BMW is also believed to be working on a plug-in hybrid version of the new 2-Series Gran Coupe. This should combine the 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor, a lithium-ion battery pack and automatic transmission, and will allegedly have an all-electric range of up to 50km (31 miles).

Production of the entire 2-Series Gran Coupe family will take place at the BMW plant in Leipzig, Germany, which is where the Coupe and Cabriolet are also being put together.

Note: BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe prototypes pictured