BMW 220i News

BMW Australia has announced further details on its refreshed 2 Series Coupe and Convertible ranges due in September, with price rises of between $1100 and $1900 affecting all three model grades.

Train spotters will find it hard to separate the exteriors of the new and old 2 Series, but there are some minor differences.

2 Series Coupe and Convertible gets new engines, new designations, more equipment, and becomes petrol-power only with model range update.

Major engine enhancements to BMW's entry-level M Performance models will arrive before the end of the year.The Bavarian brand says it will "pass the baton" from the existing turbocharged six-cylinder engines powering M135i and M235i models to the typically more powerful and less thirsty new engine that will launch in models dubbed M140i and M240i.The upgrade affects three models in Australia: the M135i five-door hatch, M235i coupe and M235i convertible.The power boost is backed by a 7 per cent drop in fuel use, with the claimed official consumption now down to 7.9L/100km. As is becoming the norm with most makers, performance increases despite the engines being less thirsty.In this case 0-100km/h times are down to 4.6 seconds using the eight-speed auto that is already on M Performance models here. The convertible's extra mass adds 0.1 second.Power increases from the current 240kW/450Nm to 250kW/500Nm — incredibly, that matches the figures of the bahn-storming 1 Series M coupe cult car built in 2011-12.That car has only now been superseded by the M2 coupe, which can run to 100km/h in just 4.3 seconds, thanks to outputs of 262kW/465Nm, trick componentry and weight-saving measures.Prices for the existing M Performance models start at $62,900 for the M135i and top out at $86,500 for the M235i convertible.Expect minor increases across the range, given the engine updates are likely to be backed by refreshed fenders and features.BMW Australia spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher says the new powertrain should fuel already strong local demand for the company's performance variants."We don't have any specifics other than the release at this point but we do know Australians will welcome the added performance," she says."Until the arrival of the M2 the M135i and M235i models were our go-to hot hatch and fast coupe respectively and there is still a big market that appreciates a good engine without wanting to engage every day with a full-on M model."The gear ratios in the eight-speed auto have been stretched to match the extra power.Drivers can choose to perform multiple downshifts on the paddle-shifters when entering a corner, with the car then matching ratios to revs as they drop.Left in auto mode, the transmission can employ predictive shifting — checking with the satnav to match ratios with the contours of the road.

The cost of top-down motoring in a Mercedes-Benz is about to get $20,000 cheaper.

The Mazda CX-3 is in but the Honda HR-V and Renault Captur are out.The Audi TT is in but the Holden Cascada is out.That's my assessment of the field so far as we search for the best new car of 2015.Good is still good, but it's not good enough when the biggest prize in Australian motoring is on the line.Even a car as initially impressive as the Land Rover Discovery Sport is marked down heavily on value when you consider it as a CarsGuide Car of the Year contender.It's the same for the Ford Mondeo, which looks good, is packed to the hilt with technology but has lost its mojo on the open road.Similarly the Ford Focus ST, which is a great drive, is too narrow in its appeal.The CarsGuide team has already driven more than two dozen good cars in the opening half of the year and it's time to see what's looking good for a spot for the top-10 run-off in December.There are some surprising failures and the line-up could change dramatically with a rush of impressive newcomers booked for the second half but this is how the COTY 2015 contenders are shaping up.The new German coupe is everything the TT always could — and should — have been.It's had a muscle-car makeover that covers a broad spectrum from the sharper body shape to the driving dynamics and cabin space.All right, it should have a standard rear-vew camera, but that omission is offset by gains in other areas that count for a performance car.And the interior, with its integrated display screen in front of the steering wheel, is top-notch.This one is a slow burn because it's not like previous BMWs.For a start, it has front-wheel drive. And it puts family first.It's more like the i3 electric car than a 3 Series which is a good thing for people who put comfort and space and quality ahead of the Ultimate Driving Machine.It might be a clunky in the front suspension but it's classier than we expected and the flexible cabin, which will later include a third row of seats, is up there with the best.Cars as good as the Sorento should allow Kia to make the final breakthrough in Australia.Look beyond the country's longest warranty and you find a family seven-seater that's good-looking, practical and nice to drive.It could do with more steering feel but that's a very minor thing for people who need a seven-seater.Inside, the cheap and cheerful Kias of a decade ago are a distant memory, replaced by quality finishes, soft surfaces and great attention to detail.The best of the new-age mini SUVs wins a spot by trumping rivals including the HR-V and Captur, something it achieves with quality, refinement and a class-leading starting price.It's never going to star for a family with such a small boot but it's developed from the Mazda2 that starred in last year's COTY run-off.It looks good, drives well and works for twentysomethings who crave an SUV, delivering the elevated seating position without being too bulky.The new family sedan is a welcome return to form for a company that went backwards during the global financial crisis.Honda and Mitsubishi are still recovering but Subaru is back to what it does best with a quiet, comfortable, refined and well-priced car for Australian families. It also maintains Subaru's impressive reputation for cutting-edge safety.As always, it comes with all-wheel drive and provides the platform for the equally impressive Outback.The back end of 2015 will bring a number of impressive newcomers, from the baby Skoda Fabia through to the muscular Ford Mustang, bigger Hyundai Tucson and youthful Jeep Renegade.For now, the best of the bunch looks like this:This car could be as impressive, in its own SUV style, as the Volkswagen Golf Mk7. It's first with the mechanical package that will go under several VW Group arrivals, including the next Porsche Cayenne and Bentley Bentayga. So we're expecting class leading comfort, quality and a great family drive.If the born-again Mustang is half as good as the hype it will be a serious COTY contender. Early drives in the US point to best-yet dynamics for the first 'Stang with factory right-hand drive. There is even a four-cylinder EcoBoost engine. More than 2000 Australians are paid-up and waiting for their car to arrive, sometime in November.This one needs to be more than good to challenge the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. But Jaguar learned bitter lessons from its X-Type, which was no more than a re-bodied Ford Mondeo, and is pushing hard with an XE that gets everything from an aluminium backbone to new-age engines. In Australia, the key will be in the pricing and equipment.The world's favourite sports car is odds-on for a COTY spot. It's been completely reworked for 2015 despite a body that could only be an MX-5. It's promising a much-needed improvement in cabin space and overall refinement, as well as Skyactiv engine technology that already works in Mazda's mainstream models. Add the lightweight body and sharp pricing. There is already a queue for early deliveries.The all-new Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara for 2015 are good but not great, which leaves the Ranger to challenge the all-new Toyota HiLux for the benchmark in utes. This midlife update is more than just a mild makeover. It has new panels, tweaked driving dynamics and on the flagship model it has technology that would make a German SUV blush.More than just a truck, the HiLux has been Australia's favourite ute for more than a generation, not just because it scores with miners but because it can be most things to most people. The new HiLux promises everything from a new turbo diesel to car-like quality and refinement.It's been a very long time since the first XC90, which has given Volvo — after its change from a Ford subsidiary to Chinese ownership — plenty of time to develop a benchmark upscale SUV. Extensive work on everything from cabin comfort and quality to best-in-class safety technology — wrapped in a good-looking new bodywork — should make the XC90 something special and a '15 standout.Alfa Romeo 4C - The Italian version of a Lotus Elise is a looker and a goer, but too costly.Ford Mondeo - Not as good as the previous car, although cabin space is excellent.Holden Cascada - Most impressive of the new Euro Holdens, good but not great.Hyundai Sonata - Not up to the standard of Hyundai's other newcomers, although value is good.Renault Captur - Funky bodywork makes big promises but the undersized engine cannot deliver.Toyota Camry - A top car by any measure but not enough change for a COTY run.

The third addition to the BMW 2 Series range will hit local showrooms next month, with the Convertible joining the coupe and front-drive Active Tourer bodystyles.Priced from $54,900, the 1 Series Convertible replacement is slightly less expensive than its predecessor which started at $56,000 and came with less standard equipment.While the 2 Series drop-top is around $7,000 more expensive than its most obvious Audi A3 Cabriolet rival, the entry BMW is more powerful and fitted with more standard equipment like satnav and a reverse camera.The 2 Series Convertible range will only be available with petrol power from launch, with the 135kW/270Nm 220i as the entry point to the range.As standard, you get the eight-speed automatic transmission with rear-wheel drive, auto start-stop fuel saving system, satnav, 17-inch alloy wheels and reversing camera with rear parking sensors.Stepping up to the $68,900 228i Convertible brings the more powerful 180kW/350Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a 0-100km/h time of 6.0 seconds.The mid-spec convertible also gains variable sport steering, 18-inch alloys, front parking sensors, Bi-Xenon headlights and leather upholstery on top of the standard items fitted to the 220i.The range-topping $85,800 M235i Convertible is powered by a 240kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbocharged straight six that can fling the sporty drop-top to 100km/h in 5.0 seconds.On top of the standard equipment in the 228i, the M Performance model gets adaptive suspension, beefier brakes, redesigned 18-inch alloys, more aggressive front and rear bumpers, sports steering wheel and BMW’s Professional navigation system which has a larger 8.8-inch infotainment screen – up from the 6.5-inch screen in lesser variants.The 2 Series Convertible is fitted with an electronically removable fabric roof which can be raised or lowered in 20 seconds at speeds of up to 50km/h, while additional sound insulation over the old 1 Series drop-top has reduced interior noise by up to 7dB.Thanks to its slightly larger dimensions compared to its predecessor, boot space has swollen by 30-litres to 355-lites, which drops to 280-litres with the roof down.Structural rigidity has also been improved, with the open-top 2 Series boasting a 20 per cent increase in torsional stiffness and 10 per cent better bending resistance compared to the old 1 Series.The new BMW 2 Series Convertible will arrive in Australia towards the end of February.

In a year when the overall car market shrank, all but a handful of prestige brands increased sales. Buyers don't just want a good car; they want others to see they have one, helping everyone from Maserati to Mercedes-Benz post gains.The trend is accelerating and a steady stream of new models in 2015 only adds to the impetus. CarsGuide looks at what's in store for the premium players this year.It isn't hard to foresee the popularity of the 4C two-seat coupe when it hits showrooms next month. This baby supercar uses a carbon-fibre tub, mid-engine layout and minimalist interior to present a modern incarnation of a stripped-down racer. Pricing will be $80,000-$100,000. The soft-top Spider is due in October. The Alfa Giulietta also gets an update.A steady new model rollout starts in February with the arrival of the TT coupe for just under $80,000. It will be joined by the soft-top roadster midyear and the TT S performance model in August or September. The plug-in petrol-electric A3 e-tron five-door hatch is due in May with an expected price of $60,000, with the Q7 large SUV due late in the year. Updates or variants include the A6/A7, RS6/RS7, A1, RS3 and Q3/RSQ3.New metal is in short supply at the British brand but two models will join the line-up, starting with the Vantage S Roadster at a shade under $420,000. If that isn't exclusive enough, consider the $500,000 Vanquish Carbon using the same V12 but with eight forward ratios in place of the Vantage's seven.BENTLEYChauffeurs will going cap-in-hand to buyers of the Mulsanne Speed for the chance to steer the best Bentley ever. A twin-turbo V8 cranks out 1100Nm - only the Bugatti Veyron can torque itself up as a more powerful production model - to push the 2.7-tonne limo into triple figures in 4.9 seconds. Pricing has yet to be set but if you have to ask, you can't afford it.There's a lot of product in the pipeline this year but only one all-new car. The X1 will switch to front-wheel drive when the second-generation model arrives in the third quarter. The X1 will look more mini-SUV than compact wagon, aligning it with the X3 and X5. Top-end versions will be all-wheel drive. Updates and new variants include the 2 Series convertible, X5M/X6M, 6 Series/X6, 3 Series, X4 M40i and X5 e-Drive.The 458 range has a Speciale A due next month. The 499 examples of the alloy hardtop model are already sold, meaning the $635,000 two-seater is likely to be a smart investment. Keep an eye on the classifieds.The struggle to be a serious prestige player continues for Infiniti with a major model overhaul due in 2016. A refreshed Q70 flagship is due midyear with a nip-and-tuck for the bumpers, updated interior trim and more safety software.The transition from niche player to prestige powerhouse is predicated on the XE sedan being a genuine rival for the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and BMW C-Class. Specs indicate the engines are up to the job, so it comes down to how well it can be priced in Australia. There will be updates for the F-Type coupe and convertible and XF sedan.Styling that echoes the Evoque and a premium interior mark the Discovery Sport, debuting in May. Essentially a replacement for the Freelander, the Sport is a serious off-roader with 600mm wading depth and four-wheel drive. Also expect a Range Rover Sport SVR, Range Rover hybrid and updated Evoque.A compact performance sedan, the RC F will cost $133,500, making it a 'budget' alternative to the Germans. The naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 isn't quite on par with the Euro competition but neither is the price. The GS F mid-sized sedan will use the same engine and is due later in the year, price undisclosed. The NX200 will get a new turbo engine.No new news is still good news for Lotus aspirants. An automatic Exige - the brand's first self-shifter - is due in the second quarter. Expect to pay around $9000 for the clutch-less version, putting the price above $135,000. An updated Evora should land late with less weight and improved interior.An 'affordable' McLaren is due late in the year with an entry level Sport model priced at more than $300,000. That puts it in the higher echelons of Porsche 911 territory - but still well below typical McLaren prices.Australia's top-selling prestige brand rolls out a range of new toys this year to expand its appeal. The action starts with the AMG GT and C63 AMG in the second quarter, both using a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8. Skip ahead to Q3 and there's the new GLE (formerly known as the ML) and GLE coupe SUVs, followed by the CLA Shooting Brake and the much-needed GLC compact SUV. Other updates or variants include the S63 coupe, CLS, B-Class and S500 coupe.The action starts with an entry-level five-door Mini Cooper One at $25,600 in February. It is powered by a three-cylinder engine with 75kW/180Nm. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the John Cooper Works three-door hatch, which will be the Mini with the most mumbo ever when it arrives midyear at an estimated $48,000.There's plenty to whet the appetite for performance enthusiasts, even if it is all clad in existing bodywork. The base V6 and performance GTS Cayenne SUV models are due next month, followed by the Turbo S midyear. An update of the 911 should make it before Christmas and Santa may deliver the new GT4 Cayman at the same time.The XC90 large SUV is due midyear with prices starting from about $90,000. A more affordable alternative will be the V60 Cross Country due late in the year from $65,000. The elevated version of the V60 wagon will be sold in FWD and AWD guise.

BMW confirms Australian specifications and pricing for its first front-drive model.The all-new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer five-door hatch is now in local showrooms, priced from $44,400.The 2 Series Active Tourer range features two firsts for BMW, with it being the first front-wheel drive model to come from the Bavarian car maker, and the first to be available with a three-cylinder engine.There will be four variants of the 2 Series Active Tourer available in Australia, with the price-leading 218i, turbodiesel 220d and top-spec 225i in showrooms now. A mid-spec 220i will arrive locally in January 2015.Inside the cabin, the new Active Tourer gets a 6.5-inch screen controlled via BMW's iDrive switch for the multimedia, satnav and phone connectivity features. There are also 17-inch alloy wheels, leather multi-function steering wheel, climate control and synthetic leather upholstery.The 225i increases the alloy wheels to 18 inches and adds paddle shifters, leather seats, LED headlights and cornering lights.The $44,400 218i will have a 100kW/220Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with a combined fuel figure of 5.2L/100km.The efficiency-leading 220d - 4.2L/100km combined - has a 110kW/330Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and is priced at $47,800.The top-spec $54,900 225i has a 170kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an eight-speed sports automatic transmission, a combined fuel consumption of 6.1L/100km and the ability to cover the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.6 seconds.When it arrives in January 2015, the 220i will have a 141kW/280Nm version of the 225i's turbocharged engine, an eight-speed automatic transmission and a combined fuel efficiency rating of 5.9L/100km.The 2 Series Active Tourer has as adjustable driving modes; with 'Eco Pro' focusing on fuel efficiency, 'Comfort' for every day driving and 'Sport' tweaking the throttle, transmission and steering response for a more dynamic ride.Assisting with reducing fuel consumption are engine start/stop and brake energy regeneration systems.The 40/20/40 split rear-seats on the Active Tourer provide flexibility in available storage space, allowing the 468-litre boot to be expanded out to 1510 litres when the seats are folded flat. The base of the rear seats can also be adjusted forward to provide 130mm of additional rear leg room or rearward for additional boot space when the seats are upright.Safety features of the new 2 Series Active Tourer include front and rear parking sensors, automated parking assistance, reversing camera, lane departure warning, forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking system and active cruise control.

Drop-top BMW 2 Series and M235i performance variants break cover. The new 2 Series Convertible will join its hard-top sibling and the family-oriented 2 Series Active Tourer when it goes on sale locally next year.The 2 Series Convertible is more closely related to its coupe brother than the front drive 2 Series Active Tourer. With an identical wheelbase, the convertible sticks with the classic rear-wheel drive and longitudinal engine formula.From the door mirrors down the styling also closely follows the 2 Series coupe, but the removal of the fixed metal roof looks to have given the new model proportions that are reminiscent of the handsome E46 3 Series convertible from two generations ago. Unlike the folding hardtop 4 Series Convertible, the 2 Series Convertible features an electrically operated fabric roof which can be opened and closed in 20 seconds at speeds of up to 50km/h. As standard the roof is coloured black, while Anthracite and Brown are available as options. The 2 Series Convertible is effectively the replacement for the outgoing 1 Series drop-top. The new model is slightly longer and wider than its predecessor, while torsional rigidity has increased by 20 per cent. BMW claim the increased exterior dimensions have resulted in a more spacious cabin and 30-litres of additional cargo space at 355-litres.  That figure shrinks to a still substantial 280-litres with the roof open. Globally, the 2 Series Convertible will launch with four different engine options, with six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmissions available. The range kicks off with the entry 220i, which is powered by a 135kW/270Nm four-cylinder engine capable of completing the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.5 seconds. Fuel consumption is listed as 6.2L/100km when the eight-speed automatic transmission is optioned. The 220d adopts BMW’s familiar 2.0-litre turbodiesel unit, producing 140kW and 400Nm - 5kW and 20Nm of extra punch over its 220d Coupe equivalent.  The diesel convertible can achieve 4.1L/100km in automatic guise, with a 0-100km/h sprint time of 7.4 seconds. The mid-range 228i Convertible uses a 180kW/380Nm four-cylinder engine with enough gusto to hit 100km/h in 6.0 seconds, while capable of returning 6.1L/100km.  The range-topping M235i Convertible is powered by BMW’s mighty 3.0-litre single turbo straight six engine which pumps out 240kW and 450Nm. That’s enough grunt to push the 1675kg convertible to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds – three tenths slower than the M235i coupe. Like the M235i Coupe, the convertible adopts a unique chassis tune, bigger brakes, and revised aerodynamic and styling features. BMW claim the new M235i Convertible will have class-leading dynamics, but with an extra 130kg over the coupe, the hardtop M235i will likely remain the better driver’s tool.