[Penguino]

A bit retro, but too much Toyota I think.

With Audi repetitive and MB derivative designs, at least BMWs are different.

Wonder if Porsche sees an opportunity here for a Sedan line up?

[ChrisM4]

This looks really good!

I was so worried when the M3/M4 cars were released that this would follow similar a design language.

Love the back and side profile…the front of the M240i looks pretty good too but I'm hoping the M2 front end knocks it out of the park.

So relieved that I have another solid option when the lease is up on my M2.

[3RDSECTOR]

Like aways it looks great in black.

[mfarrzhp]

I am in the camp that think it looks better than I thought it would. Still really not a fan of the rear, especially the taillights. I'm assuming the M2 will get a nicer, more aggressive front end.

Weight is probably the biggest concern for me. Hopefully the do some big weight savings on the eventual M2 CS or potential CSL model.

The interior looks really good.

I'll be enjoying my F87 for many years.

[Macky89]

No manual transmission? The 2 is supposed to be an enthusiast car. What a shame.

[Giom]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

I agree. Although to be fair, a lot of cars look better in person than in pictures. (Also, BMW needs to hire a better press photographer. All of their press photos are terrible, same for the G8x).

What I'm interested in, since BMW's specifically look better in person than in pictures, is how the design process at Munich transpires. Is it a process of revisions and ultimately a "ah yes, this is it.... and yes, we trust it'll look good in person".

I'd also love to know the inner workings of this process. I do know they review hundreds of sketches which then get reduced to 5 or so scale models and finally one or two full sized clay models. All the while, BMW head of design and board members get their say and changes are made till, I guess, all head honchos are happy.

What I'm pretty sure about, is that the actual designer has very little say in the end. Weather that's a good thing or bad, I simply don't know.

All I know is that the cars that do come out the factory are well thought out, if very misunderstood (at first), but definitely forward looking.

[CPTM3]

Originally Posted by samsamdar

Why does the M240i have M mirrors and my OG M2 doesn't? 😔

I was thinking the same thing! And the interior shits have the 'M' stitching on the seatbelts as well as on the seat piping. Those used to be exclusively 'M' car things. Now they are options on the little brothers. I see a lot more, if it's even possible, M2s before the launch of the actual M2.

[3RDSECTOR]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

I agree. Although to be fair, a lot of cars look better in person than in pictures. (Also, BMW needs to hire a better press photographer. All of their press photos are terrible, same for the G8x).

What I'm interested in, since BMW's specifically look better in person than in pictures, is how the design process at Munich transpires. Is it a process of revisions and ultimately a "ah yes, this is it.... and yes, we trust it'll look good in person".

This is the absolute truth. BMW press photos are atrocious. I'm no professional photographer but the shots I've gotten of my G20 are better than any official pictures from BMW.

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by Penguino

A bit retro, but too much Toyota I think.

With Audi repetitive and MB derivative designs, at least BMWs are different.

Wonder if Porsche sees an opportunity here for a Sedan line up?

I was thinking similar last night. You walk into an MB or Audi dealership and all their models have the same front end treatments. Audi has gone to the extreme sized grill on all their new models. All the AMG models pretty well have the same front end now from CLA to C63 to E63 to GT and there's not much in the way of differentiation from car to car as all the sedans have the same sloping rear end treatment. That can be a good or bad thing based on how much you like the single design they are pushing. With BMW there's a lot of variance so if you don't love one look there's several other looks that you may find enticing.

[moviebumm]

BMW UK Configurator
https://configure.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/co...?expanded=true

BMW Germany Configurator
https://configure.bmw.de/de_DE/confi...?expanded=true

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by ngl

I think if you want a new sports coupe in 2021+ the only real choice is Nissan 400Z.

LOL get lost with that nonsense. Nobody cares about Nissan anymore as they sold out to rental fleets years ago and not everyone wants to settle for a substandard brand. Have you driven a 370Z? It's a very, very underwhelming experience and the 400Z is the same almost 2 decade old car with a parts bin Infinity engine. I'm sure it will be competent and all but to say it's going to be the only real choice for a 2021+ sports coupe is laughable. Also laughable is saying that car looks good with it's Domo-kun front end and that this new 2 series is ugly. Yes looks are subjective but let's be a little realistic here as the 400Z is certainly no stunner as it's a mishmash design of a 30 year old 300ZX rear end and a Japanese cartoon character front end.

[Penguino]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

I was thinking similar last night. You walk into an MB or Audi dealership and all their models have the same front end treatments. Audi has gone to the extreme sized grill on all their new models. All the AMG models pretty well have the same front end now from CLA to C63 to E63 to GT and there's not much in the way of differentiation from car to car as all the sedans have the same sloping rear end treatment. That can be a good or bad thing based on how much you like the single design they are pushing. With BMW there's a lot of variance so if you don't love one look there's several other looks that you may find enticing.

Correct. And could be seen as an advantage. I think it's a market ready for another luxury maker to penetrate.

I can see a Porsche sedan selling very well.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by hoopman

Wait, how did you lose leg room, shoulder room, trunk space, head space....and they made the car 4 inches longer and 2.5 inches wider?

I can guess why.

If you study the proportions against the predecessor, it looks like they have stretched the chassis between A pillar and front wheel. Everything else looks pretty much unchanged. Maybe to move the tunnel forward to get a more aligned driving position. It was one of the criticisms about F2x/87 series by some.

[burnsniper]

Originally Posted by keylime503

Literally the second line of the info sheet says a RWD M240i comes later...

Doesn't mean they make/ship it at the end of the day.

[///Pip]

My M2C just went up in value

[frosty2k]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

If you study the proportions against the predecessor, it looks like they have stretched the chassis between A pillar and front wheel. Everything else looks pretty much unchanged. Maybe to move the tunnel forward to get a more aligned driving position. It was one of the criticisms about F2x/87 series by some.

I hope so. On long drives or on the track the crooked to the outside dead pedal is noticeable. There is no comfortable way to have my foot flat on it. Definitely not a deal breaker.

[advantage20]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

I can guess why.

If you study the proportions against the predecessor, it looks like they have stretched the chassis between A pillar and front wheel. Everything else looks pretty much unchanged. Maybe to move the tunnel forward to get a more aligned driving position. It was one of the criticisms about F2x/87 series by some.

Yes, the prestige gap has become proportionally very long. Perhaps they've just slapped the whole front section of the G20 platform, saving costs in the process and resulting in a very cab backward profile, almost Z4-like, which few will complain about

[car_fan]

Originally Posted by jninja

Purple Scion FRS maybe?

That's not a positive or negative statement btw..

I think it looks decently sharp if you're into the compact/coupe performance-y cars..

Somewhat resembles the Scion FRS was my first take as well.

[someMoreMplease]

Proportions are great IMO. But, M mirrors for the Mperformance and apparently power dome hoods on all 2 series cars- that’s weird.

[Silber]

I think I know what the design tells us about this car.

Gotta Go Fast.

[SFBavarianArea]

Originally Posted by swampfox94

They even said in the g80/82 that they serve no purpose besides aesthetics lol. And of course ///marketing

Can you post the link for them saying this please…

[advantage20]

Originally Posted by samsamdar

Why does the M240i have M mirrors and my OG M2 doesn't? 😔

Originally Posted by CPTM3

I was thinking the same thing! And the interior shits have the 'M' stitching on the seatbelts as well as on the seat piping. Those used to be exclusively 'M' car things. Now they are options on the little brothers. I see a lot more, if it's even possible, M2s before the launch of the actual M2.

Originally Posted by someMoreMplease

Proportions are great IMO. But, M mirrors for the Mperformance and apparently power dome hoods on all 2 series cars- that’s weird.

Again, it is in the normal order of things that features from the higher-end M vehicles eventually make their way down to the lesser ones, with M Motorsport actual racecars standing at the top end of the spectrum and M Sport production trim at the lower end. As previously released features are trickling down the ladder, all-new features keep being released higher up to feed the improvement cycle. Hence why M mirrors, M grille, M hood with power dome, M carbon roof, M spoiler, M safety belts, now gloss black sideskirts... either already have or eventually will make their way to lower-tier models. This cascading down of M features isn't problematic per se as long as the hardcore M versions higher up the ladder in turn gain new race-derived features that keep them unmistakably sportier and more desirable than the lower-end versions (better aero, more carbon standard, lighter wheels with centerlock nuts, sportier seats, more alcantara, more M stitching, more red details, larger paddle shifters...?).

Having said that, the X3/X4 refresh for instance is perhaps demoting too many M features at a time (M double-slat grille, M grille badge, M color steering wheel...). But BMW is obviously keen on making its M lineup look like a continuum / color gradient / steady stairway, rather than a binary step function with 'real M models' on one side and 'fake M models' on the other: all M-branded models are the same breed, they just get more purebred the higher you go up the ladder (can't find that chart right now, but it's interesting they are now labeling the base M models 'M High Performance' as if to round off the angles and better relate to the 'M Performance' models, just like Competition already relates to CS and CSL):

M Motorsport
M CSL
M CS
M Competition
M High Performance
M Performance
M Sport

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