World Premiere: The all New 2022 BMW 2 Series

July 28th, 2021 by BMW of Bridgeport

All new for 2022, the BMW 2 Series Coupe is only the second generation of 2 Series but actually the latest in a long line of small, two-door, four-seat, small-engine, everyday sports cars from BMW. The BMW 1600, back in the original Neue Klasse, was one of the cars that really got BMW started in this segment. The 1600 was followed by the iconic BMW 2002, which created the template for the brand’s success. Now, the second-gen BMW 2 Series is the newest iteration of such a car and potentially the last.

BMW’s Most Traditional Design in Ages

It’s certainly bigger than the 2002. For this second generation, the 2 Series grew a bit in length, width, wheelbase, and wheel track, although it also got lower. All non-M240i models are now 4.3 inches longer, 2.6 inches wider, have 2.0 inch longer wheelbases, and wider wheel tracks by 2.8 inches at the front and 1.9 inches at the back. They’re also 1.0 inch lower, which gives it a lower center of gravity and a sportier look.

However, the BMW M240i grew a bit differently than its non-M Performance siblings. It’s 3.5 inches longer than the previous M240i, 2.6 inches wider, and 1.0 inch lower but its wheel track increased by 2.5 inches at the front and 2.4 inches at the back.

Despite being drastically bigger than the original 2002, there are some design elements that harken back to that legendary sports coupe. The Hofmeister kink is back and, much like on the 2002, the lower window line is completely flat until it meets the kink, at a sharp angle. There’s no upward sweeping window line or gimmicky interpretation — it’s the real deal. There’s also a single, unbroken shoulder line, that runs from just above the front wheel, all the way to just before the taillight, which harkens back to the 2002’s famous chrome strip that ran the entire length of the car, even the front and back.

The 2 Series gets quite the unique kidney grille as well. Its shape is far more traditional than anything to come from BMW in the last couple of years, with an almost BMW Z8/507-like shape. However, rather than vertical grille slats, it actually just gets active grille flaps. Typically, BMW’s active aerodynamic grille flaps were integrated into the vertical slats but now they’re one and the same. That part may not be traditional but the grilles, as a whole, are far better looking than those on the 4 Series, M3, M4, 7 Series, and X7. So this new 2er is a breath of fresh air.

Out back, you can see where BMW’s design team was a bit inspired by the 2002 for its taillights, as well. They’re not perfect squares, as they were on the original 2002, but they’re compact little taillight blobs that seem inspired by the classic. Every 2 Series model even gets a built-in trunk spoiler, as a throwback to the legendary 2002 Turbo.

In terms of color options, there’s only one new color for the exterior of the 2 Series — Thundernight Metallic, and it’s an absolutely excellent shade of purple. The rest are your typical BMW colors; Alpine White, Jet Black (non-M240i models only), Black Sapphire Metallic, Melbourne Red, Mineral White, Portimao Blue, and Brooklyn Gray. Being that Thundernight exists, optioning any other color should result in some sort of persecution.

The Interior:

BMW really differentiated the 2 Series from the rest of the lineup on the outside — its headlights, grille, Hofmeister kink, taillights, and overall design language is entirely different from everything else with a Roundel. However, the interior, well… isn’t. In fact, aside from a subtle triangle pattern in the door panels and a slightly different door pull design, the cabin of the 2 Series Coupe is nearly indistinguishable from that of a 3 Series or 4 Series.

Almost everything else about the cabin is the same; Live Cockpit Professional instrument panel, iDrive 7, the steering wheel, the center console, the shift lever, the seats, and even the Harmon-Kardon sound system. It’s damn-near identical.