The 2-Series coupe is one of our favorite cars in the BMW lineup. In fact, the high-performance M2 variant was just voted Motor Authority’s Best Car to Buy 2017.
It’s mostly because the car reminds us of BMWs of old, where rear-wheel drive, inline-6s and manual transmissions ruled.
Yes, the 2-Series coupe is breath of fresh air at a time when BMW seems to be focused on filling every niche possible, even if it means launching front-wheel-drive minivans.
The car is now about to undergo its mid-cycle update, as evidenced by a prototype spotted near BMW’s headquarters in Munich, Germany.
2018 BMW 2-Series facelift spy shots - Image via S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
Fortunately the changes to the car are expected to be minor. Style-wise, look for a few tweaks to the bumpers and lights.
We’re not expecting any major changes under the hood as the powertrains were just overhauled for the 2017 model year. The base model is a 230i equipped with a 248-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4. Above this sits the M240i M Performance model with a 335-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6. At the top of the range is the M2 with a 365-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6.
Although it’s yet to be confirmed, there are rumors of a more hardcore M2 variant in the works. The car is expected to revive BMW’s CS designation.
Look for the updated 2-Series to debut in 2017, as a 2018 model.
