I used to be flawed in regards to the BMW 2 Collection Gran Coupe. When the unique 2GC was launched in Malaysia in 2020, this author thought: Who would purchase a small BMW sedan that isn’t a 3 Collection? And one which’s nowhere pretty much as good trying because the icon, too.
That preliminary impression was born from a tender spot for the three Collection, and my doubts in regards to the authentic 2GC’s design. Its face appeared cartoonish, and I personally don’t like sedans with rising beltlines and a excessive boot. And that rear finish – it was bizarre, to say the least. It’s not jarring now because of familiarity, however I nonetheless wouldn’t name the F44 fairly.
In distinction, the just-replaced Mercedes-Benz CLA was a fairly automobile. In comparison with the stunted and caricature-like authentic CLA, the second-generation C118 appeared like a real junior CLS thanks to higher proportions and a wonderfully curved roof made common by the unique CLS, the pioneering ‘four-door coupe’. I can’t consider many pairings the place I’d decide Merc over Munich, however that is one.
Nevertheless, BMW merchandise/designs have an excellent report in opposition to the opinions of ‘automobile guys’ (keep in mind the response to Bangle-era fashions?), and true to type, the two Collection Gran Coupe proved to be successful in our market. BMW Malaysia says that it bought over 4,500 models of the 2GC over 4 years, and that tally exceeded their expectations. The junior Gran Coupe is now a typical sight in upmarket neighbourhoods.
Which implies that a sequel is inevitable. This second-generation 2 Collection Gran Coupe retains the identical template however updates the bundle with the newest accessible tech and fully-revamped seems to be that addresses a few of the extra controversial elements of the unique design. Whereas introducing new ones?
The F74 is only a contact bigger than earlier than. Whereas the two,670 mm wheelbase and 1,800 mm width are unchanged, total size is up by 20 mm to 4,546 mm, and top is up 25 mm to 1,445 mm. A recipe for sportier proportions that’s not, however at the least the additional top is offset considerably by bumper size. The 2GC seems to be fairly tall for a sedan aspiring to be a coupe.
This face is all-new to us in Malaysia as we don’t get the newest F70 1 Collection hatchback, which first surfaced in mid-2024. The 2GC’s entrance fascia follows the F70, with a ‘two-tier’ association for the headlamps and grille – the slim ‘eyes’ (observe the vertical DRLs) sit a good bit larger than the kidney grille (Iconic Glow illumination accessible) and the lights are related by a hood shutline that’s moderately excessive up/far again.
Appears to be like are subjective, after all, however I really feel that the 2GC is fairly delicate to angles – it seems to be respectable in some (from the next level, as an illustration) and never very flattering in others (head on or from a low angle). Do you want the brand new face?
The F74’s profile is characterised by rising traces that meet a easy sloping roof, which is important for the coupe claims. A pleasant contact is the ‘2’ embossed within the Hofmeister kink, as per the newest 5 Collection. The 2GC’s sides are moderately excessive, however measures have been taken to interrupt up the visible mass. Whereas our Hearth Purple M Sport tester’s 18-inch wheels seem massive for such a compact physique (matches as much as 19s!), the 2GC by no means seems to be floor hugging like a 3 Collection does.
It’s on the again that the brand new 2GC differs probably the most from the one we all know. They’ve gone for a extra typical look this time, with a properly outlined ‘brow’ housing the BMW brand, and the quantity plate and hind lights housed one ground under.
We have been instructed that the rear brand has been enlarged for this utility (there’s a variety of top to cowl right here), and it turned a kind of issues that you simply received’t discover, however can’t unsee. Additional down, there aren’t any seen pipes, that are reserved for the quad-tipped M235 xDrive with 300 hp.
Personally, I’m not a giant fan or rising traces and a excessive bottom nevertheless it’s all the time difficult to pen a booted automobile from a compact hatch, and there’s additionally a variety of rear finish canvas to fill right here. Contemplating the boundaries – actually and metaphorically – I feel Munich did an excellent job. They’re calling the 2GC’s look ‘significantly extroverted’ – do it converse to you?
The 2GC’s new cockpit, shared with the F70 1 Collection hatch, must be extra common in attraction. I feel that it’s a really good place to be in – each as a snug ‘office’ and in a visible/tactile sense. Other than the drive (extra on this later), the 2GC’s inside is considered one of its strongest promoting factors in opposition to value level rivals, IMO.
Now, the earlier 2GC’s cabin wasn’t a nasty one, removed from it, however this new inside feels extra fashionable, extra premium. As soon as once more, Munich manages to mix tech necessities (the attractive BMW Curved Show has made it right here, powered by the newest BMW OS 9) with a conventional BMW driver focus. Scroll down and take a second to have a look at the cockpit once more – the substances could also be vastly completely different, however this is identical recipe utilized by your favorite outdated 3 Collection.
To ship this clear, minimalist look, BMW deleted the 2 rows of bodily buttons – HVAC and audio – below the air conditioning vents, which itself is now only a hole. The controls are tucked away beneath; whereas this seems to be neat, directing air to the place you need it to be felt is not an easy affair. This, together with the necessity to jab the touchscreen each time you need to change AC settings (audio controls aren’t so missed as they’re duplicated elsewhere), is the price of magnificence.
The job cuts prolong to the centre console, which sees the axing of two primary components. No extra iDrive controller (all touchscreen now) and conventional gear lever (changed by a notch).
The house vacated by the iDrive dial now homes audio controls for the entrance passenger. Is smart in a left-hand-drive automobile, because the touchscreen is angled in direction of the motive force and is a far attain for the co-pilot. Nevertheless, this association isn’t flipped in RHD vehicles, which implies that gear choice and push begin is nearer to the passenger than the motive force, which has audio subsequent to his/her thigh – not so superb.
Currently, the BMW Group has been getting artistic with ambient lighting patterns/strategies and trim design – I’m considering of the ‘backlit crystals’ in larger finish BMWs and the knit cloth dashboards and highlight illumination in MINIs. There are fascination factors within the 2GC too, regardless of it being a starter mannequin.
Earlier than we set off, 2GC mission chief Bernd Ofner (he was additionally accountable for the 1 Collection) walked us round his child and shared some cool trivia.
The air vent surrounds are milled aluminium items stamped with illumination holes within the M Sport variant you see right here – open the door, and you’ll really feel the uncooked metallic edges of the trim items, a cool solution to exhibit the genuine materials. Apparently, BMW needed to create a brand new manufacturing course of for this.
Observed the M-coloured detailing on the sprint? ‘Proud dad’ Ofner whipped out his cellphone to point out me a video of the stitching achieved by a craftswoman. In an age the place even intelligence is synthetic, these are surprisingly bespoke touches in BMW’s most reasonably priced mannequin. Very spectacular, and funky trivia too!
Off into Barcelona’s metropolis site visitors we went, and I discovered it actually annoying to not have auto brake maintain – it’s absolutely there, someplace, however I simply couldn’t discover the button or menu! Seems that brake maintain is hidden in a the ‘My Mode’ button that teams collectively single use capabilities and memorises your desire, together with auto start-stop.
BMW’s logic is for a button that’s seemingly for use solely as soon as, there’s no want for a separate plot; since they wanted the demister and digicam to be on the panel (options which might be seemingly for use extra usually), a call was made to take away auto maintain and auto start-stop right into a grouping – I went from aggravated to ah, that is smart.
The automobile you see here’s a 220 Gran Coupe. Not 220i, simply 220. Do you know that the ‘i’ we’re conversant in in BMW mannequin names was created over 50 years in the past to indicate vehicles with gasoline injection? The letter was later used for Munich’s EVs, and we now have the it in two various kinds of vehicles. BMW dropped the ‘i’ mid final 12 months with the F70 1 Collection, however diesel-powered vehicles proceed to have ‘d’ of their names.
Anyway, the 220 is a gentle hybrid, with an electrical motor (20 hp/55 Nm) built-in into the transmission, and a small 0.96 kWh battery residing within the boot. They help the principle participant, which is a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo engine with 156 hp and 240 Nm of torque, accessible from 1,500 to 4,400 rpm.
As earlier than, the 2GC sits on BMW’s UKL2 platform, so the transversely-mounted B38 sends drive to the entrance wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission. Whole output is 170 hp and 280 Nm, which pushes the four-door from 0-100 in 7.9 seconds. Prime pace is 230 km/h.
We initially considered the 220 as a substitute for the 218i, nevertheless it received’t be so for Malaysia, which is able to get a carryover engine with out the 48-volt delicate hybrid bundle. Our F44 218i had 140 PS, 220 Nm, a 0-100 km/h time of 8.7 seconds and prime pace of 213 km/h. As there’s no further battery within the boot, cargo quantity stays at 430 litres as a substitute of the 220’s 360L.
The 2GC 220 is a superb associate within the metropolis, because of good refinement and insulation. For those who’re fearful about three-cylinder vibrations, don’t, since you received’t discover any disturbance at this stage, even with auto start-stop energetic. The hybrid help can also be seamless because it does its factor within the background, saving you petrol with out saying its presence. Gentle, as they are saying.
The 220’s 7.9s 0-100 km/h time sounds fast – actually, that’s not distant from scorching hatches, however the BMW doesn’t really feel GTI-fast if you actually step on it. It’s no laggard, however the response of the gearbox and the next power of acceleration are a bit subdued, and we’re not even evaluating with EVs.
Personally, I’m advantageous with brisk as a substitute of explosive, and what issues extra long run is a automobile’s driver attraction and ride-handling steadiness. Our M Sport tester’s seats have been supportive and comfy (steering is simply too thick for my liking, although) and the ‘adaptive M suspension’ cuts little or no slack in physique management. A lot of grip, little or no physique roll.
Whereas technically not flawed, the time period ‘adaptive’ is perhaps deceptive because the absorbers adapt mechanically, not electronically; these are frequency selective dampers, principally, and so they include 8mm decreasing. The F74 additionally options elevated rigidity of the physique construction and chassis connections, optimised kinematics and an elevated caster offset of the entrance wheels for improved straight-line stability.
There have been hints of the inherent firmness of the M Sport FSD suspension over pace bumps however the 2GC was a snug trip all through our Catalan route, combining properly with the nice cruising refinement (frameless doorways, let’s not neglect). However as all the time, roads within the Iberian Peninsula are considerably smoother than ours, so it stays to be seen if the brand new setup is as properly balanced on wavy highways and bumpy B roads. We’ve been fooled earlier than.
A observe on the rear house, which is satisfactory for my common 175 cm body, with the entrance seat set to my driving place. For any automobile with a ‘coupe’ within the title, you’ll be zooming into the headroom, and I nearly match sitting straight up. For those who’re a tall particular person in a tall household, you would possibly need to strive the 2GC out for measurement first. Elsewhere, the seats are properly designed (base not too brief, good top) and it doesn’t really feel claustrophobic on the again, which may occur with style-driven designs.
So, are we one other spherical of expectation-exceeding success for the two Collection Gran Coupe in Malaysia?
We received’t know what’s anticipated of the F74, however the panorama has modified because the final one debut. Electrical occurred, and vehicles just like the Tesla Mannequin 3 and BYD Seal might be had for under RM200k. These two are ‘techier’, a lot quicker and sleeker than the 2GC, which may’t even counter with value because it’s burdened with common ICE taxation. And we haven’t even opened the can of SUVs – RM200k buys you a variety of automobile nowadays.
Positive, not everyone seems to be into EVs, however even if you happen to – like me – aren’t prepared for the swap, it’s onerous to unsee the quantity of specs and efficiency these EVs provide for the cash, despite the fact that we settle for that it’s an unfair comparability. The 2GC is a starter BMW, and I think that its goal market in 2025 are the type that may fall for large screens and ballistic acceleration.
I’ve been flawed earlier than on the 2GC and I’d be completely satisfied to be flawed once more with the F74, as a result of it’s an excellent drive, a extra satisfying steer than the electrical sedans talked about above – you must at the least strive the 2GC out earlier than deciding. And nowhere is it an outdated automobile, until you’re the type who thinks that ICE is lifeless and we’ll all be driving EVs in 2030. Let me be flawed once more.
The F74 BMW 2 Collection Gran Coupe will probably be launched in Malaysia tomorrow – keep tuned for the CKD 218’s native specs
GALLERY: 2025 BMW 220 Gran Coupe M Sport
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