BMW planning 2 Series Gran Coupe
Four-door 2 Series coupe could be last compact rear-driver from BMWReports out of Germany indicate that BMW is planning on expanding its Gran Coupe line-up with a 2 Series variant before decade’s end; and the good news it’s believed to be rear-wheel drive.
Logically this means the mooted small four-door coupe would be based on the same rear-drive platform as the two-door 2 Series models, rather than the MINI-based front-drive platform of the 2 Series Active Tourer and next-generation 1 Series.
Not to be confused with the upcoming 1 Series sedan, the 2 Series Gran Coupe is not expected to arrive in Europe until 2019, when it will join the rear-drive 2 Series coupe and convertible body styles on sale.
That sort of timing means the first four-door 2 Series coupe will only be around for a couple of years before the next-generation 2 Series coupe and convertible range is due in 2021.
Sadly, however, the upcoming Gran Coupe and existing 2 Series sports models – including next year's all-new M2 Coupe – could be BMW's last rear-drive compact cars.
Some senior BMW executives are strongly advocating against the controversial switch and insist the next 2 Series Coupe – at least – should be based on BMW's next-gen RWD architecture for the 3, 5, 6 and 7 Series, initially dubbed '35up' but later renamed 'CLAR' (short for Cluster Architecture), according to Auto Motor und Sport.
But as we've been reporting for years, all BMW models below the 3 Series are eventually expected to migrate to the same modular front/all-drive drive small-car platform that underpins the new MINI and 2 Series people-mover, as a new report by German publication Autobild now says will happen for all future 1 and 2 Series models.
Image: Official BMW sketch of current 3 Series sedan
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