BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe gets ready to battle Mercedes CLA-Class
The 1-series sedan, seen in the photo above, will soon get a Gran Coupe sibling that it has always deserved.
Trick question: Has a 2-Series Gran Coupe been on sale all this time, or is it something that BMW has not yet launched? Even lifelong BMW fans may have to think about this one for a couple of minutes — one can never be too sure about very niche BMW models these days.
For the record, there has been a 2-Series coupe along with a 2-Series convertible, along with a BMW X2, for a few years now. But the 2-Series family does not end there, because in other markets BMW also offers the 2-Series Active Tourer (as opposed to an Inactive Tourer) and a larger version called the 2-Series Gran Tourer — not to be confused with anything else that carries the moniker “Gran” as a part of its name. Now you can see why it takes a couple of minutes to build a complete picture of the 2-Series range.
At the moment, there is no such model as a 2-Series Gran Coupe, but BMW will rectify this glaring oversight in a matter of months when it launches a new small sedan to target the likes of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and CLA-Class sedans. In fact, it will be aimed at the slightly larger CLA-Class, because there is already a 1-Series sedan in other markets including Mexico, seen in the photo above, that goes up against the smaller A-Class sedan.
What will the 2-Series Gran Coupe look like? A YouTube video by Automotive Mike gives some clues as to the proportions but not the profile or details, as the car is believed to be wearing padding underneath the camo wrap to hide the exact design. Thankfully, this means it won’t be as chunky as it looks in the spy video.
The car itself, however, will be based on the latest 1-Series platform rather than on any 2-Series model you can buy here or overseas right now and is expected to use the UKL platform shared with Mini models. The good news is our 2-Series coupe is rumored to receive a rear-wheel-drive CLAR platform; the Gran Coupe is expected to ride on the front-wheel-drive UKL platform but is likely to be offered stateside solely in xDrive all-wheel-drive form.
The sole engine in the U.S. lineup may turn out to be the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder good for 302 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. It’s unlikely that a smaller 138-hp 1.5-liter three-cylinder known from the Mini lineup will be offered here at all, which is either good or bad news depending on the price of entry for potential buyers. Buyers will expect the 2-Series Gran Coupe to hustle and will be willing to pay for it. Europe, as usual, is expected to get at least a couple of diesel models, none of which we’ll see here.
When will the CLA-Class sedan face a worthy competitor on the field of battle? The 2-Series Gran Coupe will be seen in the metal at the LA Auto Show at the end of the year and will go on sale in the States early next year.
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