Rob Maetzig

Isoon morphed into the 02 series that included the iconic two-door BMW 2002 Turbo.

Ever since, BMW has enjoyed a rich heritage of creating sporty and dynamic cars with a high degree of driver engagement, most notably these days with the compact 1-Series and 3-Series model lines that are direct descendants of those Neue Klasse models of the 1960s.

Now we can add the new 2-Series Coupe to the list, because it promises to quickly make a name for itself as one of the most engaging BMWs yet built.

This might not be so much with the 2.0-litre four cylinder 220i that arrives in New Zealand this month, but it will most certainly be the case with a 3.0-litre six cylinderpowered M235i that will go on sale in the second half of the year and which will be the most powerful six-cylinder petrol-engined BMW yet built. T WAS this model that proved the hero of Baskerville during the media launch of the 2-Series Coupe last week. Built on the 3-Series platform but with smaller bodyshell dimensions and a shortened wheelbase, under its bonnet is the same TwinPower twin-scroll turbocharged straight six that also powers such products as the 225kW 335i sedan and the stonking little 235kW M135i five-door hatch. But this time the engine has been given the works by the marque’s M Performance Automobile people so the power is upped to 240kW, sufficient to get the M235i to 100kmh in a blaz-