NEW BMW M240i

Further evidence of BMW’s two-door proficiency comes in the form of this punchy newcomer, the M240i xDrive. It packs a vast amount of power, endless high-tech wizardry and plenty of visual interest into a sleek body with very manageable dimensions, making it great fun in an urban setting and an absolute blast when the open road invites you to explore its potential.

This M240i is effectively the hot entry point to BMW two-doors and it will soon be accompanied by the even hotter M2, which is certain to excite the most ardent BMW M enthusiast.
Four cylinders or six, you ask? Most definitely six, arranged in-line, for a sonorous soundtrack. There’s a large turbo playing accompaniment, hence power and torque figures that were once the preserve of junior supercars.

Traditional rear-wheel drive or all-wheel xDrive? With so much power to deploy, the engineers have gone for the superior traction and security of xDrive, so power can be distributed fore or aft according to where it’s needed most. With our unpredictable weather, that means you can enjoy more of the meaty performance more of the time.

And the transmission? A traditional eight-speed automatic that has been enhanced to provide the smoothest, most rapid shifts along with everyday ease of use. There’s nothing intimidating about driving an M240i. Fire it up, engage Drive and you’re away laughing, with sportscar responses and feelsome steering inspiring complete confidence at every turn.

You’d be right to think that the M240i looks unlike any other BMW coupe. Yes, it’s every bit a pint-sized ball of muscle but a wheelbase stretch gives this car a sleeker silhouette and a more elegant stance that softens the impact of those pumped arches. The dimensions still translate into four-seater practicality and very respectable boot space.

The cabin exudes typical BMW character and figure-hugging sports seats in black leather with blue stitching are as good to look at as they are to sit in. The principal focus for drivers is a stunning thick-rimmed M Sport steering wheel with prominent alloy paddle shifters. There’s a functional simplicity to the large screen displays (BMW Live cockpit Professional measures 12.3-inches) and the latest iDrive system is easier than ever to navigate. Smartphone integration includes Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

Other standard equipment highlights? Note the double-spoke 19-inch M alloys propping up each corner, an electric glass sunroof, and a Harman/Kardon surround sound system. The Aluminium Tetragon interior trim suits the sporting theme and is far preferable to the gloss-black inserts overused in rival models.

The bottom line: the M240i is a beautifully engineered, distinctively-styled coupe for drivers who expect plenty of feelgood factor on every outing. It’s very chuckable due to its compact size yet surprisingly practical and makes an interesting alternative to some pure sportscars.