BMW gears up for massive fight, prepares model onslaught
BMW was one of the best performing luxury brands in 2019 but the German maker still plans to take the fight to long-time rivals.
Motoring news
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring news. Followed categories will be added to My News.
BMW is busy filling gaps in its line-up, which is bad news for Mercedes-Benz.
In 2019 BMW was Australia’s second favourite luxury brand, trailing only Mercedes in total sales. And it was one of the few premium brands to post positive growth.
And the German maker has another busy year ahead as it prepares to bolster its ranks with new models in a bid to boost sales.
BMW has plans to launch 25 electrified vehicles – including plug-in hybrids and full-electric vehicles – by 2023. And BMW Australia has committed to bring them all here when available.
But this year the brand is focusing on boosting its performance range and bringing in more affordable vehicles.
The new 2 Series Gran Coupe will arrive next month to compete with the Mercedes-Benz CLA and A-Class sedan.
The stylish four-door mirrors the new entry-level 1 Series range, which launched late last year, by bringing only two grades: a base 218i and performance-focused M235i.
Prices for the 2 Series Gran Coupe start from $47,990 (before on-road costs), rising to $69,990 for the M Performance version.
The 218i is powered by a small 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo (103kW/220Nm) driving the front wheels.
The M235i scores a feisty 2.0-litre turbo four (225kW/450Nm) powering all four wheels, good enough to hit 100km/h from rest in 4.9 seconds.
One in five BMWs sold in 2019 bore the M badge — Australia has the second highest percentage of sales of M cars in the world behind only New Zealand. And BMW has a few cars to scratch our performance itch.
Later in the year, BMW will launch the M8 Gran Coupe, a car out of the reach of many. The $349,900 performance flagship benefits from a beefy V8 that makes 460kW/750Nm. This combined with an eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive propels the M8 from rest to 100km/h in a warp-like 3.2 seconds.
The other hot-rod coming our way is the new M2 CS. BMW has taken the already feisty M2 and turned the dial all the way up, pulling out weight and adding extra performance.
Under the bonnet is a 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo borrowed from the M3 and retuned for 331kW/550Nm, an increase of 29kW over the regular M2.
The CS will appeal to old-school racers because it comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission. A seven-speed dual-clutch auto is an option.
The CS can sprint from 0-100km/h in 4.2-seconds in manual guise but that drops to four seconds flat when equipped with the self-shifter.
The new M2 CS will cost $139,900 when it arrives in the second half of this year.
Originally published as BMW gears up for massive fight, prepares model onslaught
Why sales of new Toyota have skyrocketed
Fans have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first Toyota-bred performance car in 20 years, but there is a catch.
Nearly 130,000 Takata death traps still on Aussie roads
Seven leading car makers are bracing for a huge Australian legal battle over the Takata airbag scandal, as lawyers representing owners make explosive new claims.