Anyone who ever doubts that BMW does not take into account the tastes and requests of its customers, in the vast majority of cases passionate about sports performance and expert drivers, just sit behind the wheel of the latest generation M 240i and focus on the sensations. that come from the engine, and above all from the behavior of the chassis and architecture, which is basically rear-wheel drive and therefore favors oversteer.
Derived from the 2 Series Coupé model (which in turn originates from the latest 3 and 4 Series), the M 240i is in fact the expression of the ability of BMW, and of its M division, to tap into the enormous 'reservoir' of technologies and then to mix the elements that make the series cars of the Monaco manufacturer efficient, safe, comfortable and pleasant to drive with the spicy spices of the M division and the racing sector.
The result, as we have been able to verify in a detailed test on roads of all kinds, including the German autobahns where there are no speed limits, is truly exciting and makes us reflect on the fact that the levels reached today, especially in dynamic behavior, with a production model like M 240i are practically the same that only a few years ago could be obtained with racing cars.
The basic ingredient of this 'breath-taking' recipe is the mechanical part consisting of the CLAR rear-wheel drive platform of the 3 Series (and therefore also of the M3) from which the architecture of the latest generation of the 2 Series Coupé is derived. powerful 3.0 6-cylinder in-line TwinPower Turbo technology (with Valvetronic and double Vanos) that delivers 374 Hp and 500 Nm of maximum torque.
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Bmw M 240i
But if we add to this how much BMW and its M division are able to add to the suspension, the driving system, the brakes and all the technologies that control and optimize the driving dynamics, we realize that the M 240i, even in the its compactness (it is only 4.54 m long and weighs 1,690 kg) and with a price list that for its contents it is correct to define accessible, it provides levels of performance and emotions that are typical of much more expensive sports models.
The 0-100 sprint is achieved, for example, in 4.3 seconds and the top speed is electronically limited to 250 km / h.
All at a price of 60,350 euros (58,350 with rear-wheel drive only) On more than one occasion, during the test,
we had to refrain from switching to Sport Plus mode so as not to get carried away on the open road in enthusiasm that should be reserved only for the track.
This is the case of the possibility of facing curves and counter-curves at racing speeds, which certainly do not scare the car but can impress - if accompanied by the characteristic power oversteer - other users.
The BMW M 240i - which in the test specimen was equipped with XDrive all-wheel drive in which the preponderance of torque is transmitted to the rear - shares the design of its sophisticated chassis components with those of the 4 Series, including the 'top class'.
The double-jointed front axle and five-link rear axle have been designed to minimize mass and optimize stiffness.
In addition to the negative camper increased to the front by 30 '(the wheels are more' open 'in the contact area with the ground as in the racing ones) the M Sport suspension stands out.
These, in all driving conditions, offer more rigid responses thanks to the specific shock absorbers and springs and also include variable sports steering.
The whole is complemented by the M Sport brake system and an M Sport differential for the rear axle.
It should also be emphasized that this latest generation of the 2 Series has a 51 mm higher wheelbase than the previous one, which helps to have a better straight-line behavior (together with the revised aerodynamics, to reduce the downforce by 50%) and that, in the specific of the M 240i, the roadways are 31mm wider and 54mm in front.
All this is completed by DTC (Dynamic Traction Control), CBC (Cornering Brake Control), DBC (Dynamic Brake Control) and Performance Control, systems that are perfectly combined with the possibility that the rider has to control and adjust. the mechanical medium through the on-board interface.
In addition to the classic BMW displays, well readable and easy to use, there is an enhanced version of the Intelligent Personal Assistant, which moves the driving experience and use of the M 240i even further towards touch and voice control.
