Little has changed on the outside of the 2-Series, while it has been widened and lengthened to provide a more aggressive look. BMW has gone for what they call a "boat deck" overall appearance, which they describe as a premium look.
Being a convertible, safety is most certainly compromised and BMW knows this and has made quite an effort to make the new 2-Series safer. They've actually added weight with more and more stiffening beams made of high-strength steel.
But what makes a BMW a BMW is its engine, and the 2-Series Convertible has four powertrain options, one of which is a high-performance M235i version. First of the updated engines is the 2.0L turbocharged diesel found in the 220d, which now produces 190 horsepower, and, rather more impressively, can do 60 mpg with a manual or 62 with an automatic.
The M235i comes with a 3.0L turbocharged inline-six that develops 326 horsepower. BMW describes this engine as providing "an infectious cocktail of high-revving ability, responsive power, instantaneous torque and sports car performance with the utmost efficiency". That sounds nice, and is proven by the M235i's 0-62 time of 5.2 seconds, and the unique-in-class rear wheel drive.
Of course, the M235i comes with the usual assortment of controls and assists such as traction control, Cornering Brake Control, Dynamic Brake Control, Brake Assist, Fading Compensation, Brake Drying, and Active Differential Brake. Sounds like an awful lot of braking.
Trim levels that have unchanged engines include the 228i M Sport (245 hp) and the 220i (184 hp).
When the 2-Series Convertible goes on sale in the UK in a few days, prices will start at 29,180 pounds for the base 220i, up to 37,710 pounds for the M235i.
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