The BMW 2 Series has been undergoing a ton of changes over the last year. It all started with the model’s first M car, the M2, hitting the automotive world like an asteroid from a Michael Bay film. The regular models were then renamed and given more powerful engines. The 228i became the 230i and the M235i the M240i. The changes don’t seem to be stopping there, at least not according to our spy photogs. They snagged shots of a bunch of 2 Series loaded onto a transport truck, with the destination reportedly a BMW testing facility.
The cars are almost entirely uncovered, save for some camouflage around the headlights, grille, taillights and a small strip at the rear right above the tailpipe. The camo on the headlights indicates that LED daytime running lights are on the way, and since the grille is hidden just a bit we expect it to receive a subtle redesign as well. The taillights should receive a slight makeover too. Despite these photos not showing the interior our spies say that it was covered up, so expect the cabin to be reworked as well, likely with more tech on offer. All in all this looks to be more like a haircut than a full-on makeover, which makes sense as the 2 Series has only be on the market for two years.
Our spies expect some engine updates when the barely retouched coupe makes its debut at some point next year, but we think the Bavarians will leave well enough alone. The 230i is quite sporty with its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged inline-six in the M240i is almost as powerful as the unit in the M2 (335 hp and 369 lb-ft vs. 365 hp and 343 lb-ft), although its high price makes us a bit wary of declaring it a true budget alternative. If these minor exterior revisions don’t drive the price of the 2 Series up too high BMW’s smallest coupe will continue to be one of its strongest offerings.
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