Toyotas
Mustang
, it's almost easy to forget BMW as its own very significant launches at Detroit. Not only are the
M3 and M4
being unveiled to their eager public, the
2 Series
is receiving its global launch too.
Monkey prefers saloon to the M4; you?
With the details on each car having been out in the open for a while, the show almost serves as a refresher for both. There's also been some corporate showing off for BMW about how well it's doing in the States. Over 376,000 BMWs and Minis were sold in the US through 2013, in case you were unaware. The X4 will be built at Spartanburg too, which must have thrilled the local crowds.
Anyway, the M cars at hand. The 431hp, 406lb ft M3 has been developed with BMW's racing drivers and will arrive in the US this June, the same as over here. Our roving reporter Harris has said 'you just would' on the saloon and prefers it to the M4. The seats are 'yummy' in his opinion.
Don't forget this is coming soon as well!
And the 2 Series, or specifically the
M235i
. BMW are again stressing the link that '2' creates to the old 2002 and it will 'continue this fine tradition'. It will be a sub-compact model with unbeatable driving dynamics'. Without the M135i, the 2 Series will be the first M Performance model offered in America. It will be offered in the same 326hp (it's a nice round 240KW) and 332lb ft form as in Europe.
Dr Herbert Diess is on the BMW Development Board and is a fan of the M235i, as you might expect. He is 'a real addict' because it's 'powerful, fast, nimble and agile'. Hopefully we'll be able to find out in Britain fairly soon. Harris? He reckons it looks 'undernourished' next to the M3 but probably won't be much slower.