Wednesday 26th August 2015

BMW M235i Cup testing

Yes, more pictures of over-endowed 2 Series testing at the Nurburgring but we can't help ourselves

---

Adding one and one to create M2 might be stretching it a little but given plenty of spy shots of the new 'baby M' and the refreshed M235i Cup are doing the rounds at the same time we can't help ourselves. There must be some shared synergy between the two, right?

If so then these additional pics of the M235i Racing/Cup/whatever are worth a little extra scrutiny, and not just because it looks cartoonishly fabulous with its pumped up arches and mahoosive rear wing. Check out those underbonnet shots for instance and the revelation of a BMW M3/M4 style 'boomerang' carbon fibre strut brace. Is it running the engine too? There's no charge cooler on top like the M's twin-turbo S55, suggesting it sticks with the 'civilian' single-turbo N55. But that engine has never been lacking in grunt so there are unlikely to be any complaints there - it'll just be a question of how much power it's 'allowed' to have before it knocks too loudly on the M4's 431hp. We'll take a punt on the mid to high 3s.

Enjoy the pics and continued speculation; hopefully we'll have more concrete info very soon.

 

[Photos: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien]

[sidesauce]

I think this car will be epic and I speak as someone who's not a fan of BMW's in general.

[pSyCoSiS]

That will probably be something quite special...

[Orange Rocket]

Corrrr! That looks fabulous, also not a huge fan of BMW's but I want one of those very much, even though I doubt it will fall into my price range!

[marcosgt]

It looks very like an old Imprezza, especially in this shot:



Not that that's a bad thing, but Subaru styling and Renault 'Cup' naming suggests BMW are losing the plot a bit...

M

[MrBarry123]

I want this so much more than a GT4.

[nunpuncher]

Phwoarrrrr!

[JockySteer]

what a looker. no way would I have it over a GT4 though!

[FRA53R]

I really like the look of that, if it were a stripped back M235i with a few choice aero and suspension tweaks I'd be well keen!

[British Beef]

Much better looking & proportioned to my eyes than the overstyled M4.

Now which motorway to name this Beemer after M2 or M25?

[300bhp/ton]

Yet no mention of what 2nd hand cars you could likely buy for the same money....

[steveb8189]

marcosgt said:

Not that that's a bad thing, but Subaru styling and Renault 'Cup' naming suggests BMW are losing the plot a bit...

M

The 'Cup' definition has been in place long before Renault started using it. Typically it was a NASCAR type, front engined, rear wheel drive car. In my mind, BMW in this carnation has used it pretty well, along with Porsche over the past few decades

[g3org3y]

LIKE!

[Clivey]

If the 2M is launched looking anything like that, it'll be very, very nice. Just wish they'd give the 1-Series 3-door the same treatment!

[Ares]

Said it on a former thread, but if it looks like this in the flesh it'll be a belter.

If it goes like it too it'll be an E30 M3 of it's generation.