RE: BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe spied

[wab172uk]

okenemem said:

Joratk said:

Xdrive M2 saloon would be tasty.

If they give it a manual gearbox, BMW will get my custom.

[SpeckledJim]

kambites said:

SpeckledJim said:

3795mpower said:

Given the front brake calliper location I’m guessing FWD.

Genuine question: what about the brake calliper location is the giveaway?

I believe the logic is as follows:

The callipers are generally at the opposite side of the upright to the track rod mounting points for packaging reasons; thus cars with the steering rack mounted on the bulkhead tend to have callipers at the front and cars with the steering rack in front of the front axle line tend to have the cappilers at the rear.

Mounting the rack in front of the axle line is "better" because it allows it to be lower down without ending up with a daft steering column angle and hence makes it easier to avoid bump-steer; however it's very difficult to route a steering column past a transverse mounted engine... the upshot of all of this is that generally speaking transverse front-engined cars have the steering rack at the back and hence the callipers at the front; cars with any other engine layout, vice versa.

Thank you very much, that’s a great answer.

[cerb4.5lee]

Pistonheader101 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Chestrockwell said:

Squirrelofwoe said:

sgtbash said:

But isnt the 2 series a smaller 3 series (which is also a 4 series gran coupe) but in 2 door style, surley this is now back to 3 series?

Series

The 4 series is for people who wanted a 3 series but also wanted a coupe. The 4 series gran coupe is for those who want a 3 series but also want 4 doors, but also want a coupe style. But who didn't want the extra size of the 6 series gran coupe. Which is for people who want a 5 series but also want a coupe style. But also want the 4 doors of the 5 series. The 2 series is for those who want something smaller than a 3 series. The 2 series gran coupe is for those who want the coupe looks of the 4 series, but with the 4 doors of a 3 series, but with the small size of the 2 series, but not as small as the 1 series.

It's all pretty simple.

I am waiting the 4 door version of the new 8 series, which is for those people who want the 4 doors of a 7 series, but the coupe looks of the 6 series, but with the size of the 8 series.

It makes sense, I went for a 4 series gran coupe because I like how it’s lower and wider than the 3 series with 4 doors instead of 2.

I also like the fact that the 4GC is a hatchback rather than a saloon opening. My 3 series was pants if you wanted to carry anything big.

They do make a 3 series hatchback called the 3 series gran tourer

Have you seen the state of it though!

[L555BAT]

So is that it for BMW 6-cyl RWD reasonably sized cars? (excluding M cars, for now)

C-Segment hatch:
1 series, 6-cylinder N/A, RWD: 2005-2009
1 series, 6-cylinder turbo, RWD, manual: 2012-2018
1 series, 6-cylinder turbo, RWD, auto: 2012-2019?

C-Segment coupe:
3 series before this...
1/2 series, 6-cylinder turbo, RWD, manual: 2007-2018
1/2 series, 6-cylinder turbo, RWD, auto: 2008-2019?

[blearyeyedboy]

Will they make a 2 GC Touring?

[Ares]

3795mpower said:

Given the front brake calliper location I’m guessing FWD.

Contradicts all intel coming from BMW and motoring media if it is, 2-series was to remain RWD (tourer MPV thing aside) but grow to differentiate from the new 1-series FWD hatch.

Given the incessant moaning on here about the 3-series getting 'too big', a smaller saloon should be the cause for huge celebration, especially with a 300bhp+ version AND an M2 version sitting above it.

[stuart-b]

So in a few years we'll have the BMW 0.5, which is the same size as this.

[kambites]

Ares said:

Contradicts all intel coming from BMW and motoring media if it is, 2-series was to remain RWD (tourer MPV thing aside) but grow to differentiate from the new 1-series FWD hatch.

I think BMW have said the 2-series coupe will be RWD. I've not seen any indication either way with respect to this thing. It certainly looks transverse engined.

I hope I'm wrong though, as you say a smallish RWD saloon/fastback would be great.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 20th February 21:16

[sgtbash]

Personally i’m Looking forward to the 2series xm35i gran coupe touring shadow edition x drive

[jonwm]

SpeckledJim said:

3795mpower said:

Given the front brake calliper location I’m guessing FWD.

Genuine question: what about the brake calliper location is the giveaway?

Was going to ask the exact same question

[Shiv_P]

Another BMW shape???
Almost becoming as bad as merc

[Chestrockwell]

I wouldn’t mind a B58 M240i gran coupe or even a 2.0 4 pot, after driving a Golf GTI for a few weeks, I really don’t see what’s so bad about 2.0 turbos, they’re actually alright despite a poor engine note and even that is sorted out by fake noise inside.

I was annoyed when I heard the news about the new 1 series being FWD and phasing out the straight 6’s but honestly speaking, since I drove a Golf, I actually preferred the space inside and the driving position, I’d definitely swap those things for a RWD lay out.

[court]

SpeckledJim said:

kambites said:

SpeckledJim said:

3795mpower said:

Given the front brake calliper location I’m guessing FWD.

Genuine question: what about the brake calliper location is the giveaway?

I believe the logic is as follows:

The callipers are generally at the opposite side of the upright to the track rod mounting points for packaging reasons; thus cars with the steering rack mounted on the bulkhead tend to have callipers at the front and cars with the steering rack in front of the front axle line tend to have the cappilers at the rear.

Mounting the rack in front of the axle line is "better" because it allows it to be lower down without ending up with a daft steering column angle and hence makes it easier to avoid bump-steer; however it's very difficult to route a steering column past a transverse mounted engine... the upshot of all of this is that generally speaking transverse front-engined cars have the steering rack at the back and hence the callipers at the front; cars with any other engine layout, vice versa.

Thank you very much, that’s a great answer.

That's brilliant info, thanks! I've just done a check of our car park and is 100% correct with a sample size of 45 cars.

[kambites]

court said:

That's brilliant info, thanks! I've just done a check of our car park and is 100% correct with a sample size of 45 cars.

There's a handful of counter-examples. For example despite being mid/rear-engined the MGF had a bulkhead mounted steering rack, presumably because it shared a lot of its front sub-frame geometry with FWD a hatchback. Consequently its front brake calipers are at the front of the disc.

[SpeckledJim]

kambites said:

court said:

That's brilliant info, thanks! I've just done a check of our car park and is 100% correct with a sample size of 45 cars.

There's a handful of counter-examples. For example despite being mid/rear-engined the MGF had a bulkhead mounted steering rack, presumably because it shared a lot of its front sub-frame geometry with FWD a hatchback. Consequently its front brake calipers are at the front of the disc.

Half a metro at the front, half another metro at the back. Yet it works pretty well.

[telecat]

Chestrockwell said:

I wouldn’t mind a B58 M240i gran coupe or even a 2.0 4 pot, after driving a Golf GTI for a few weeks, I really don’t see what’s so bad about 2.0 turbos, they’re actually alright despite a poor engine note and even that is sorted out by fake noise inside.

I was annoyed when I heard the news about the new 1 series being FWD and phasing out the straight 6’s but honestly speaking, since I drove a Golf, I actually preferred the space inside and the driving position, I’d definitely swap those things for a RWD lay out.

My Son prefers his 04 plated Nissan van to his Golf for the driving position. The Gold aggravates a Knee problem he has it's that bad.

[Ares]

kambites said:

Ares said:

Contradicts all intel coming from BMW and motoring media if it is, 2-series was to remain RWD (tourer MPV thing aside) but grow to differentiate from the new 1-series FWD hatch.

I think BMW have said the 2-series coupe will be RWD. I've not seen any indication either way with respect to this thing. It certainly looks transverse engined.

I hope I'm wrong though, as you say a smallish RWD saloon/fastback would be great.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 20th February 21:16

If this is the Gran Coupe as reported, it will surely be based on the coupe, as the 4,6 and incoming 8 are/have been.

If it's a GT, different matter.

[Ares]

Shiv_P said:

Another BMW shape???
Almost becoming as bad as merc

Yes, Introducing a small saloon. How ridiculous. How micro-niche.

[kambites]

Ares said:

If this is the Gran Coupe as reported, it will surely be based on the coupe, as the 4,6 and incoming 8 are/have been.

If it's a GT, different matter.

Well I'm 99% certain that the car pictured is transverse engined, whatever it is.

Everyone in the motoring media seem to be saying it's the Gran Coupe, but of course they might be wrong. I suppose a 1-series GT is possible.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 21st February 12:32

[832ark]

kambites said:

court said:

That's brilliant info, thanks! I've just done a check of our car park and is 100% correct with a sample size of 45 cars.

There's a handful of counter-examples. For example despite being mid/rear-engined the MGF had a bulkhead mounted steering rack, presumably because it shared a lot of its front sub-frame geometry with FWD a hatchback. Consequently its front brake calipers are at the front of the disc.

EP3 Civic has a bulkhead mounted rack and calipers at the rear.