10 Things You Need To Know About The 2014 BMW 2 Series

The 2014 BMW 2 Series is a fresh addition to the German automaker's bulging lineup. Determined to fill each and every available niche, BMW has tapped the 2 Series to snag entry-level customers who are looking for a sporty premium ride that isn't quite as large as the all-conquering 3 Series family. Although new, the BMW 2 Series borrows from other members of the BMW family so as to create a feeling of familiarity, and those who have previously driven both 1 Series and 3 Series models will notice the resemblance in the automaker's latest luxury car. Let's take a look at 10 things you need to know about the 2014 BMW 2 Series.

01. The 2014 BMW 2 Series Is An All-New Model Line

The 2014 BMW 2 Series carves its way into the BMW line-up riding on a redesigned platform that is aimed at other entry-level luxury cars like the Audi A3 and the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class. Compact, yet still comfortable, the BMW 2 Series is the least expensive automobile available from the car company, and while it might offer less interior room than a comparable 3 Series or 4 Series, many of its interior trappings are shared with its larger, and more expensive siblings. In fact, the 2 Series platform is closely related to that of the 3 Series, which is a bonus for buyers due to the solid reputation enjoyed by that particular model.

02. The 2014 BMW 2 Series Offers Coupes And Convertibles

The 2014 BMW 2 Series family debuts with two distinct body styles. The first is a two-door coupe, one that adopts the same long hood and short rear deck shape that was previously offered by the now-defunct 1 Series coupe. The second version of the BMW 2 Series is a convertible, which will eventually sit alongside the coupe in showrooms and which will feature similar proportions. The 2 Series convertible is notable for offering a cloth top, instead of the retractable hardtop featured by the 3 Series cabriolet, a move that saves weight as well as trunk space when the roof is open.

03. The 2014 BMW 2 Series Carries 1 Series Lineage Forward

If you haven't picked up on it by now, let us be the first to tell you: the 2014 BMW 2 Series is a redesigned 1 Series in all but its name. The decision to push the 1 Series down to a forthcoming series of subcompact vehicles and introduce the 2 Series moniker was more than just an exercise in re-branding, as the new car offers a refined version of the older 1 Series platform that is tighter from a handling perspective. The 2 Series is also rear-wheel drive only, which is another nod to the 1 Series that preserves the car's purer driving experience.

04. The 2014 BMW 2 Series Features Two Engine Options

The 2014 BMW 2 Series is initially offered with a 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Shared with the BMW 3 Series - as well as the X3, the 4 Series, and the 5 Series - the 2.0-liter mill is tuned to provide 240 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque. Stepping up to the 2 Series' optional 3.0-liter, turbocharged six-cylinder engine boosts output to a hefty 320 horses and 330 lb-ft of twist. Of the two, the four-cylinder is the most efficient, posting 23-mpg in city driving and 36-mpg on the highway.

05. The 2014 BMW 2 Series Can Be Had With A Pair Of Transmissions

The 2014 BMW 2 Series maintains the six-speed manual transmission that had always been an option with the now-departed 1 Series coupe and convertible. The six-speed is aimed primarily at enthusiasts, but those seeking maximum fuel economy will want to specify the eight-speed automatic that can be paired with either engine option. The eight-speed autobox's quest for reduced fuel consumption is aided and abetted by an automatic engine start/stop feature that comes with all versions of the BMW 2 Series. By preventing idling, the start/stop system helps to reduce the amount of gasoline consumed by the car when it's sitting still at a light.

06. The 2014 BMW 2 Series Comes In Two Trim Levels

The BMW 2 Series starts out in 228i trim, which includes the six-speed manual transmission and the four-speed turbocharged four-cylinder motor as standard equipment. It also offers dual automatic climate control, vinyl seat covers, Bluetooth connectivity, the iDrive interface, HD radio, cruise control, 17-inch rims, and automatic headlights. The next step up is the M235i, which introduces not just a more powerful engine but also a sporty body kit, an M Sport steering wheel, an adaptive suspension system, quicker steering, adaptive HID headlights, a louder exhaust system, power seats, and a moonroof.

07. The 2014 BMW 2 Series Won't Sprout A Traditional M Car

The BMW M235i is a very quick automobile - one that is capable of hitting 60-mph from a standing start in just 4.8 seconds - and it also offers above average handling for its segment. It's not quite a true M car, however, which leaves it outside the world of the M3, the M4, and the M5. Think of it more like the earlier 1M, or the 135is, each vehicles that were a cut above what one would expect from a standard entry-level performance car, but which didn't feature the unique engines and suspension tuning that are an important component of traditional M cars. As a side note: the M235i is roughly as fast and as nimble as the similarly-sized E46 M3, which was sold in North America in the early 2000s.

08. The 2014 BMW 2 Series May Gain A 'Gran Coupe'

Despite its current two-door-only line-up, don't be surprised if the 2014 BMW 2 Series family grows in the next couple of years to include a four-door 'coupe.' Like the 6 Series Gran Coupe, a 2 Series 'Gran Coupe' would be built around a sloped-roof, four-door automobile riding on a stretched version of the two-door coupe's platform. This vehicle would be better suited to tackling the similarly-styled efforts currently available from Audi and Mercedes-Benz in the entry-level segment. It would also serve to attract those who aren’t completely convinced that they can leave a livable rear seat behind and get behind a coupe as their daily driver.

09. The 2014 BMW 2 Series Surprises With An MPV

While a 2 Series Gran Coupe might seem like a logical addition, the idea of a mini-minivan would seem to be counter to BMW's design philosophy. And yet, this vehicle is already here - in Europe, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer goes on sale later this year. The 2014 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is designed to haul up to five passengers, and it also features 53.3 cubic feet of total cargo capacity. The Active Tourer has yet to be confirmed for the United States, and if it does make it across the Atlantic, it may be rebranded a 1 Series in order to keep things from getting too confusing at dealerships.

10. The 2014 BMW 2 Series Debuts Front-Wheel Drive

Adding to the furor surrounding the very existence of the 2014 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is the fact that it offers a front-wheel drive layout. The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is the very first front-wheel drive vehicle to be offered by the brand, and in the European market it is motivated by either a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 228 horsepower, or a 148 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel. The notion that the Active Tourer could be re-labeled a 1 Series in the United States is strengthened by its front-wheel drive status, as BMW had previously stated that the 1 Series would be moving in a more practical, efficient, and hatchback-oriented direction.