A true BMW M Car?

It's perhaps no secret that I've had a bit of a love/hate relationship with sporty BMWs of late. The new M3 and M4 (whilst very brilliant cars for most) have sadly become a little underwhelming for long-term M purists like me. Then, there are the recent styling trends to consider. It's almost as if the design department has been running an internal competition in the staff canteen of 'who can draw the most hilarious and enormous front grilles?' ...but forgetting to then hit command+Z to undo the joke before the designs go through to the factory production line.

Sadly, I feel that modern-day M cars are rapidly losing their 'M-magic', and I don't solely blame BMW for this. All OEMs must adhere to the rules set by governing bodies, which typically don't tend to align with the mindset of most sports car drivers. Still, despite the challenges, we occasionally see a glimmer of hope shine through in the form of a new model.

It left me wanting more

On a recent media test day, I was given a chance to drive a selection of new cars for a short time around some test routes at Millbrook Proving Ground. I drove a great selection of cars that day and enjoyed everything from the new LEVC 'London Taxi' to the staggeringly fast RWD Audi R8 V10. Typically, on a day when you drive a variety of cars, you expect some to be great, others to be average, and very occasionally, you'll find yourself driving a car that makes you exclaim, "Oh, hang on a minute, this is quite good!".

It was the G42 BMW M240i xDrive that made me exclaim my delight, and as I approached the end of my 20-minute session with the car, I knew it was worthy of a proper drive. Thankfully, our friends at Partridge BMW stepped in and promptly arranged delivery of one for a 7-day test drive just a few days later.

An M240i xDrive arrived at the office in the brilliant colour of Thundernight with bronze badges and accents around the car. Thundernight is a fantastic colour that pops in the sunlight, and with the addition of some slightly bronzed badges, wheels, and mirror caps, it's a pretty special-looking thing. However, the design team aren't getting away scot-free just yet. As with all things four-wheeled and BMW-badged at the moment, some design aspects are a bit odd and may take some getting used to.

The Design

The front-end design is interesting, not horrible, but it is 'interesting' - to allow some grace, it does make a lot more sense when seen in person vs in pictures. I'm delighted to see that the grilles are small, and I really like the shape of the headlights too. However, as you walk around the car to take in the rear quarter and side views, things start to get a little strange.

The new iteration of the 2 series is effectively a 4 series chassis with a slightly shorter body; this means the rear track is quite broad in respect to the car's overall length. As a result, the space between the wheel arch and the rear side window appears strangely large from certain angles. The M240i comes as standard with 19-inch wheels, yet the fitment and spacing around the wheel arch give the illusion that they're much smaller. This could be resolved with a slightly lower stance and some spaced-out wheels, but many won't want to tinker with the car this way.

It's around the back of the car, though that things become even more confusing. A few friends pointed out that the car's rear resembles a particular character from the children's film Ice Age - and once you've seen it, it's tough to unsee. It wouldn't be the first time I've had to get used to a BMW design; I've frequently been unsure at first, but with time, the designs have eventually grown on me. I think the rear exterior styling of the new 2 will take me a very long time to come to terms with, but that's okay because once you're inside and the wheels are rolling, it doesn't seem to matter at all.

It only takes a few miles of twists and turns in the new car before you realise you're driving something very special. BMW has equipped the M240i with their new twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0L inline six-cylinder engine, it's called the B58, and it is a glorious lump of internal combustion goodness. The B58 exhibits many of the characteristics of historic straight-six engines that BMW has historically been so good at producing, and with the help of forced induction and the xDrive system, it's no slouch either.

The M240i xDrive produces an impressive 369bhp delivered through a rear-biased all-wheel drive system. To glance through some stats; the turbo system rewards drivers with 500nm of torque, allowing for 0-62mph in just 4.3 seconds and a limited top speed of 155mph. The only gearbox option is a ZF8 automatic gearbox, but fortunately, it also features a manual override option. This is especially great, as it gives a similar characteristic to the good old SMG and DCT paddle-shift boxes, allowing for some track day hoonery without bouncing off the redline and experiencing any annoying, untimely automatic upshifts.

I have previously complained about the. ZF8 replacing the older SMG & DCT hardware, but, like in the new M240i, it seems to be quite nicely matched. One of the significant assets the ZF8 brings is the option for full-automatic 'D' driving mode, which provides all of the luxury and efficiency of a soft and comfy automatic. And on the subject of efficiency, despite the 3-litre 6-cylinder turbocharged engine, it can be enjoyed with ECO mode, which rewards the sort of MPG many BMW M drivers could only dream of up to now. Driving 70mph on a motorway in eco mode with active cruise control rewarded me with a live reading of over 40 MPG.

Chassis and Handling

The chassis and suspension set-up is the icing on the cake for the M240i and is matched perfectly with the engine performance and drive train bringing the entire package together. As with all BMW M cars, the driver has the option to adapt the feel of the suspension, making it slightly stiffer or softer depending on road type or driving style. Historically, I've always been wary of driving BMW M models in full-on sports suspension mode when on regular roads, as the ride has always been a little too firm and bumpy. The sweet spot has always been the softest setting for suspension and steering, with the engine and gearbox in sports+ mode. I enjoyed the M240i in full sports mode for all settings for the first time without the car feeling unsettled or dramatic on even the bumpiest back lanes.

So, how and why has BMW shot itself in the foot? As you might have guessed, my review of the G42 M240i is excellent, so the quandary isn't about the car at all - it's actually about everything else that BMW is looking to sell. The G42 M240i is priced from £45,000 - almost half the price of a fully spec’d M4 Competition today. This new 'entry-level M car' suddenly makes the big brother look somewhat overpriced when you break down the individual components, such as suspension, gearbox, engine, and interior comfort and options.

I complained when reviewing the M4 Competition that it had lost much of the 'motorsport M goodness', but I justified the car with the fact that its modern build and specification match current customer and governing body demands. But now that the M240i is here, with pretty much all of the power, handling characteristics and excitement that the vast majority of drivers will look for in a sports coupe, I'm wondering why anyone would now pay twice the price for the M4?

Now that the 2 series is based on the 4 series, the M240i is suddenly more spacious and comfortable to drive than before. It's comfortable and refined for day-to-day requirements, and it becomes engaging and exciting to drive when the time is right, rewarding the driver with handling comparable to that of older M cars.

My conclusion

In my opinion, BMW has possibly created the most exciting, capable and reasonably priced sports coupe since the launch of the BMW 1M in 2010. When the 1M was launched, it was confusing as it seemed to undercut both the M3 and M5 in price despite providing mesmerising performance. Many argued that the 1M didn't have a 'true M engine', but negative opinions and concerns were soon quashed once drivers were given a chance to experience the overall package. In 2022, the M240i achieved nearly the same feat as the 1M did 12 years prior, despite having less 'out-of-the-box motorsport fizz.'

The G42 is a masterpiece for anyone seeking a compact sports coupe that excels in all aspects. As a result, if it were me and my money, I'd spec an M240i over an M4 Competition and use the leftover cash for some individual options and adventures.