Video: BMW 2 Series Coupe teased

A week after BMW’s South African website inadvertently released full details of the first 2 Series model, the Bavarian brand has released a teaser video confirming the replacement for its 1 Series Coupe will be revealed this Friday (October 25).

Due on sale here early next year following its world debut – alongside the all-new M3 and M4 -- at the Detroit motor show in January, the all-new compact coupe will be the first BMW to wear the 2 Series moniker, which will also grace the successor for the 1 Series Convertible.

BMW’s smallest two-door is based on the second-generation 1 Series hatchback and, as evidenced by the backlit coupe performing a powerslide in loose gravel in this teaser video, will retain its donor car’s rear-wheel drive configuration.

That’s expected to change when the next-generation 2 Series emerges later this decade as one of a dozen or so models based on BMW’s new UKL1 platform, which will underpin next year’s MkIII MINI and – eventually -- all BMW models beneath the 3 Series, marking the move to front- or all-wheel drive for more than half of all BMWs sold.

The inaugural 2 Series Coupe, which drops the 1 Series nameplate just as the 4 Series Coupe replaced the 3 Series Coupe, first broke cover during a US advertising shoot recently goes on sale in Europe in March.

As revealed by the model configurator prematurely published by BMW South Africa, it will launch in 220d, 220i and top-shelf M235i guises, the latter being a sister model for the M135i hatch and successor for the lauded BMW 1 M Coupe.

As we’ve reported, the M235i will hit 100km/h in 4.8 seconds, thanks to a 240kW version of BMW’s turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six matched to six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmissions, while an optional mechanical limited-slip differential will make it faster than the 1 M Coupe at the Nurburgring's Nordschleife, according to BMW.

Opening the 2 Series range will be the 220i, powered by a 135kW version of BMW's 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four that helps it to 100km/h in seven seconds and on to a 235km/h top speed.

Between the two petrol variants will be the 220d, the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four in which will offer the same 135kW (and top speed) as the 220i, but 380Nm of torque and a 0-100km/h time just one-tenth slower (7.1 seconds).

Options will include M Sport brakes and suspension, sports seats, active cruise control and satellite-navigation.

With BMW 1 Series hatch pricing currently opening at $35,600, expect prices for the 2 Series Coupe not to stray too far from those of the outgoing 1 Series Coupe, which opens at $48,000 for the 120i.