BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

Based on the Mini platform, this is your entry into the world of German luxury. But can a front-wheel-drive BMW deliver the Thrill Of Driving? And what do we make of its pricing?

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WITH ALL THE STYLING conversations centred around the ever-larger kidney grille we tend to forget that BMW make some lovely coupes. The swoopy design language, those signature frameless doors and the low-slung profile have always made for head-turners, of late with an added element of usability thanks to the expanding ranks of 4-door coupes. If you count yourself a fan of the genre, I have news for you — the breed is set to become considerably more affordable with the introduction of the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. We will come to the pricing in a bit, because that is both the 2GC’s trump card and the shocker but first, let’s look at what makes this BMW very, erm, un-BMW like. This is front-wheel-drive!

BMW sedans have always had one formula, longitudinally-mounted engines driving either the rear or all four wheels. The 2 Series Gran Coupe goes against the grain with a transversely mounted engine and front-wheel-drive setup, essentially a Mini platform, also seen on the X1 currently sold in India. What using this platform does, is make the car more affordable, spacious and to a certain extent practical too. But does this take away from the driver-focused experience that almost every BMW sedan has offered till date?

A genuine head-turner