BMW Korea introduces 2 Series

By Kim Tae-jong

BMW Korea launched its 2 Series here Thursday, completing its sedan lineup from the 1 to the 7 Series.

The automaker has focused on the sales of the 3, 5 and 7 Series, but continued to add new models.

“The launch of the 2 Series is meaningful, because we have finally completed our sedan lineup, starting from the 1 and ending with the 7 Series,” an official from BMW Korea said. “It is not a volume model, but it shows our commitment to the Korean market that we are making efforts to offer customers a range of different models to choose from.”

The premium compact coupe was unveiled at BerAdel Equestrian Club in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. BMW officials stressed the dynamics of the 2 Series resemble those of racing horses.

Originally, the 2 Series was created to replace the 1 Series coupe in the BMW sedan lineup. Following on from the sporty looks and driving dynamics of the 1 Series, the 2 series features much sleeker and aggressive headlamps and front-end grille.

The sharper headlights lean in to the grille and the proportions look a lot better resolved than they do in the hatchback. Another improvement is that drivers also get an extra 20 liters of space in the boot over the 1 Series.

With the completion of the sedan lineup, odd numbers such as the 3 and the 5 Series represent four-door sedans, with even numbers for two-door coupes or coupe-like cars.

“The new body style of the 2 Series is an improvement over the 1 Series coupe, which the 2 Series replaced, and it’s sportier, too,” another BMW official said.

Apart from its premium designs, the 2 Series has a setup that is similar to the BMW 1 Series range _ a four-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel engine providing pretty impressive performance and great running costs.

Originally, the 2 Series has several variants depending on their engine capabilities, but the 220d with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine is only available here. BMW Korea has modified it with features from the M packages under the name M Sports Edition.

The 220d boasts one of the finest driving and handling experiences in the segment with its engine generating 184 horsepower with a maximum torque of 38.8 kilograms-meters. It only takes 7.1 seconds to reach 100 kilometers per hour. It also achieved a high fuel economy of 16.7 kilometers per liter. The 2 Series is priced at 51.9 million won.

The German automaker has actively added new models to its lineup here. There are 113 models in the BMW lineup, including 48 in the sedan lineup.

Some of the interesting models are the 1 and the 4 Series, which were launched in 2012 and 2013, respectively, to enrich its sedan lineup, whose flagship models were the 3, 5 and 7 Series.

Each segment has its own charms to offer. For example, the 1 Series was designed to attract younger drivers with its small but powerful driving dynamics at an affordable price.

The launch of the 4 Series drew more attention as Korean designer Kang Won-kyu participated in the project to develop the premium sports coupe, a completely new lineup of the German brand.