2017 BMW M240 ICOLORS FULL
2017 BMW M240 ICOLORS SERIES

Cars are indeed demanding more and more gold, but they’re also getting better and better. Which is a true statement about many segments these days. Yes, in order to produce a 10Best winner from this class, we had to cut the holes in our filter extremely fine. Handed the key to the Audi A4 or the BMW 2-series or the new Jaguar XE-any of their versions, by the way-you can happily chase horizons for as long as the money supports your vagrant gypsy lifestyle. Is that too much to ask? For some car companies, yes. All we want is an enthralling ship and a good rack-and-pinion to steer her by.

2017 BMW M240 ICOLORS FULL

There’s lots of volume, but even at full chat it has all the character of a Dyson.“All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.” So wrote the poet John Masefield, and we get it, the urge to depart, to swiftly kiss off in a vehicle built to go places. For all its accelerative excellence, the M240i’s engine disappoints in the soundtrack department. The three-spoke wheel’s spongy covering doesn’t feel that great in my hands, either. While it’s one of the best electric-assist steering setups offered on any modern BMW, the M240i’s rack still provides little feedback about the front tires’ attitude or grip levels. But now, with the M2’s MSRP pegged at $51,600, it’s harder to see the value-for-money proposition of the M240i, which starts at $44,150 before options. When the M235i launched, I thought its sub-$50K sticker price was a killer deal – barely more expensive than a loaded Ford Mustang GT, way cheaper than an M4. Back-seat space is pretty limited, as in most coupes of this size, but up front, there’s plenty of room and easy-to-use controls that keep me happy over long distances. The compact driving position makes it easy for me to comfortably reach the wheel, pedals, and shifter (oh, how I wish this tester had the six-speed manual). Despite the acres of dull black plastics in here, I still like the BMW 2 Series’ interior. The suspension has the control to eviscerate twisty roads without floating or crashing, and yet still is barely any less comfortable than the ride in the 248-hp BMW 230i. The strong brakes, with great pedal feel, are more than enough to scrub off speed. By this I’m not talking about fore-aft balance, but about how well every component matches every other. Coupled with the short gear ratios and snappy shifts of this test car’s eight-speed automatic, it’s no surprise BMW quotes the sprint to 60 miles per hour at 4.4 seconds which, amusingly, is only 0.3 seconds slower than the M2’s time. BMW’s 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six pulls and pulls and pulls across its rev range, with almost no lag from the quick-spooling, twin-scroll turbo. Slingshot performance from the 335-horsepower engine.

2017 BMW M240 ICOLORS SERIES

Now refreshed and renamed M240i, BMW’s second most-powerful 2 Series remains a star that I’d drive any day of the year. Specifically, the M235i – a thoroughbred sports coupe that, in my view, was the best-driving BMW on sale at the time. Back when the M2 was but a rumor, I had already fallen in love with the BMW 2 Series.

2017 bmw m240 icolors