BMW has announced that the M235i Coupe will be available with the xDrive all-wheel drive system starting this summer, marking the first time a 2-Series model gets xDrive (not that the 2-Series has been around for too long). BMW says the intelligent four-wheel drive system will also be available in the upcoming 2-Series Convertible .

While the announcement concerns the European market, a leaked document suggested that the U.S. will get the M235i xDrive by next year.

Thanks to the improved traction, the new M235i xDrive Coupe reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) from standstill in 4.6 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than the rear-wheel drive model. The M235i xDrive is offered as standard with the 8-speed Steptronic sport transmission, with fuel consumption in the EU test cycle rated at 7.8 l/100 km (30.1 mpg US) and CO2 emissions at 182 g/kilometer.

No changes have been made under the hood, with the M235i xDrive motivated by the same twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six cylinder engine producing 322hp (326 PS) in Euro trim (320hp for North America).

In Europe, the BMW 2-Series lineup will also get a new model starting this summer, the 228i Coupe (already offered in North America), powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology producing 242hp (245PS) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque. The engine is mated as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, but is available with the 8-speed automatic as well.

The 228i Coupe sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds (5.7 seconds with the automatic) and averages 6.6 l/100 km (35.6 mpg US), with CO2 emissions rated at 154 g/km.

By Dan Mihalascu

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