2014 BMW M235i: Shaking Off The Ghosts Of Performance Past
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The 2014 BMW M235i is more than just the latest play in the German automaker's number's game - it's an attempt to marry two different components of its heritage under a single, coupe-shaped banner. Although not a true M car in the same vein as the vaunted BMW M3 or BMW M5, the rear-wheel drive M235i has been outfitted with a basket of goodies plucked from the M Performance parts catalogue, and it also stands as one of the lighter, and consequently one of the more nimble members of BMW's sporty family.
In some ways, the 2014 BMW M235i is intended as a throwback to the type of premium performance cars that the company used to churn out on the regular, but this compact two-door also represents the fresh branding direction that is being taken by a manufacturer that has been drawn inexorably away from its roots and towards the profit margins promised by softer, more luxurious fare. I spent a week behind the wheel of the M235i to try and see which of these two winds offers the most favourable tack for this pint-size coupe.
1 Series Light
The 2 Series name might be new, but the bones of the 2014 BMW M235i can trace a clear lineage back to the now-departed 1 Series line-up of coupes and convertibles. Pushed up a single digit for marketing purposes (and to make room for a more affordable front-wheel drive 1 Series at a future date), the M235i can be thought of as the lovechild of the 135is and the short-lived BMW 1M. As such, it shares the same long-hood / short deck design as the 1 Series that preceded it, but with some definite attenuation of the scalloped sides and Chris Bangle-inspired 'flame surfacing' found on those models. It's also slightly wider and longer. This is all to the M235i's benefit, allowing it to offer a cleaner profile that matches well with the aggressive air vents and bumpers found on the car. M-badging can be found on the forward fenders (hotel mint-sized) and on the trunk lid.
A Tight Squeeze
The 2014 BMW M235i's compact dimensions give it the relatively lightweight chassis (for its class) that is so important in terms of handling and braking, but it also robs the car of a usable rear seat. Although I did stuff an unsuspecting colleague back there for a brief 15-minute drive, it's strictly kids and parcels for anything longer than that (unless you are willing to risk tightening your social circle). As for the front two positions, there's a respectable amount of room under the car's bubble roof for taller drivers, and the adjustable seats make it easy to find a comfortable perch.
One thing that did seem to be missing from the M235i's interior was the aura of luxury that one expects from a car that starts at $45,000. Most of the standard BMW kit is present and accounted for - iDrive, heated leather sports seats with inflatable bolsters, head-up display - but the materials used on the door pulls, panels, and center console didn't offer the premium tactile response that I would have liked. Aside from the M badge on the shifter, and the M235i logo displayed in the gauge cluster, there's not much going on to suggest you are driving a special car.
Quite Quick
Until you push the starter button, that is. The 2014 BMW M235i's 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine hums to life with a purposeful twin-tailpipe announcement, proclaiming to the world its 320 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of twist (with the latter available as low as 1,400 rpm). Although an eight-speed automatic transmission is optional with the car, my tester was equipped with a six-speed manual whose short travel offered surely the best way to sample the sixer's not-inconsiderable charms.
The most impressive aspect of the M235i's performance is the seemingly endless surge of acceleration available in almost any gear. Although not explosive out of the gate (I timed a 0-100 km/h run of 5.0 seconds with the car set to Sport+ and stability control disabled), the BMW coupe never runs out of breath as you climb inexorably past speeds that would earn you an overnight stay in the slammer. The clutch is also easy to slip when launching from a standstill, with almost no wheel-hop to spoil a prime run down the boulevard at full boost.
The two-door BMW's handling didn't charm me quite as much as its drivetrain, however. While the M235i was planted and stable even when asked to corner at the limit, there wasn't as much communication through the steering wheel or even the car's stiff suspension system as I would have liked. Turn-in is accomplished without protest, but you have to play a bit of a guessing game as to what's happening under the rubber while you move through a series of turns at a higher rate of speed. There's also somewhat of a lumpy ride to be had over less than ideal pavement conditions with the car set to Sport or Sport+ - an issue pointed out by passengers, and largely solved by leaving the vehicle in Comfort mode - combined with exhaust drone while cruising on the highway.
Good, But No Reincarnation
The 2014 BMW M235i isn't the reincarnation of the original BMW E30 coupe that ignited North America's passion for compact luxury performance, but I really don't think it's fair to judge a car built three decades later against its iconic predecessor. Automotive design has moved on and so have the tastes of modern buyers, and there's no doubt in my mind that the BMW M235i's smooth operator status with the hammer down combined with its confident cornering capability will have broad appeal amongst those seeking a premium compact coupe. It won't take you back to your imagined youth, but the M235i has definitely mastered the skills needed to charm a new generation of brand devotees.
