Spy pictures of a BMW 2 Series saloon could reveal a new China-only model set to go on sale later this year.
The partly disguised car adds rear passenger doors to the two-door 2 Series body, and extends the rear roofline to offer greater headroom in the back.
No technical information has been released, but Autocar understands the model is in its final stages of development and will be sold exclusively to the Chinese market in 2016, as a rival to the Audi A3 saloon.
Drivetrain options are likely to mimic those for the regular 2 Series, comprising turbocharged petrol and diesel four-cylinder engines.
The prototype’s appearance in Europe has led many to believe it will be sold here, but insiders are suggesting Europe will get its own GT-bodied car instead. This would follow the pattern of bigger GT models like the BMW 3 Series and 4 Series, which have a roofline that extends right to the back of the car and a hatchback boot.
Currently, the BMW 2 Series is available as a rear-driven coupé and convertible, while larger 2 Series Gran Tourer and Active Tourer MPVs are also produced on the front-wheel-drive BMW UKL platform.
Join the debate
Add your comment
BMW finally has their Corolla competitor
concinnity wrote: At last!
Well, the current 1 Series, which this 2 Series is a saloon variant of, is very unreliable, suffering from many build quality and mechanical issues. Shorty after the current model was launched, my workplace leased half a dozen or so and 4 of them developed various problems like trim falling off, rattles, mechanical foibles. After the lease expired they were replaced by Audis A3s and they weren't much better so, again, after the lease expired, they were replaced by a choice of cars - Focus, C'eed, i30 and Volvo V40. And not one of these has had any faults whatsoever.
Looks RWD
RIP BMW