Both front and second rows are at executive-jet levels of comfort, with great detailing and functionality.So far, this sounds like a rave review, doesn’t it?The 840i Gran Coupe should be a genuine coupe, in the Twentieth Century sense of the word.

But as they are lighter they help – along with an engine overboost function – drop the 0-100km/h dash drops by 0.1sec to 4.8sec. It’s also disappointing there are no adjustable rear air-con vents, although there are two USB-c connectors back there.But if it’s space you want in the rear seat there are plenty of other BMW options; 1 series hatch, X1 SUV, even that people-mover thing. That’s my issue with the 2020 BMW 840i Gran Coupe, a full-size four-door performance luxury coupe that I spent time with recently.The 840i is a showcase for everything that BMW does well. It’s a small-ish sedan or – if you prefer – four-door coupe that fits in the dimensional space between 1 Series hatch and 3 Series sedan and is aimed straight at the Mercedes-Benz CLA and A … There are no paddle shifters though, which doesn’t seem right in a sporty BMW.The stop-start system is pretty agricultural in the three-pot, vibrating back into life. I present the actual two-door BMW 840i Coupe in support of my argument.

I'm fascinated by transportation, and by what our means of transportation says about who we are. Hey, c’mon BMW!At least Apple CarPlay is now free – you did have to pay a subscription up until late 2019 – and Android Auto will be rolled out in the second half of 2020 to all BMW models with the latest iDrive operating system 7.You should, at some stage in the near future, even be able to see your Apple or Android nav in the instrument panel or HUD of your BMW.Anyway, back to the safety spec. The drive route was mostly urban, or crowded with traffic, so there was little chance to test it out.The suspension settings are passive so there’s no point fiddling with drive modes to try and fix the overly firm M Sport suspension the 218i is saddled with as standard on Australian speed bumps, expansion joints and rough roads.

The 4 Series turned up in 2014 and the 8 Series in 2019.The idea is to offer a bridge between the even-numbered coupes and convertibles and the adjacent odd-numbered sedans. They are good looking things.Not sure the 2 GC carries off the flow quite as well as the bigger cars have more metal to work with, but that’s in the eye of the beholder.
If it's got wheels and an engine, I want to drive it or ride it, and then write about it.

There are two models in the initial line-up – the three-pot 218i and the sportier four-cylinder M235i xDrive. The tricky thing is sometimes chasing the coupe label can work against a car’s design. All the fours…Yes, meet the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe four-door with four-wheel drive. More than once, I managed to dislodge the interior B-pillar door trim when getting into the Gran Coupe – something that should never happen in a luxury car.

It handles like a dream, hugging curves and bearing down on the straights, always seemingly ready to pounce forward. There are plenty of words that were once common and innocuous, and would get you fired if you used them in an interoffice memo.The tricky thing is sometimes chasing the coupe label can work against a car’s design. Even the new 1 Series hatch kinda makes sense. ), an M-Sport multi-function leather steering wheel, BMW’s Connected Dive package including emergency call web services, Live Cockpit Professional (“Hey BMW!”), a digital radio, wireless phone charging, 18-inch alloys and LED exterior lights all-round.Key M235i xDrive additions include adaptive headlights, a digital key, 19-inch alloys, dual exhaust, leather upholstery, powered seat adjustment, dual-zone climate control, sportier and even more excellent front seats and a harman/kardon surround sound system with 16 speakers.Finally, BMW is sticking with a three-year/unlimited km warranty at least for now.The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe adds another option for buyers in the premium small car space. Nuff said.

There is also a decent amount of storage for your knicks and knacks.But space for people? Think about this. Sadly, we couldn’t really exercise it with more than the occasional squirt of throttle because of the drive route’s limitations.That also meant little chance to test out its bigger brakes, Torsen limited-slip diff on the front axle or more direct M Sport steering, let alone try to understand the interplay of drive between front and rear axles. The 2020 BMW M850i Gran Coupe Is What a BMW Luxury Cruiser Should Be Opulent, attractive and refreshingly comfortable, the 2020 M850i is …

The 2 Series Active Tourer? In physical size it actually sits roughly equi-distant between the 1 and 3 Series, but the 2 is really a 1 in disguise as they share drivetrains and platform.The BMW 218i is a front-driver comes with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol triple and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Sadly, the ride issues reduce that to only a theoretical advantage.The BMW M235i xDrive has an M Performance suspension tune with similar ride issues to the 218i. Here's something that will always be a rare sight,News of the MC20 and Giulia GTAm, the new Fiat 500 in Turin and TG’s guide to Italy,BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe review: 435d xDrive tested,Mercedes-Benz EQV review: electric MPV tested.Triumph Rocket R review: does a crazy 2,500cc bike work?Hyundai i30N DCT review: facelifted 276bhp hatch tested,BMW 128ti review: 261bhp hot hatch prototype tested,Top Gear’s Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation review.Zero SR/S review: can an electric sports bike thrill?The best images from Top Gear mag’s ‘The Italian Mob’ issue,Mercedes-Benz EQV review: electric MPV tested,Rear-drive battle: Lamborghini Huracán RWD vs Audi R8 RWS,Eight things you need to know about the Bugatti Divo.