From：Greg Kable 2019-03-21 16:02:43
New coupe inspired four-door to debut at the 2019 Los Angeles auto show
MUNICH, Germany: BMW has issued a teaser image of the upcoming 2-series Gran Coupe ahead of a planned public debut for the new four-door sedan at the 2019 Los Angeles auto show in November and a start to Chinese sales in 2020.
Codenamed F44, the new BMW has been conceived to rival the Andi A3 sedan and Mercedes-Benz CLA with a coupe-inspired silhouette, shallow glasshouse and notchback style rear end - all aimed at providing it with a more sporting profile than the 1-series sedan currently sold exclusively in China.
In a press release accompanying the teaser image, BMW confirmed the 2-series Gran Coupe is based on its FAAR platform and uses a transverse engine. It is planned to be sold with the choice both front- and four-wheel drive and a range of four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines, as well as a newly-developed gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain planned to be unveiled by BMW later this year.
The decision to base the 2-series Gran Coupe mirrors the move BMW has made with its
Fourth third-generation 1-series hatchback, which will switch from its current rear-wheel drive layout to a cheaper front-wheel drive design when it goes on sale in Europe later this year.
Other BMW models to use the FAAR platform include the 2-series Active Tourer, 2-series Gran Tourer and second-generation X1.
BMW says the 2-series Gran Coupe “sets new accents in individuality, aesthetics and emotion” and says it offers “ideal prerequisites to attract new target groups” to the German brand.
Production of the new BMW is planned start at BMW’s Leipzig factory in Germany alongside the new 1-series hatchback during the latter half of 2019.
