Whether you opt for BMW’s flagship model or its entry-level models, the brand always ensures that you get plenty for your money.
Whether that be in one of the best driving experiences available in that class, or increasingly when it comes to tech.
That’s certainly true for the new BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer – a brand-new model that slots between the 1 Series and 3 Series. Here’s five key pieces of tech on the new four-door ‘coupe’.
Your own personal assistant
Ever dreamed of having a personal assistant to sort your diary, organise your wardrobe or even answering your business calls? Well, while the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer’s many talents can’t quite stretch that far, it does come with an ‘Intelligent Personal Assistant’. Think of it like having Amazon Alexa built into your car. Want the car to be warmed up? “Hey BMW, I’m cold” is all you have to do to have the car automatically increase the temperature.
You can also use it to ask how certain functions in the car work, ask about tyre pressures of the car and ask about live traffic information, too.
Reverse parking assist
While an increasing number of cars offer self-parking functionality to help you park in tight spaces, but the problem is that plenty of them can’t get you out of the space again.
Thankfully that’s where the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe differs, thanks to its ‘reverse assistant’, which manages just that.
If you’ve managed to park in a tight space or have gone down a narrow road and are struggling to get out, it stores the movements for the car at speeds up to 22mph, and can reverse for up to 50 metres along the same path to help you get out again.
Clever performance tech on the M235i
For those lucky enough to be buying the M235i, BMW fits this hot model with a host of performance features to enhance the drive. Highlights include a Torsen limited-slip differential, as well as launch control that’s available through the eight-speed Steptronic automatic gearbox. Through this, all 450Nm of the M235i’s torque is on tap in first and second gear.
Adaptive suspension that can adjust the dampers for either comfort or performance are another highlight.
Gesture-controlled infotainment system
Touchscreens have become commonplace in just about every new car on sale today, but even that seems a bit outdated at BMW.
That’s because BMW offers an optional gesture control function, which means that simply by doing hand gestures you can control the media of the car, as well as the temperature. Seven gestures are available, and several are configurable. It’s perhaps a bit gimmicky, but it’s a great piece of tech nonetheless.
Access to your car via a smartphone
Buyers who choose the Comfort Access package for their 2 Series, and who own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone are able to unlock and start their car using only their phone.
If you don’t have many pockets or hate fiddling around to find a key, this is a great option – particularly as we often have our smartphone in our hand anyway and are now exceptionally reliant on them. Separately key card can be used. This system works well if it’s car that is shared with family members or across a business, and it means that you don’t have to be reliant on having the key with you. All users and phones have to be setup beforehand, so security isn’t any concern.
