Just as we anticipated, the BMW 228i will be offered to U.S. customers. Part of the new 2 Series family due to be unveiled after the Frankfurt Auto Show in September, the 228i will arrive in the United States along with the more powerful and potent, M235i.
Car and Driver comes to confirm the news via an EPA filing that shows the BMW 228i model as waiting for certification. According to the papers, the 228i will feature rear-wheel drive, as expected, and the turbocharged 2.0-liter N20 engine. The engine produces 240 horsepower. BMW will offer a choice between a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic.
It remains to be seen if BMW will also offer a 220i model, similar to the entry-level for 3 Series (320i).
On the other hand, the M235i will most likely use the same engine as the M135i, a 3.0 liter TwinPower turbocharged six-cylinder producing 320 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque (332 lb-ft) at 1,300 rpm. Redline
is set at 7000 rpm.
(Test Drive: BMW M135i xDrive)
The top of the line offering will be the BMW M2, coming to market in 2015 as a successor to the highly-acclaimed 1M.
(BMW 2 Series test mule crashes on Autobahn)
