Road Test: 2018 BMW M240i
Story and photos by Dan Heyman
Specifications:
Base Price: $51,100
Price as Tested: $61,300
Engine: 3.0L DOHC 24-valve inline-6, Turbo
Trans: Six-speed manual
Power: 335 hp@ 5,500 rpm
Torque: 369 lb-ft @ 1,520-5,500 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,662 lbs./1,661 kg
Fuel Consumption: (L/100km – City/Hwy) 11.2/7.6
New for 2018: The M240i takes over from last year’s M235i and features the debut of an new 6-cylinder turbo engine. A standard back-up camera, LED taillights and headlights and new-look instrument cluster are the latest additions. The Sunset Orange paint on our tester is also a new addition for 2018.
Segment Competitors: Audi S3, Mercedes-AMG CLA 45
The Skinny: While not of BMW’s “M-Performance” division, the M240i benefits from BMW’s spending a lot of time refining their “M-lite” cars. The result? The ability to get a very fact, very pure auto for a fraction of the price of a full-blown M-car. How pure? Well, rear-wheel drive and — huzzah! — a manual transmission helps, although xDrive AWD and a dual-clutch auto are also offered. I’d stay away; the M240i in the exact guise you see here is an addictive, responsive and properly quick sports coupe. It even serves up a bit of a double-whammy in that you can fit a rear-facing child seat in the back and a stroller in the trunk. It looks the part, too, thanks to the compact dimensions and optional blacked-out wheels.
Pros: Glorious powertrain, from performance to sound.
Cons: Steering feel isn’t quite there, although some blame has to be levelled at our tester’s winter tires.
The Verdict: Horsepower’s up only 13 on the M235i but torque makes a big 37 lb-ft jump and it can be felt almost as soon as you depress the throttle, even accounting for a hint of turbo lag. Once you’ve find that sweet spot in the power band and are able to keep it there (made easier by the flat torque curve), the M240i springs forward like a rocket. There’s very little delay with this car, and its ability to change directions with a twitch of the wheel is awe-inspiring, no doubt helped by the weight savings afforded by our RWD model. Yes, a little more feel would have been nice but as far as EPAS systems go, this will do just fine. While you can fit a baby seat, the driving position is a little snug, mainly in the way my thighs bumped the wheel. A flat-bottomed example here would’ve been nice, but I am taller than average so chances are this will be just right for most. I know the seats with their rib-hugging side bolsters will be, that’s for sure. Oh, there’s also iDrive infotainment with the ability to “draw” on the control wheel with an outstretched digit, but who really cares about that when you’re doing your best to perfectly clip the next apex? That’s what I thought.
