Powertrain families
B48 petrol I4 · B58 petrol I6 · B47 diesel I4
2 Series (G42) — Coupe
2021–present
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- G42
- Production
- 2021–present
- Body style
- 2-door coupe
- Platform
- longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive
Body variants
2 Series → G42 → Coupe
2 Series G42: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected coupe fits into the family.
G42 is the second regular 2 Series coupe generation and is technically separate from the transverse Active Tourer and Gran Coupe families. It uses a longitudinal architecture related to G20/G22, with rear-wheel drive for core derivatives and xDrive for selected models.
Series production began at BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí in September 2021 for global export. The regular G42 range is coupe-only: there is no G42 cabriolet successor to F23, while the G87 M2 is catalogued as a separately engineered BMW M generation.
Four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and the six-cylinder M240i formed the launch structure. Later Operating System, curved-display, equipment and 2024 design changes are lifecycle revisions within G42 and require effective dates rather than a false new generation.
2021–presentgeneration lifecycle
1body branches
3engine/drive families
5range designations
G42factory code
longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drivearchitecture
Coupe: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,537 mm
Width1,838 mm
Height1,390 mm
Wheelbase2,741 mm
Luggage390 L
Fuel tank52 L
Seats4
Doors2-door coupe
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coupe | G42 | 2021–present | 2-door coupe / 4 | 4,537 mm | 390 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented coupe applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 218i Coupé | 2022–present | B48B20 turbo inline-four | 156 PS | 8AT | RWD | Europe | The all-new BMW 2 Series Coupé |
| 220i Coupé | 2021–present | B48B20 turbo inline-four | 184 PS | 8AT | RWD | Global range | The all-new BMW 2 Series Coupé |
| 230i Coupé | 2021–present | B48B20 turbo inline-four | 245 PS / 255 hp US | 8AT | RWD | Global range | The all-new BMW 2 Series Coupé |
| M240i xDrive Coupé | 2021–present | B58B30 turbo inline-six | 374 PS / 382 hp US | 8AT | AWD | Global range | The new BMW 2 Series Coupé |
| 220d Coupé | 2021–present | B47D20 diesel inline-four + 48 V mild hybrid | 190 PS | 8AT | RWD | Europe | The all-new BMW 2 Series Coupé |
Factory designations
218i · 220i · 230i · M240i xDrive · 220d
Petrol engines
Inline and V engines are grouped by engine family, displacement, induction system and emissions specification.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
Electrification
Mild- and plug-in hybrids are separate derivatives; combustion-engine output must not be substituted for total system output.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- G42: 4,537 mm × 1,838 mm × 1,390 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
G42 revealed
BMW introduced the rear-drive-based second 2 Series Coupe generation.
Mexico production
Exclusive global production began at San Luis Potosí.
Range and digital update
Additional engines joined and BMW Curved Display with Operating System 8 became standard.
Lifecycle update
Detail design, equipment and digital changes refreshed G42 without changing the body code.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Coupe
G422 Series G42 is a distinct G42 body branch. A lower-roof two-door body with longer doors and a more overtly sporting brief than the corresponding sedan. Engines/drive: B48 petrol I4, B58 petrol I6, B47 diesel I4.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- G42 — Coupe
- Range designations
- 218i, 220i, 230i, M240i xDrive, 220d
- Powertrain families
- B48 petrol I4, B58 petrol I6, B47 diesel I4
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW 2 Series (G42)Wikipedia contributors
Secondary architecture, production, engine and relationship overview.
- 02The all-new BMW 2 Series CoupéBMW Group PressClub
Factory launch material for the G42 concept, drivetrains, chassis and dimensions.
- 03The new BMW 2 Series CoupéBMW Group PressClub
Factory documentation for the 2024 lifecycle update.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- G42 has no regular cabriolet body. Search and navigation must not infer one from the former F23 range.
- G87 M2 shares industrial context and some hardware but remains a distinct M body/chassis record.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
3 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026