BMW says its M235i Coupe and Convertible models are due to gain more oomph, accompanied by a change in designation to M240i.
The latest version of the brand’s six-cylinder in-line petrol engine provides the rear wheels with 250 kW, some 10 kW more than the outgoing mill (and, incidentally, the same figure achieved by the BMW 1 Series M Coupe of 2011 and 2012). Meanwhile, peak torque of 500 N.m (up 50 N.m) is now on tap between 1 500 and 4 500 r/min.
For the coupe body-style, this sees the claimed zero to 100 km/h sprint time fall two-tenths to 4,8 seconds for the six-speed manual (which comes with a throttle-blipping function) and 4,6 seconds for the automatic.
The German automaker adds that the 3,0-litre turbocharged unit is also up to 7% more efficient than the engine it replaces.
These updates will naturally also be applied to the five-door M135i models (three-door 1 Series models will no longer be offered in South Africa), which will likewise be rechristened M140i.
The designation changes will apply from July 2016 production.