A complaint by an Australian movie-goer has put the brakes on an extended in-theater ad campaign by BMW, and drawn the attention of the country's Advertising Standards Board. According to the anonymous complaint, the ad "portrays an unfavorable message, contrary to safe and sensible driving."

The ASB upheld the complaint, which said the ad for the new M235i showed driving "typical of hoon activity," thanks to the burnouts, dusty drifts and runs up to redline. It's that last one that seems to have gotten the spot in the most trouble, with the ASB acknowledging that even though the car wasn't shown breaking the speed limit, the ad was in violation of a voluntary code of conduct for automotive advertising, according to Australia's Go Auto.

BMW doesn't seem to agree, pointing out that the ad uses creative editing, aggressive camera angles and other filming tricks to "add visual impact."

"We would also add that these creative measures are likely to have been exaggerated from the viewer's perspective in a cinema environment with Dolby surround sound and high definition, super-size cinema screens," BMW's Australian outfit said, according to Go Auto.

It's unclear what movies the ad was shown before, but as BMW points out, considering the "cinematic environment," it suggests the case "be dismissed summarily as a frivolous complaint."

We'd be inclined to agree with BMW, largely due to the setting. Considering some of the stuff that happens in movies today, showing a bit of sliding about and some wide-open-throttle runs is hardly the worst thing people will encounter.

Could be an interesting alternative to the M4 Coupe

Rumors about a BMW M2 have been swirling for years but Bimmer Post is reporting the model has been approved for production.

Citing company insiders, the website says the highly-anticipated model will go into production in the fall of 2015 and be delivered to customers in late 2015 or early 2016.

Specifications are a little light at the moment but sources have indicated the model will use a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that develops approximately 370-380 PS (272-279 kW). This would make the M2 44-54 PS (32-39 kW) more powerful than the M235i Coupe which can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in as little as 4.8 seconds with the optional eight-speed automatic transmission.

Little else is known about the car but it is reportedly codenamed pyrat2 and will be known as the F87.

Arriving later this year

The BMW 2-Series Convertible has returned in fully revealing spy shots ahead of an official launch scheduled in the months to come.

This is by far our best look at the BMW 2-Series Convertible which will act as a successor for the 1-Series Convertible carrying a foldable soft top and a slightly increased body. The vehicle was spotted virtually without any camouflage on European public roads which indicates an official introduction is nearby, possibly in October at the Paris Motor Show.

The white prototype grabbed by our spy photographers had the M Sport bumpers and a dual exhaust arrangement indicating that it could be the M235i version. If this is the case, under the hood there's an inline-six TwinPower Turbo 3.0-liter gasoline engine delivering 326 PS (240 kW) and 450 Nm (322 lb-ft) which works with either a six-speed manual or an optional eight-speed automatic gearbox.

While the coupe does 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.8 seconds with the auto 'box, the convertible will be a tad slower due to a slightly higher curb weight. It's the same case with the manual version with which the M235i Coupe does the sprint in 5 seconds.

Rumors of BMW working on a new M2 model have been swirling around for ages, but this is the first piece of hard evidence that we have on the car. It looks like it's an early prototype that incorporates the expanded front fenders from the M235i Racing with more bloated rear fenders than the regular M235i Coupe used to widen both tracks.

It might be missing the signature "M" quad tailpipes and bumper designs, but other clues that point to the car being a tester for the upcoming M2 include the larger M3/M4 style, double-spoke alloy wheels mounted on Michelin high-performance summer tires behind which we see the blue brake calipers with cross-drilled rotors.

In its final production form, the M2 should also get a reshaped hood, bumpers and door mirrors. Whether BMW will also give it a lighter carbon fiber roof remains unknown.

While a heavily tuned turbocharged inline-four would make a lot of sense for a car that many BMW fans see as a modern day M3 E30, most sources seem to agree that the Bavarians will probably give the M2 a 3.0-liter turbocharged-six that will split the power difference between the 320hp M235i and the 414hp (420PS) M3/M4 duo at around 370-horses.

This BMW 2 Series video review includes information, specs and driving impressions about the 228i and M235i coupes. We discuss performance, handling, fuel economy, pricing, interior space and how it compares to other sport coupes. For more information, read the 2014 BMW 2 Series review.

The new BMW 2-Series is one of the many culprits of the brand’s confusingly revamped naming system, but that doesn’t stop it from being a very fun little luxury sports coupe—particularly in M235i form. By the end of 2015, however, the most potent version of the 2-Series should be on the road: the M2.

It’s been known since mid-2013 that an M2 was a solid bet for production. Early this year, more details on the possible direction BMW would take with the M2 were divulged, including hints at up to 300 pounds of weight savings as well as more power—perhaps even a slightly detuned version of the same S55 engine that powers the new M3 and M4.

At 425 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, the S55 3.0-liter turbocharged in-line six-cylinder might be overkill for the M2—or at the least might step on the larger, more expensive toes of the M3 and M4—but even something in the upper-300-horsepower range would be welcome. The M235i’s 320-horsepower N55 engine never feels like it’s lacking despite the 3,555-pound curb weight it has to lug around, and we've also heard that a upgraded version of this engine may be fitted to the new M2.

Other upgrades include wider wheels and tires, factors hinted at by the camouflage over the fender flares on the car seen in the spy photographs. Reminiscent of the fender flares found on the track-ready (but sadly not U.S.-bound) M235i Racing, the M2’s look is aggressive and purposeful without being excessive.

Upgraded suspension, M Division traction and stability control calibration, and, likely, a mechanical limited-slip rear differential could all further enhance the M2’s performance over the capable but still restrained M235i.

Look for an auto show debut in late 2015 before the BMW M2 goes on sale as a 2016 model.