Power upgrades via ECU remap

The 2014 BMW 2-Series Coupe lineup has just received a series of aftermarket upgrade packages developed by German tuner Hartge.

Hartge is one of the first tuners to take a stab at the BMW 2-Series and they are offering numerous output increases for both gasoline and diesel engines.

The 218d with its 143 PS (105 kW) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) can be boosted to 174 PS (128 kW) and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) while the 220d's output is raised from 184 PS (135 kW) and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) to 218 PS (160 kW) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft).

In addition, the 225d with its 218 PS (160 kW) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) can be tweaked to release 258 PS (190 kW) and 530 Nm (391 lb-ft). There's also a similar package for the 220i which lifts output from 184 PS (135 kW) and 270 Nm (199 lb-ft) to 218 PS (160 kW) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft).

Besides these power upgrades, Hartge has a few sports spring sets lowering the car by up to 30mm front and 10mm rear. Other goodies include black wheel caps, a tire repair kit, floor mats and several emblems.

Runs from 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds

BMW has introduced the new M235i xDrive Coupe.

Set to go on sale this summer, the model is powered by the company's familiar 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder engine that develops 326 PS (240 kW) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque. It is connected to an eight-speed Steptronic sport transmission which enables the coupe to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds before hitting a limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). For comparison, the rear-wheel M235i accelerates from 0-100 km/h in five seconds with a six-speed manual and 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds with the eight-speed automatic.

Unfortunately, the all-wheel drive system increases the curb weight to 1525 kg (3362 kg) and reduces the combined fuel efficiency to 7.8 L/100km (30.1 mpg US / 36.2 mpg UK)

A new virtual race car, the BMW Vision Gran Turismo, takes to the racetrack in Gran Turismo® 6, the acclaimed racing title available exclusively on PlayStation®3. The race car, created by BMW Group Design, boasts a virtual three-litre six-cylinder inline engine developed by BMW M GmbH, which promises a peak performance of 404 kW/549 hp, fast laps and optimum handling and control. "The development of the BMW Vision Gran Turismo combines our many years of motorsports experience with signature BMW Design. The race car anticipates future racing trends and allows gaming fans even more to experience BMW racing quality," says Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, Vice President Brand Communication BMW, BMW i, BMW M. Starting this Thursday, visitors to BMW Welt in Munich will also be able to take the BMW Vision Gran Turismo to the virtual track within the BMW M exhibition. Besides PlayStation®3 gaming stations, an additional dedicated racing seat with a specially designed three-screen display will be available making the experience totally immersive, and the closest you can get to driving the car in real life.

Following in the tradition of the successful BMW touring cars of the 1970s, the BMW design team has created an uncompromising road racer for the modern era. Crisp proportions and a dynamic silhouette give the BMW Vision Gran Turismo the appearance of speed, even standing still. Front and rear spoilers ensure optimum down-force, while all air conduction elements reduce drag and lower the vehicle's total weight through the use of carbon fibre. The paint finish in BMW M colours traces the flow of the airstream, recalling BMW Motorsports successes. Karim Habib, Head of Design BMW Automobiles said: "The BMW Vision Gran Turismo is pure BMW sportiness and dynamics. It's a precise driving machine engineered and designed to race and win."

The technology in the BMW Vision Gran Turismo is just as impressive as its uncompromising design. A powerful three-litre six-cylinder inline engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology delivers a maximum power of 404 kW/549 hp between 6,200 min-1 and 7,300 min-1. Its peak torque of 680 Nm is developed at just 1,900 rpm. A sequential six-speed transmission, operated by gearshift paddles on the steering wheel, distributes engine power to the driven rear axle. The outstanding performance characteristics of the BMW Vision Gran Turismo, which weighs only 1,180 kilograms, include perfect 50:50 axle load distribution.

The BMW Group demonstrates its on-going commitment to the gaming field. The growing relevance of the video game market and its active gaming community means that concepts such as the BMW Vision Gran Turismo, as well as classic and current BMW vehicles, can not only be presented passively in images or trailers, but also experienced in an interactive manner by a wide audience and even taken for a virtual drive.

To mark the game's 15th anniversary last year, Kazunori Yamauchi, Gran Turismo® creator and president of Polyphony Digital Inc., invited leading automobile manufacturers to contribute to the successful game series. Design departments were called upon to look into the future and share their ground-breaking concept models with the gaming community. The virtual cars will be gradually integrated into the new Gran Turismo® 6 game through online updates. "I was eagerly awaiting what kind of car the people at BMW would come up with. The resulting Vision Gran Turismo car was a sports car that was so clearly BMW, that really shows the DNA of BMW. What makes the Vision GT car so recognizable as a BMW, is in things like its compact size, its wide front and rear overfenders. It maintains the strong angular forms from the past, but the car is also given modern, elegant lines", said Yamauchi. Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design added: „This project means a lot to me, because Kazunori-san shares the same passion for design and driving pleasure as we do at BMW Group. We are pleased to present our very first virtual BMW concept car at GT6."

The Gran Turismo® video game, first released in 1998, is an award-winning racing simulation. The series is one of the biggest virtual racing games worldwide and PlayStation's most successful franchise. A wide range of realistic racetrack options and authentic-looking HD graphic images characterise the game. According to Sony Computer Entertainment, the complete series has sold over 70 million games in more than 100 countries to date.

With only a few splashes of camouflage around the edges of the lights, the roundel logos and the bumpers, this is by far our best look yet at the all-new 2015 BMW 2-Series Convertible, before it makes a full appearance later in the summer or in fall, with production to start in January of 2015.

A successor to the 1-Series Convertible, the new 2-Series model offers a four-seat layout and an electrically operated soft top that stows away in a special compartment between the rear seats and the boot, the size of which will not be significantly affected compared to the Coupe.

More or less, the same powertrains available on the 2-Series Coupe will be offered on the cabriolet, with the North American lineup to include the rear-wheel drive 228i and the all-wheel drive 228xi, both featuring a 240hp 2.0-liter inline-four turbo, and the RWD M235i with a 320hp 3.0-liter straight-six turbo.

For Europe, BMW will add more models to the range, including the entry-level 220i petrol and 220d diesel.

Should have 380 PS

A prototype of the BMW M2 was caught on camera by our spy photographers while undergoing testing ahead of a probable late 2015 launch.

A second batch of spy shots with the first ever M2 has arrived at our office showing an early prototype which doesn't feature all the production-ready body panels. We do notice the cross-drilled rotors and brake calipers which seem to be taken from the new M3 & M4 duo. The front bumper is borrowed from the M235i along with the dual exhaust arrangement but the final product will sport M's usual quad-pipe setup.

It is believed power will come from a turbocharged inline-six 3.0-liter engine outputting approximately 380 PS (279 kW), thus making it 54 PS (39 kW) more powerful than the current range-topping 2-Series, the M235i. The same engine could also find its way under the hood of the X4 M reportedly slated for a 2017 launch.

Chances are the BMW M2 will be revealed late 2015 while sales should kick off at the beginning of 2016.

We've yet to hear something from official BMW sources, but the pricing and order guides for the 2015 model year 2-Series were leaked onto the web today with the big news being the addition of two all-wheel drive models and the Track Handling Package (for the 228i/xi) to the range of the Bavarian firm's small coupe.

All-wheel drive will cost you $1,800 over the price of the RWD editions, with the 240hp 228xi priced from $33,900 and the 320hp M235xi from $44,900, with both MSRPs excluding a $925 delivery and handling fee (*).

Pricing for the RWD 228i and M235i remains unchanged for the new model year at $32,100 and $43,100 (*) respectively.

The other news is the availability of a Track Package for the 228i and 228xi that costs $2,200 for the regular models and $1,600 when combined with the M Sport and Sport Line editions. The package is said to improve handling through the addition of a 10mm lowered M Adaptive Suspension, grippier Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires mounted on 18-inch light-alloy wheels, Variable Sport Steering, and bigger M Sport Brakes.

We've added the two lists below, so if you find anything else interesting, tell us in the comments.