Pics and details of BMW's 2 Series

BMW M235i London - Arab Today Apparently official pictures of the BMW M235i have been leaked ahead of an impending announcement on full details of the forthcoming 2 Series range. This is just the latest of a number of scooped details on the car and if BMW is

 annoyed that the 'secret' has been blown it can at least take heart in the fact lots of people seem very excited about it.Now, as you may just possibly be aware we ran an M135i here at PH recently. We did mention it once or twice, fair to say. And rather liked it, as do many of the PHers who've bought them. Those struck by the idea of rear-driven car with a 320hp straight-six and mid 30s pricetag but who couldn't stomach the looks (a common complaint, going by the forum chatter) can take heart then - it's like an M135i but better looking!Like a downsized 4 Series, the 2 Series is perhaps not quite as visually balanced as its big brother. But is undeniably easier on the eye than the 1 Series and, perhaps, an easier sell for those not willing to spend big on a 'mere' hatchback.Bizarrely it'd appear that although smaller and more junior in the rankings the M235i we're all interested in actually has more power than the more grown-up and sensible 435i like the one we've just taken delivery of for the PH fleet.According to Jalopnik, one of the sites to break the story, by the American market numbers the M235i will have 322hp and do the 60 sprint in less than five seconds. A step up from the 306hp of the 135i Coupe it replaces here then, the auto option also changing from the existing seven-speed dual-clutch DCT to the ubiquitous eight-speed 'box. The manual option remains too, it'd seem.Pricing is, of course, to be confirmed but in the US Jalopnik is pitching the M235i at less than $50,000, the current American spec 320hp 135is starting at $43,550. Extrapolating that to the UK a 135i Sport Plus Edition coupe is currently £32,980 and a 435i starts at £41,435 so pitch your expectations somewhere between the two. And let a whole new round of spec comparisons begin!