What's the news?
Here's a limited-edition version of the BMW M240i sports coupe that is sharpened up with a smattering of visual modifications. It's called the M240i M Performance Edition and just 750 will be made.
There are no changes to the turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six petrol under the M240i's hood, which means 340hp, 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds, a limited top speed of 250km/h and fuel consumption from 7.7 litres/100km (36.7mpg) with CO2 as low as 176g/km. You can choose the M Performance Edition with either a six-speed manual gearbox or an eight-speed automatic if you stick with rear-wheel drive, while xDrive all-corners traction is an option (the 4WD M240i only coming with the autobox, though).
What's different is the styling. In the wheel arches are a set of 19-inch light alloy wheels, wearing 225/35 front and 245/30 rear tyres. These are forged rims finished in bicolour Orbit Grey and diamond-polished sections. The Alpine White bodywork is offset with black/carbon fibre detailing for much of the aerodynamic upgrades on the car, including the air guides, splitter and bumper sections at the front, the diffuser and carbon fibre spoiler at the rear, and then the door mirror caps and exhaust tailpipe finishers (all carbon). Note also the side sills with an 'M Performance' inscription.
And that's it - bespoke warpaint with some minor aero tweaks and lighter, gorgeous alloy wheels: that's what makes up the M240i M Performance Edition. The final things to note are that BMW claims the aerodynamics are optimised by these additions and that the M Performance Edition is assembled exclusively in the company's plant in Leipzig, over in the east of Germany.
Anything else?
No word yet on whether any of the allocation of 750 M Performance Edition cars will come to Ireland, but if they do, you can bet the cost will be more than the €58,470 required for a regular BMW M240i. They go on sale from July of this year.