Why the new 2015 BMW 2 Series will make you a true believer

The 2015 BMW 2 Series impressed the editors of AUTOMOBILE so much that it made the impressive 2015 All-Star list. The entry-level 2 Series was judged against every new car currently on the market here in the U.S., and was voted to be just one of ten cars to make the list for 2015. Here’s why the 2015 2 series impressed AUTOMOBILE so much that it will very likely cultivate a new crop of BMW performance fans.

They take the 2 Series to the track

The brand’s collective editorial staff and contributors cast their private ballots after three days of driving a variety of 2015 model year contenders at GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, Michigan, as well as on public roads. They pushed the 2015 BMW 2 Series around the track and found this sports car is a total blast to drive fast and it surprised them at how quick it was in the corners.

DONT MISS: 2015 WRX/STI remains one of the best performance car bargains on the planet

Jason Harper, one of the editors at AUTOMOBILE, after a track session in the 2 Series said, “It will teach you a lesson in rolling momentum, using the brakes only when necessary and negotiating the highest cornering speed while mitigating understeer. Any decent driver can go quickly with 600 hp and carbon-ceramic brakes; it takes old-school skills to do the same in a 2. The beauty is that you’ll murder heavier, high-horsepower cars in the corners.”

Two BMW 2 Series models

The 2015 BMW 2 Series comes in two flavors for driving enthusiasts, the 228i and M235i models. The base 228i model comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 240 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque. The M235i model offers a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine churning out 320 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque.

We had the 2015 M235i for a week

This writer had the opportunity to get my hands on the 2015 M235i for a week and found the rear-drive sedan is likely the most toss-able small luxury coupe on the market. My tester came mated to an optional 8-speed Sport automatic transmission, but it does come with a manual gearbox for driving enthusiasts. This new model has an ideal 50-50 weight distribution and we found the BMW M235i is a real joy to drive, and it’s even more fun to drive fast.

ALSO SEE: Four new BMW M3 and M4 performance parts will improve your driving experience

We took the BMW M235i into the mountains west of Denver and pushed it hard in the mountain curves. The 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 comes alive when you get your foot into it, and stayed perfectly stable at high speeds. We tossed the 2014 BMW M235i Coupe around the tight mountain corners leading up to Evergreen and the sports car held its ground with very little body lean. The adaptable M sport suspension is specially tuned for the M235i and in Sport+, the coupe remained planted in the corners even at higher speeds.

BMW M2 is on its way

Of course, the 2015 M235i isn’t a true M, but there are rumors a new BMW M2 will be unveiled at the Frankfort Auto Show 2015. It is scheduled to begin production in late 2015 with a launch date in early 2016. The BMW M2 will likely be powered by a potent TwinPower 3.0-liter powerplant with 370 horsepower. But until then, the 228i and M235i is a great entry-level luxury sports car.

The 2015 BMW 2 Series made the impressive All-Star 2015 list. The 228i starts at $33,025 and the M235i comes it at $44,025. BMW 2 Series will give many new performance enthusiasts an entry point into the BMW family and will cultivate a whole new crop of believers for the Bavarian automaker.