Skip to main content

Forbidden fruit: BMW unveils M235i Track Edition in Holland

BMW’s Dutch arm has unveiled a more dynamic variant of the M235i coupe aimed at buyers who are too impatient to wait for the rumored M2. Appropriately dubbed M235i Track Edition, the coupe comes decked out with components sourced directly from the BMW M Performance parts bin.

Visually, the Track Edition stands out from the stock M235i thanks to a black radiator grille and a model-specific body kit consisting of a discreet front splitter, side skirts, a trunk-mounted spoiler and a functional air diffuser integrated into the rear bumper. 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped by low-profile tires round out the major updates.

Track Edition buyers can order their car in either Mineral Weiss, Mineral Grey, Estoril Blue or Sapphire Black.

Inside, the M235i Track Edition packs Alcantara upholstery on the steering wheel, aluminum pedals, real carbon fiber trim and a numbered plaque on the dash. The steering wheel features an innovative race display that includes a lap timer, a shift indicator light and a G-force meter.

BMW has not made any modifications under the hood, meaning the M235i Track Edition is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six engine that generates 326 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque. Linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the six-cylinder sends the M235i from zero to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 155 mph. A stainless steel exhaust system comes standard.

BMW plans on building just 12 examples of the M235i Track Edition for the Dutch market. Each one will cost €83,000, a lofty sum that converts to approximately $112,200.

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
BMW shows off the future of iDrive tech at CES 2021
bmw idrive next gen infotainment system ces 2021 screen

BMW iDrive was one of the first automotive infotainment systems, debuting in 2001 on the 7 Series luxury car. To celebrate iDrive's 20th anniversary, BMW previewed the next-generation system — set to debut in the iX electric car — at CES 2021.

While the automaker's presentation focused more on the past than the future, BMW did drop a few teasers and hints about the next-generation iDrive system. Teaser images show a massive screen stretching about halfway across a car's dashboard, indicating BMW doesn't plan to buck the big-screen trend in new cars. The new system also retains the rotary controller used on every iteration of iDrive, showing that BMW's introduction of gesture control and a voice assistant haven't killed off analog controls.

Read more
BMW’s electric Concept i4 has two words for Tesla’s Model 3: Watch out
2020-bmw concept i4

Previous

Next

Read more
Here’s why BMW’s go-fast M division hasn’t released an electric car yet
bmw m says batteries are too heavy to make an electric sports car p90374205 highres feat

From Mazda to Ford, sports car manufacturers are looking for ways to electrify their quickest, most emblematic models during the 2020s. BMW's high-performance M division also tossed its hat into this ring, but it concluded the technology isn't ready yet, and it's not willing to make a compromise solely to make headlines.

Developing a battery-powered sports car that handles as well as it accelerates is easier said than done. The biggest problems engineers encounter is that a sports car needs to be light and nimble to deliver engaging handling, and a battery pack adds a huge amount of weight that can't easily be offset. That's why BMW M doesn't see an electric car in its immediate future.

Read more