BMW M140i & M240i arrive with 335bhp – and more BMW news too

The BMW M140i and M240i replace the M135i and M235i with more power and better economy, and there’s a new 740e and 740Le xDrive plug-in hybrid.

BMW has revealed a raft of updates across its range, with perhaps the highlight being the arrival of new BMW M140i and M240i models – replacing the M135i and M235i – but with more power and improved economy, but there’s also new plug-in hybrid iPerformance 7-Series models, new 2.0 litre four-cylinder engine and more connected technology.

The new M-badged 1-Series and 2-Series cars get a new 3.0 litre six-cylinder engine producing 335bhp and 369lb/ft of torque – up by 14bhp and 37lb/ft on the M135i and M235i – using BMW’s latest TwinPower tech with torque from 1500rpm, better performance and improved economy.

That means the automatic models can get to 62mph in 4.6 seconds (manuals take 4.8/4.9s) and yet with official economy of 39.7mpg (manual 36.2mpg) helped by longer gearing and stop/start.

Surprisingly, the new models are a bit cheaper than the outgoing ones, with the M140i costing from £31,875 and the M240i from £35,090. Both the new M 1-Series and 2-Series can be had as Hatch, Coupe and Convertible.

Across the rest of the 1-Series and 2-Series range there’s also a new four-cylinder 2.0 litre petrol engine in the 20i, 25i and 30i models with an extra 7bhp which, say BMW, improve economy and performance, and there’s anew eight-speed auto on the 125i and the 228i gets re-badged as 230i.

BMW 740e and 740Le xDrive Plug-in Hybrids join iPerformance

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Revealed at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, the BMW 740e and 740Le xDrive join BMW’s iPerformance range of plug-in hybrid models, joining the 225xe Tourer, 330e and X5 xDrive40e.

The new 7-Series plug-ins produce 322bhp from a combination of a 2.0 litre petrol engine and electric motor, with an electric range (theoretically) of 30 miles and the usual daft official economy numbers – 141mpg and 45g/km (for the 740e).

The only way to tell the plug-in 7-Series models from their pure ICE siblings is the badging, but if you want to shout your green credentials you can opt for iPerformance styling which adds blue slats on the grille and blue wheel hubs.

The new 740e costs from £68,330 and the 740Le xDrive from £74,880.

More connected technology for 1, 2, 3 and 4 Series, X5 and X6

BMW is trickling down technology from the new 7-Series to other models in the range – the 1, 2, 3 and 4-Series and Xf/X6 – with enhanced functionality for the Professional Media System which improves menu Nav, improves system performance, enhances Bluetooth and adds a Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless charging.