Car news, 10 July ’24: Aussie-spec BMW M2 Coupe gets 353kW and retains manual option, BYD dodging tariffs by building European factories, and more

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Thanks for joining us this Wednesday July 10th 2024. Notably in car news today: BMW reveals full pricing and spec for MY25 M2 Coupe with 353kW and six-speed manual option, and BYD is set to build a factory in Turkey to try and avoid steep tariffs on its Chinese imported vehicles.

Browse this issue:

• MY25 BMW M2 Coupe gets a power boost, retains manual option
• BYD expanding with new factories in Turkey, Brazil
• Revamped BMW 2 Series lineup detailed
• Racier Mercedes-AMG C43 revealed for Australia
• Reviewed: 2024 Audi TT 45 TFSI Quattro Final Edition

BMW M2 Coupe gets 353kW and retains manual option for 2025

• BMW Australia has revealed pricing and specifications for its MY25 M2 Coupe, available later this year priced from $123,900 before on-roads.

• This driving purist configuration matches a 353kW turbocharged inline six – up 15kW – with rear drive and choice of eight-speed automatic or no-cost six-speed manual transmissions.  

• Torque outputs are 550Nm for the manual and 600Nm for the automatic, with 4.2sec and 4.0sec of claimed 0-100km/h performance respectively.  

• The M2 Coupe range comes with a raft of standard updates including the latest Operating System 8.5 media format and lightly redesigned interior format. Carbon-fibre bucket seats ($12K) and ‘frozen’ matte paintwork ($5K) remain key options. 

BYD to get around tariffs with European, South American factories 

• BYD Auto is set to enter an agreement with Turkey to build a USD$1 billion factory in the west of the country, according to new reports by Automotive News.

• The move is almost certainly to allow BYD to sell more of its vehicles in Europe after the EU increased tariffs for BYD with an additional 17.4 percent charge, on top of the existing 10 percent. 

• Before the Turkey plant gets off the ground, BYD is currently building a passenger car plant in Hungary. 

• According to Automotive News, the Chinese car giant has also taken over a Ford Motor factory in Brazil and is looking at locations in Mexico for another plant. 

• BYD produced three million vehicles in 2023 and is expected to produce at least 3.6 million vehicles in 2024. 

BMW Australia details two-variant MY25 2 Series lineup

• BMW Australia has announced details of its new MY25 2 Series Coupe lineup in the wheel tracks of today’s MY25 M2 Coupe reveal and yesterday’s specification outline for the forthcoming 1 Series.

• Unlike the hatchback range, the sports positioned 2 Series Coupe skips the three-cylinder option and kicks off with the 230i offering 2.0L turbo four-pot with 190kW and 400Nm outputs and rear-wheel drive. 

• Meanwhile, the flagship M240i xDrive fits a 3.0L turbo inline six good for 285kW and 500Nm paired with all-wheel drive for claimed 4.3-second 0-100km/h performance. Both variants fit eight-speed automatics. 

• The 230i enters at $76,900 list while the M240i xDrive tops things out at $99,900 before on-roads. The 2 Series Coupe lineup will launch locally in Q4 this year. 

Racier Edition R version of the Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic launched 

• Mercedes-Benz Australia has launched a new Edition R variant of the current Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic sedan, introducing a smattering of tweaks and enhanced driver-centric tech tweaks.

• Edition R fits the Dynamic Plus pack standard, bringing dynamic engine mounts, ‘Race’ drive mode augmentation and Track Pace telemetry. 

• Interior changes include a Nappa leather/microfibre AMG Performance steering wheel, Artico and microfibre Performance Seat Package Advanced, plus Edition R-exclusive red stitching, inserts and seatbelts.

• Finished with Night Package II exterior augmentation and red brake callipers, the Edition R variant largely carries over the regular C43’s 300kW/500Nm 2.0L turbo four format. It’s on sale immediately at $112,600 before on-roads. 

Audi TT 45 TFSI Quattro Final Edition reviewed

• Chasing Cars founder Tom Baker takes one final drive in the iconic Audi TT in its ultimate 45 TFSI Quattro Final Edition guise, bidding farewell to the design-driven sports car lineage that lasted three generations.
  
• Baker reflects on the fine innovation of the TT throughout its years, marvelling at interior execution and praising the engaging on-road nature of the Final Edition package.
  
• Things that reviewer Baker disliked is the diluted ‘45’ spec that Australia got as TT’s farewell specification and that the rumoured electric four-door TT reinvention won’t compensate fittingly for the loss of the ICE sports car breed.
  
• Baker concluded that many petrolheads will miss the TT now that it’s almost completely sold out and any budding owners will have a tough time finding any new examples in an Audi showroom right now. 

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Thursday 11th July at 4.30pm Sydney time.