From the X6 to the controversial 5-Series GT, BMW has been exploring new territories for a few years now, and continuing this legacy is the 2-Series Gran Coupe.

Essentially a more stylish looking version of the new 1-Series family, it celebrates its public premiere at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show and will launch in our market in two versions, called the 228i xDrive and M235i xDrive.

Comparison: BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe Vs. Mercedes CLA Coupe: Design, Performance, Interior And Tech

The latter, which is showcased at LA, gets a 301 hp and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque 2.0-liter turbo-four, matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. It does the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.7 seconds as standard, or 4.6 sec with the optional M Performance Package, and maxes out at 155 mph (250 km/h).

The 228i xDrive on the other hand has 228 hp and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque from the 2.0-liter turbo-four, connected to an eight-speed auto and AWD. From 0 to 60 mph (0-96 km/h) it needs 6.0 seconds, and tops out at 130 mph (209 km/h) on all-season tires, or 151 mph (243 km/h) with performance rubber.

Not to be confused with the rear-wheel drive 2-Series Coupe and Convertible, the 2-Series Gran Coupe builds on the front-wheel drive-biased platform shared with the 2-Series Active and Gran Tourers, X1, X2 and a few MINIs. Its main rival is the Mercedes-Benz CLA, which has a starting price of $36,650.

We expect BMW’s smallest sports sedan to cost about the same in the entry-level variant, whereas the M235i xDrive should set you back for at least $40,000.