Background
BMW M235i DarwinPRO MTC Design BlackSails Widebody (F22) is based on the BMW M235i Coupé, one of the sportiest versions of the first-generation BMW 2 Series. The M235i reached the market in 2014 and was also the first Coupé in the BMW M Performance Automobile range. It was positioned between the regular 2 Series models and the later full BMW M2, combining the compact F22 body, a six-cylinder turbocharged engine and the traditional rear-wheel-drive BMW layout. The version carrying the DarwinPRO, MTC Design and BlackSails names took the visual concept much further, transforming the elegant compact coupé into a dramatically widened tuning project with an unmistakable show-car character.
Design and widebody conversion
The most striking feature of this version is its heavily widened bodywork. Extended front and rear wheel arches, deeper bumpers, larger air intakes, lower side skirts and a more aggressive rear section change the proportions considerably compared with the standard BMW M235i. DarwinPRO and MTC Design are known for carbon-fibre and composite aerodynamic components, and MTC Design also offers dedicated body parts for the F2X 2 Series and M235i. The widebody conversion emphasises the car’s low stance and large wheels, moving its appearance much closer to the world of exhibition and tuning cars than to a standard factory M Performance model.
BMW M235i technical basis
The technical starting point for the widebody project was the BMW M235i Coupé (F22). Its 2,979 cm³ N55 six-cylinder in-line engine used a twin-scroll turbocharger, direct injection, VALVETRONIC and Double-VANOS, and in standard factory specification produced 326 hp and 450 Nm of torque. In rear-wheel-drive form, the M235i could be ordered with either a six-speed manual gearbox or an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission. The manual version accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 5.0 seconds, while the automatic achieved the same sprint in around 4.8 seconds. Top speed was electronically limited to 250 km/h. An xDrive all-wheel-drive version was later added to the range. BMW positioned the M235i as a particularly sporting M Performance model with specially tuned suspension, upgraded brakes and distinctive aerodynamic details.
Between M Performance and BMW M
The BMW M235i was not a full BMW M model, but its technical specification placed it considerably above the regular 2 Series versions in terms of performance. The six-cylinder turbocharged engine, rear-wheel drive, M-specific chassis tuning and more powerful brakes made it one of the fastest compact BMWs of its time. The M235i also demonstrated the potential of the F22 platform, and it was followed by the BMW M2 (F87), which took the same compact coupé concept into the full BMW M range.
DarwinPRO, MTC Design and BlackSails
The DarwinPRO MTC Design BlackSails Widebody was not an official BMW factory special edition or a conventional limited-production model. Publicly available information documents it primarily as a widebody tuning project based on the M235i, and the same designation is also used for the scale models produced from it. Reliable information about how many real cars were built in this exact configuration, or whether the engine of the specific showcase car was modified beyond the factory 326 hp output, is not clearly documented. It is therefore most accurate to regard the car as a heavily modified BMW M235i with extensive visual and aerodynamic changes, without assuming unverified mechanical upgrades.
Significance
The BMW M235i DarwinPRO MTC Design BlackSails Widebody is a good example of how popular the F22 2 Series became within the tuning scene. The compact rear-wheel-drive coupé already offered a powerful six-cylinder engine and sporting chassis in factory form, making it a strong basis for much more radical projects. The widebody conversion completely transforms the visual character of the standard M235i while retaining its central idea – a small, powerful and driver-focused BMW coupé.
Model in the collection
The model in my collection was produced by GLM Models and represents the BMW M235i DarwinPRO MTC Design BlackSails Widebody. It was produced in a limited edition of only 109 examples. Each model is individually numbered, and the example in my collection is numbered 44/109.
Technical data in brief
Base model: BMW M235i Coupé (F22)
BMW M235i production period: 2014–2016
Body style: two-door Coupé / widebody
Engine: 2,979 cm³ N55 turbocharged six-cylinder in-line engine
Factory power of the BMW M235i: 326 hp
Factory torque of the BMW M235i: 450 Nm
Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive; xDrive was later also available for the M235i
Gearbox: 6-speed manual or 8-speed Steptronic Sport
0–100 km/h: 5.0 s with manual gearbox / 4.8 s with automatic transmission
Top speed: 250 km/h, electronically limited
Body conversion: DarwinPRO / MTC Design widebody
Real-car production number: unknown; not an official BMW series-production model
Special feature: a radically styled widebody tuning project based on the BMW M235i F22