Great minds think alike.

A funny thing happened one day at the BMW offices in Germany. The company’s product planning director and engine designer discovered they had made the exact same modification to their own personal cars: Each had installed a 2-litre engine in their BMW 1600-2 vehicles. Agreeing that the modification was magnificent, they lobbied the company to produce a consumer version. As fate would have it, an influential American importer had already been clamoring for a 2-litre sporting car for the U.S. market. The powers that be at BMW recognized the potential of this venture and signed off on what would become the famed 2002.

The styling is conservative, with clean lines and a no-nonsense interior. The cabin design is simple, efficient, and very businesslike, which is no surprise given the car’s origins as a simple sedan. But the allure of this car comes from its performance. A turbocharger was added to make this BMW’s first-ever turbocharged production vehicle. Never mind that the world was facing a looming oil crisis… The need for speed would not be denied. Quick off the line, the 2002 jumps to 60mph in six-and-a-half-seconds. Business in the cabin, party under the hood.

Supportive bucket seats carry the driver and front passenger, with a 3-person bench seat in the back. The trunk, a generous 15.9 cubic feet, is roomy enough for all your luggage, a couple of sets of golf clubs, or an entire weekend’s worth of party supplies from Costco. It’s a daily driver with the soul of a sprint car. Fast, fun, and functional – everything you could want in a sports sedan.