Bold design for Munich’s new four seat Coupe
The new BMW 4 Series Coupe has been revealed with Dramatic styling along with improved dynamic performance. The new styling differentiates two-door coupé further from the related 3 Series Saloon with sportier chassis and ‘emotional’ design.
The second-generation 4 Series is available for sale in October with a top of the range M440i xDrive producing 369bhp and 369lb ft from a 48V mild-hybrid 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo petrol engine. Capable of 0-62mph in 4.5sec, a top speed of 155mph and fuel economy of 39.8 to 41.5mpg, this will be the fastest model before the M4 follows late next year. A convertible and four door Gran Coupe are also in the works, with an i4 electric saloon due in 2021 with 523bhp.
The 4 Series is based on the same CLAR platform as the latest 3 Series, but BMW has considerably revamped the design of the Coupe. It features a sleek side outline with bold surfaces, and narrow full-LED lights front and rear. The most recognisable feature though, is the large front grille, a more vertically stretched kidney grille signature of classic BMW’s, the new grille is intended to make the 4 series look “more emotional”, BMW desired a kidney grille with a strong connection to their heritage, but something that shouldn’t look like any BMW previously and shouldn’t look like any other car on the road.
The 4 Series is 128mm longer than its ancestor at 4768mm, with its wheelbase enlarged by 41mm to 2851mm, while the coupé is just 27mm wider than before (at 1852mm) and 6mm taller (at 1383mm), its track has been increased by 28mm at the front and 18mm at the rear. Alloy wheel sizes range from 18in to 20in.
The new coupe will go on sale with three petrol engines, two 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol’s, a 420i with 181bhp and a 430i with 254bhp, and the already mentioned M440i, and one diesel, the 420d, a 48V mild-hybrid 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel with 187bhp, fuel economy of between 67.3 and 72.4mpg. Mild-hybrid six-cylinder diesels, the 430d and M440d are due next march producing 282bhp and 335bhp respectively.
All engines are driven through an eight-speed automatic gearbox, while M Sport models feature a Sport box that’s optional on other models, along with speedier changes, this brings launch control and a new driving mode named Sprint. Rear-wheel drive is standard except on the M440i, 430d and M440d, four-wheel drive is also optional on the 430i and 420d.
BMW has laboured to decrease load on the CLAR platform done by a mixed steel-and-alloy construction and enlarged usage of aluminium panels, the chassis has also been tweaked from the 3 Series on which it’s based. The 4 Series sits 10mm lower than the 3 Series, and BMW claims a 50:50 weight distribution, an nearly fully sealed underbody, new air flaps and other modifications have also reduced drag. Stiffening measures on the body and suspension mountings have also been introduced, accompanied by a double-jointed spring-strut front suspension and a five-link rear axle. Lift-related dampers are used to reduce body movement and improve cornering ability aimed at putting a focus on the handling dynamics of the 4 Series. The optional Adaptive M set-up features electronically controlled dampers, along with variable-ratio steering.
The 4 Series interior cabin features the recognisable BMW design from the 3 series, with a revised design comprising of the start button in the centre console alongside a restructured drive selector. The latest BMW iDrive infotainment system, and a new, larger head-up display optional. There are also new sports seats as standard. The 4 Series will be the first car to offer BMW’s M Sport Pro package, which adds the Sport gearbox, a “sporting engine soundtrack” in Sport mode, M Sport brakes and new design trim, among other extras.
Prices start from £39,870 for the 420i M Sport and rise to £53,875 for the M440i.