Photo: BMW
There’s basically been no dull month at BMW’s press office, as that’s about as often as they unveil a new car. February’s big debut is this, the 4 Series Gran Coupe. We’ve been tracking its development and while having taken the 3er sedan, chopping two doors and adding them back on again didn’t make any sense at the time, it does now.
There are a number of reasons why we say that. For starters, the F30 3 Series had a bit of “ugly” in its genes. It wasn’t a lot, but its younger sister, which took BMW two years more to conceive, is much sweeter-looking. This is especially true if you go for the optional M Sport package. The profile looks a little bit slimmer and sexier, there’s more character and detail. Think of the 4 Series Gran Coupe as comparing Kylie Minogue and her sister Danny.
BMW are also giving you choices when it comes to the look of the car. There’s the Luxury line, which is a subtle evening dress, the Sport, which is Kylie Minogue dressed to go to the club, and the M Sport, which is Kylie Minogue dressed for a music video.
Before we go off on a tangent talking about siblings, let us tell you that the 4 Series Gran Coupe is a liftback, not a sedan. This means you can stuff large items much more easily into the trunk of the car. The 3 Series Gran Turismo has that as well, but this is a svelte little sportscar. Speaking of proportions, the four-door coupe is 4,63 8mm (182.6 inches) long, 1,825 mm (71.9 inches) wide and 1,389 mm (54.7 inches) tall. This makes it 14 mm longer but crucially 40 mm lower than the 3 Series sedan.
Five engines will be available with the car. The base petrol is a 2-liter turbo fitted to the 420i model. It produces 184 HP and 270 Nm (200 lb-ft) of torque, good for 0 to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds with a manual or 7.6 with the automatic. More power can be expected from the 428i model, which produces 245 hp and 350 Nm of torque, taking the car to 100 km/h in just 6 seconds with an automatic. Finally, there’s the most powerful petrol unit, the 435i, which makes 306 HP and 400 Nm (300 lb-ft) of torque from its 3-liter inline-six turbo. You can expect to reach 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds if you also opt for the automatic gearbox.
BMW is providing diesel buyers with two choices, both 2-liter units. The base 418d makes 143 HP and 320 Nm of torque. You buy this one only because it averages 4.5 l/100km, because with a sprint time of 9.2 seconds it’s about as slow as an average hatchback. The 420d Gran Coupe is a little better, reaching 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds with a manual or 7.5 with an auto.
Further changes to the engine range are to come if the demand is there. However, the one we’re interested in is the M4 Gran Coupe, fitted with the same mill as the one in the M3 and M4 Coupe. A powerful diesel such as 435d is also conspicuously mission from the car, especially since it’s got that grand tourer look about it.
We know the 4 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t look like a winner now, but in a year or so we’ll be laughing at 3 Series owners for marrying the wrong sister buying the wrong car.
BMW are also giving you choices when it comes to the look of the car. There’s the Luxury line, which is a subtle evening dress, the Sport, which is Kylie Minogue dressed to go to the club, and the M Sport, which is Kylie Minogue dressed for a music video.
Before we go off on a tangent talking about siblings, let us tell you that the 4 Series Gran Coupe is a liftback, not a sedan. This means you can stuff large items much more easily into the trunk of the car. The 3 Series Gran Turismo has that as well, but this is a svelte little sportscar. Speaking of proportions, the four-door coupe is 4,63 8mm (182.6 inches) long, 1,825 mm (71.9 inches) wide and 1,389 mm (54.7 inches) tall. This makes it 14 mm longer but crucially 40 mm lower than the 3 Series sedan.
Five engines will be available with the car. The base petrol is a 2-liter turbo fitted to the 420i model. It produces 184 HP and 270 Nm (200 lb-ft) of torque, good for 0 to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds with a manual or 7.6 with the automatic. More power can be expected from the 428i model, which produces 245 hp and 350 Nm of torque, taking the car to 100 km/h in just 6 seconds with an automatic. Finally, there’s the most powerful petrol unit, the 435i, which makes 306 HP and 400 Nm (300 lb-ft) of torque from its 3-liter inline-six turbo. You can expect to reach 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds if you also opt for the automatic gearbox.
BMW is providing diesel buyers with two choices, both 2-liter units. The base 418d makes 143 HP and 320 Nm of torque. You buy this one only because it averages 4.5 l/100km, because with a sprint time of 9.2 seconds it’s about as slow as an average hatchback. The 420d Gran Coupe is a little better, reaching 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds with a manual or 7.5 with an auto.
Further changes to the engine range are to come if the demand is there. However, the one we’re interested in is the M4 Gran Coupe, fitted with the same mill as the one in the M3 and M4 Coupe. A powerful diesel such as 435d is also conspicuously mission from the car, especially since it’s got that grand tourer look about it.
We know the 4 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t look like a winner now, but in a year or so we’ll be laughing at 3 Series owners for marrying the wrong sister buying the wrong car.
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