Photo: RM.Design
It seems like the 4 Series Gran Coupe range won’t get an M model after all, a BMW official denying that the company is working on something like this at the launch of the M3 and M4 in New Zealand.
Jorg Bartels, BMW M Division’s Performance Sales Boss told Cars Guide that “it was definitely considered, but there is no plan to build an M4 Gran Coupe. Part of the reason is expected production volume, but also the 4 Series Gran Coupe is built in a different factory to both the 3 Series (sedan) and 4 Series (coupe), so there is a lot of challenges there.”
That’s just part of the reason why BMW decided not to built the M version of the newest 4-door coupe in the range. Another possible reason could be the structural resistance of the tailgate that might not allow the engineers to create car worthy of the M badge.
Unlike the 6 Series Gran Coupe that has a traditional boot at the back, the 4 Series has a tailgate, just like the Audi A5 Sportback. The decision to go with such a design surprised many people when BMW took the veils off their new model.
That’s because, everyone expected it to follow in the footsteps of the original Gran Coupe but also because in this configuration, the 4er is no longer a 4-door coupe but rather a 5-door coupe. Technically.
Another reason could be further cannibalization of M3 sales. If you want a performance, mid-size sedan you have the M3 at your disposal. Creating the M4 Gran Coupe would eat into the sales of this iconic model even more, after the 2-door M4 Coupe did the same.
Going even further, one could even say that with Audi not offering an RS5 Sportback model, BMW doesn’t see fit to challenge such a niche alone, at least for now. While some would take this as a seriously possible reason, we’d rather steer off as BMW was never afraid to challenge new segments and niches alone in the past and there’s definitely no reason to do so right now.
Unfortunately, that’s the news coming in from Munich and people wanting a car with the S55 engine under the bonnet will have to limit themselves to the M3 and M4 Coupe for now.
That’s just part of the reason why BMW decided not to built the M version of the newest 4-door coupe in the range. Another possible reason could be the structural resistance of the tailgate that might not allow the engineers to create car worthy of the M badge.
Unlike the 6 Series Gran Coupe that has a traditional boot at the back, the 4 Series has a tailgate, just like the Audi A5 Sportback. The decision to go with such a design surprised many people when BMW took the veils off their new model.
That’s because, everyone expected it to follow in the footsteps of the original Gran Coupe but also because in this configuration, the 4er is no longer a 4-door coupe but rather a 5-door coupe. Technically.
Another reason could be further cannibalization of M3 sales. If you want a performance, mid-size sedan you have the M3 at your disposal. Creating the M4 Gran Coupe would eat into the sales of this iconic model even more, after the 2-door M4 Coupe did the same.
Going even further, one could even say that with Audi not offering an RS5 Sportback model, BMW doesn’t see fit to challenge such a niche alone, at least for now. While some would take this as a seriously possible reason, we’d rather steer off as BMW was never afraid to challenge new segments and niches alone in the past and there’s definitely no reason to do so right now.
Unfortunately, that’s the news coming in from Munich and people wanting a car with the S55 engine under the bonnet will have to limit themselves to the M3 and M4 Coupe for now.
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