BMW 4-Series model watch

German car maker lines up three stylish coupes to suit all tastes.

Drive Team

23:3421 July 2013

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BMW 4-Series model watch

The unfamiliar badging is mildly confusing, but the head-turning first-ever BMW 4-Series range is heading Down Under to replace the now redundant 3-Series Coupe.

The new stand-alone 4-Series Coupe goes on sale in Australia in October initially with a choice of three turbo engines – the diesel 420d, and two petrol variants, the 428i and 435i. All three are high-tech units proven in the recent past in other BMW models, including the 3 Series.

Noticeably larger than the old 3-Series Coupe in length (28mm) and wheelbase (up 50mm to 2810mm), and sitting lower to the road at 130mm, the 4’s styling isn’t as obviously derivative of the 3-Series sedan although there are many similarities

The silhouette of the new coupe, squatting on a wider track with its BMW-typical short overhangs and long bonnet, is a sleek, well-balanced eye pleaser with presence. From front and rear it has very much its own styling features. The coefficient of drag is a slippery 0.28.

Particularly fetching is the closer, stronger link between the headlights (LED will be standard on the range topper) and the signature BMW kidney grille.

To reiterate, all three engines at launch are from BMW’s TwinPower turbo family: the six-cylinder in-line 3.0-litre petrol engine in the BMW 435i Coupe, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol unit for the BMW 428i Coupe and the 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel for the BMW 420d Coupe.

The range-topping 435i petrol model produces a sparkling 225kW/400Nm, but is also good for a thrifty combined city/highway fuel economy of 7.2litres/100km.

The four-cylinder petrol 428i of 180kW/350Nm, is also easy on fuel - 6.3litres/100km.

The 420d is a four-cylinder common-rail direct-injection diesel with 135kW/380Nm, a 0-100km/h time of 7.5secs and excellent combined fuel usage of 4.6litres/100km.

Australian models will have a standard eight-speed auto, and electromechanical rack-and-pinion power steering with Servotronic function.

An optional Variable Sports Steering will also be available.

The cockpit-like cabin is a mix of sporty character and the swish design and premium ambience promised by BMW and intended to further set apart the 4 Series from its 3-Series Coupe predecessor, which ceased production last month (June 2013).

Standard technical gear includes DSC (stability control system which includes anti-lock brakes and traction control), cornering brake control, dynamic brake control, start-off assistant, auto stop/start, Brake Energy Regeneration and a fuel-saving ECO PRO mode.

The safety suite is loaded too with frontal and side airbags for driver and front passenger, head ‘bags front and rear, crash-activated head restraints up front, crash sensor and tyre defect indicator

The integration of smart phones is easy and there are other Bluetooth features including audio streaming and a dictation function with full-speech recognition. Standard are a 20Gb hard-drive for music storage and USB audio interface, cruise control with braking function (to hold your speeds downhill), dual-zone air conditioning, an auto seat-belt bringer, and real cow leather trim. Two cupholders are on the console, and each door has large bottle holders (which will take a one-litre container).

Run-flat tyres mean there’s no spare and the boot area is a utilitarian 445 litres in size.

Depending on model and equipment, the new BMW 4-Series Coupe tips the scales between 20 and 45kg less than its 3 Series predecessor, despite having grown significantly dimensionally, and the extra standard content. A choice of three optional equipment combinations – Modern, Luxury and Sport - and an M Sport package will appeal to those who like to expressively individualise the 4 Series inside and out.

The pricing gives any car a value perspective, and that’s the one thing we don’t have and won’t know until closer to the October launch. But given BMW’s move to give the coupe its own identity, a price rise is likely. Around $75,000 is a likely starting point, running to around $110,000.

Sometime next year the current trio will be joined by the powerhouse M4 and, yes, that nomenclature still sounds strange. Get used to it. The 3 Series, including the M3, will from now into the future, simply comprise four-door sedans and wagons, and the 4 Series, including the M4, will be two-door models.

BMW contends that the 4 Series will enjoy a higher positioning than the long-serving 3 Series, and we tend to believe that consumers sense the higher the number in the BMW world, the more desirable the car.

The 4 Series certainly seems to be a more serious rival for, and direct competitor to, the Mercedes E-Class Coupe.