The second-generation BMW 4 Series Coupé has finished its final rounds of testing and is now in front of us with its rather large kidney grille, which is almost as large as the one on the Concept 4 that we saw in 2019. It is almost as if the designers are saying “love it or hate it, you just have to take it”.
The reason for that enormous grille, I believe, is probably to give the 4 Series its own unique look/character, since all BMWs look the same from a distance. If that’s the case, I think they’ve achieved it here. There’s no mistaking the 4 Series for anything else on the road. You’ll either run towards it or run away from it.
Anyway, the new 4 Series is based on the same platform as the G20 3 Series. At 4,768 mm, the new car is 128 mm longer than its predecessor and 27 mm wider measuring 1,852 mm. The wheelbase has grown by 41 mm to 2,851 mm and so is the height by 6 mm to 1,383 mm. Increased track widths (+28 mm at the front and +18 mm at the rear) contribute to the muscular stature of the new 4 Series Coupe.
The large vertical intakes on the bumper, an almost completely sealed underbody and an improved air flap control, all have contributed to the low drag coefficient figure of 0.25 Cd.
Perhaps the best angle to look at the car is from the rear-end or the rear three-quarter. As standard, the new 4 Series Coupe rides on 17-inch light-alloy wheels, while the M440i xDrive and M440d xDrive variants get 18-inch M light-alloy wheels. Up to 20-inch light-alloy wheels are available in the options list. The photos here also feature the 440i variant (white) with M Performance Parts.
Full-LED headlights are standard with two U-shaped fibreoptic light guides that serve as running lights. Turn signals come in the form of three glass blades at the outer edge of the headlight housing. The right one in the above photos is the optional Adaptive LED headlights with BMW Laserlight technology that has a maximum high beam range of up to 550 metres. In the latter, the outer DRL element doubles as a turn signal.
As with all BMWs these days, the interior layout feels very familiar with great build and quality materials; nothing unusual or enormous here. Feature list includes all the usual stuff that you’d expect from a modern BMW, including the standard Live Cockpit Plus comprising an 8.8-inch infotainment screen with a Touch Controller and a 5.1-inch digital instrument cluster. Buyers can go for the optional Live Cockpit Professional with large screens measuring 12.3-inches and 10.25-inches, respectively.
Other features include Intelligent Personal Assistant, optional Head-Up Display and the optional 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
There’s a big list of safety and driver assistance systems too, standard and optional, including Front Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Driving Assistant Professional, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, and Parking Assistant Plus. Detailed information here.
The standard suspension with bespoke spring and damper configuration lowers the ride height by 10 mm (8 mm on xDrive models) compared with the 3 Series Sedan. The optional M Sport suspension (standard on M440i xDrive and M440d xDrive) includes even stiffer settings for lift-related damping along with a kinematic and elastokinematic setup focused on dynamic handling. That means additional body struts, more rigid mounts, firmer anti-roll bars and a higher degree of negative wheel camber, BMW said.
Another option for the buyers is the Adaptive M suspension that combines M Sport suspension with electronically controlled dampers. The variable sport steering is also part of the M Sport suspension and Adaptive M suspension setups. The 440 variants also get the M Sport differential at the rear, which is available as an option on the 430 variants.
Powertrains
Moving on to the business end of the story, the variants initially will be the 420i, 430i, M440i xDrive, 420d, 420d xDrive, 430d xDrive, and M440d xDrive. Except for the first two variants which pack a 2.0L petrol engine, the rest of the variants get a 48-volt mild-hybrid system.
The M440i xDrive is the powerful one among the petrol variants, packing a 3.0-litre (2,998 cc) in-line 6-cylinder turbocharged unit, producing 275 kW (374 hp) between 5500–6500 rpm and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque between 1900–5000 rpm. This variant is claimed to sprint from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.5 seconds.
On the diesel side, the M440d xDrive also packs a 3.0-litre (2,993 cc) in-line 6-cylinder turbocharged unit, producing 250 kW (340 hp) at 4400 rpm and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque between 1750–2250 rpm. This variant takes 4.7 seconds to sprint from 0-100 km/h (62 mph).
All engines are paired with an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission.
Just like the ‘EQ Boost’ in Mercedes-Benz cars, the mild-hybrid system here delivers an electric boost of 8 kW (11 hp) when the car is accelerating.
Depending on the market, the new 4 Series Coupé will be available from October 2020.
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