Another day, another BMW launch. The German automaker is clearly on a roll lately. The brand has finally introduced the all-new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé on June 9. The series is the seventh release by BMW in the span of just 8 days. Yep, it all began on June 2 with the all-electric i4 and iX, followed by the downpour of June 9, when not one or two but five cars got unveiled. From X3, X4 to their M derivatives – the X3 M and X4 M all made their world debut alongside the new 4 Series Gran Coupé. (What’s with the ‘9.6’ date BMW?).
But don’t we already have a BMW 4 Series Coupe? Well, I get it, if this barrage isn’t enough to confuse you, the naming scheme surely is. Anyways we got you totally covered. See it’s not the regular BMW 4 Series Coupe, it’s the ‘Gran’ Coupe. It means it’s the four-door version of the 4 Series Coupe which is the two-door version of the 3 Series sedan (All BMW models with the even Series nomenclature have a Gran Coupe iteration). Okay so now that you’re clear that it’s not the Coupe but the ‘Gran Coupe’, let’s figure out what the latter has different from the former.
The all-new BMW offering is the second generation of the 4 Series Gran Coupe and joins the 4 Series Convertible and the 4 Coupe in the 4’s line-up. The German automaker has also lined up an M Version of it for the future, dubbed as M4 Gran Coupé.
In terms of exterior looks, the new 4 Series Gran Coupe (GC) is based on the current 4 Coupe. However, unlike the previous-generation 4 Series GC, both of them stands out significantly from their base sibling, the G20 3 Series sedan.
With a measurement of 4783 x 1852 x 1442mm, the new 4 Grand Coupe is 142mm longer, 25mm wider and 53mm taller than its first-gen model. The wheelbase is also 46mm longer than the predecessor and 5mm more than the 3 Series sedan. Overall, it gets 470 litres of boot space under its liftback tailgate, which is expandable up to 1290 litres by folding down the sections of the rear backrest, with its standard 40-20-40 split.
BMW claims a 50:50 weight distribution for the 4 Series Gran Coupe. And like the other 4 Series models, the Gran Coupé also features lift-related dampers to control body movement and mode-specific variable sport steering. There’s an electronically controlled rear differential standard on the M440i and optional on the 430i.
The 4 Series Gran Coupé is based on the same CLAR platform as the i4 and 4 Series Coupé and shares a similar aerodynamically design, including an active air flap control system and an almost sealed underbody. All these assures the new 4 Series GC’s enhanced handling compared to its predecessor.
Design-wise the 4 Gran Coupe looks mostly similar to the standard 4 Coupe. The most noticeable of which is the infamous large kidney grille which is flanked by the sharper, sleek and distinct-looking LED headlamps. Sitting below the lights are the massive air curtains on the sharp front bumper enhancing the looks of the muscular bonnet which is sculpted with angular lines.
On the side, the sloping roofline of the new 4 door Coupe is designed differently from its 2 door sibling to accommodate the rear door but it still slants down sharply and merges seamlessly with the angular rear, looking attractive from the rear three quarters.
The rear has sporty elements like a black diffuser housing twin chrome exhaust tips, wraparound taillights and a slim ducktail spoiler. There’s a choice of 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels with various other chassis tweaks under the skin. Well, minus the massive radiator grille upfront, this is one beautiful looking machine. Well I hate to admit, but the big kidney design has started to grow on me. Anyone else?
Coming on the inside, you’ll be greeted with a familiar cabin as the interior of the new 4 Series Gran Coupe is near-identical to that of the 3 Series sedan and the 4 Coupe. While the front row reminds of its coupe sibling’s with the standard sport seats and sport leather steering wheel, the second row does not seem much different than the 3 Series sedan.
The standard dashboard layout includes an 8.8-inch touchscreen for the infotainment and a 5.1-inch colour display in the instrument cluster, both powered by BMW’s iDrive operating system. There’s also an optional layout featuring a high-resolution 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen as the infotainment system.
Other optional equipment includes heated and ventilated seats, a large panoramic sunroof, a Harman Kardon sound system. BMW is also offering a list of optional equipment that provides extensive scope for individualisation like leather option varying from Vernasca to Sensatec.
The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé will come with three petrol and two diesel powertrains with mild-hybrid technology. All engine options come mated with an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission as standard.
The range-topper M440i xDrive uses a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit that churns out 374hp and 500Nm of torque. It has a 0-100kph sprint time of 4.7sec, while the claimed top speed is 250kph.
The other two petrol variants, the 420i and 430i both use a four-cylinder 2.0-litre unit producing 184hp and 245hp, respectively. While the 420i can achieve 0-100kph in 7.9secs, the 430i can do the same in 6.2secs.
The diesel lineup includes the 420d which comes as a rear-wheel-drive model or an xDrive all-wheel-drive model. Both variants generate a max output of 187bhp with the 2.0-litre four-cylinder powertrain.
BMW will also offer the M Sport Pro trim packages for each engine variant, adding 19-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, M Sport seatbelts and adaptive suspension. It will also offer a range of drive pre-set modes, along with an adaptive setting that adapts to suit the current driving style. M Sport Pro cars also gain M Sport performance brakes that use a different set-up with four-piston fixed callipers at the front and single-piston floating callipers at the rear. A range of other M Performance Parts will also be offered.
The 4 Series Gran Coupe will be built at the same Munich plant as the i4, 3 Series sedan and Touring, and is scheduled to arrive on the market in November 2021. However, an India launch is still not confirmed by the brand.
The German automaker has already launched a range of cars in the Indian market this year including the 3 Series Gran Limousine, the M340i, the 2 Series Gran Coupe (petrol version) and the facelifted 6 Series GT. BMW India is also expected to debut the 5 Series facelift, the updated X3 and X4, as well as the new M3 and M4 in 2021.
