The new BMW 4 Series Coupé

BMW will unveil the latest coupé to join its range at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the new BMW 4 Series Coupé. The sporty and athletic two-door model will be available with a choice of rear-wheel-drive or xDrive, all-wheel-drive.  On sale in the UK from 5 October 2013, it will initially be available with a choice of three engines, with three more to follow soon after launch.

The new BMW 4 Series Coupé delivers driving enjoyment alongside the efficiency that has become synonymous with the brand, thanks to the raft of EfficientDynamics technologies standard on every vehicle. The innovative Drive Performance Control, which allows owners to tailor the car’s driving characteristics, offers extra flexibility as standard.

Five trim levels – SE, Sport, Modern, Luxury and M Sport – provide extensive equipment upgrades over the outgoing car, while still allowing full scope for personalisation. Prices start from £31,575 for the BMW 420d SE Coupé.

* electronically limited. Figures in brackets refer to eight-speed automatic transmission.

Stand-alone design hints at increased driving pleasure
BMW’s fourth-generation sporty, mid-sized coupé has dynamic proportions which differ significantly from those of the 3 Series Coupé. The new car has a 50mm longer wheelbase within an overall length increase of 26mm. It is 43mm wider, with track widths expanded by 45mm at the front and 81mm at the rear. For the first time in a mid-sized BMW coupé, the wheel arches are the widest point of the car. The roofline is 16mm lower, and as a result of lowered suspension on all models the 4 Series Coupé has the lowest centre of gravity of any current BMW.

The typical BMW coupé design elements of short overhangs, a long bonnet, a set-back passenger compartment, shallow frameless side windows leading into the signature Hofmeister kink on each C-pillar and a flowing roofline, result in a dynamic and stretched silhouette.

The slightly forward-leaning double kidney grille and twin round circular headlights make the new 4 Series Coupé instantly recognisable as a BMW.  It’s given a sporty edge with precise contours and surfaces and a large lower air intake, which accentuates the car’s width. Xenon headlights are standard, while Adaptive Headlights and – for the first time in this segment – Adaptive LED Headlights are optionally available. The rear also emphasises the increased track width through prominent horizontal lines and stretched L-shaped LED taillights on the outer extremes of the car.

The interior demonstrates the sporting intent of the 4 Series Coupé through its layered surfaces, driver-focused control layout, clear instruments with black-panel display, Sport multi-function leather steering wheel and free-standing 6.5-inch iDrive control display. There are automatic seatbelt feeders for the front occupants, while the rear bench has been designed with moulded side supports and recessed head restraints to look like two individual seats.                  

A wider stance and lower centre of gravity for even more finely honed handling
With a wide track and low centre of gravity, allied to the familiar BMW 50:50 weight distribution, the new BMW 4 Series Coupé is one of the sportiest models in the BMW portfolio.

It sits 10mm closer to the ground than the 3 Series Saloon, bringing its centre of gravity down to below 500mm – the lowest level of any current BMW. The springs and dampers, camber angle and the responses of both axles have been uniquely tuned to ensure the 4 Series is agile and engaging to drive. Adjustments have been made to the rear axle to ensure even more precise wheel location.  Strengthening elements in the front section, which is 60 per cent stiffer than that of the 3 Series Coupé, have honed the precision and feel of the standard Servotronic steering.

Six TwinPower Turbo engines, optional eight-speed automatic transmission and xDrive
The new BMW 4 Series Coupé will initially be available with a choice of three BMW TwinPower Turbo engines, supplemented by three further TwinPower Turbo engines within a month of launch. An eight-speed Sport automatic transmission will become available on every model at the same time (standard on the 430d and 435d xDrive), while xDrive will also be offered on the 420d and 420i.

Every engine already meets the EU6 emissions regulations, not due to become mandatory for more than a year.  A standard suite of BMW EfficientDynamics technologies ensure that driving enjoyment is not at the expense of high running costs and excessive emissions.

The three engines available from launch - the 2.0-litre four-cylinder 428i petrol unit and 420d turbo-diesel, and the 3.0-litre six-cylinder 435i - are all direct-injection turbocharged engines delivering exceptional torque from low revs with instantaneous power and the utmost refinement. The 400Nm maximum torque of the 306hp 435i is available uninterrupted from 1,200rpm to 5,000rpm, aided by a combination of VALVETRONIC variable valve control and Twin-Scroll turbocharging. The same combination, along with Double-VANOS variable camshaft control, appears in the 245hp 428i, which maintains its maximum 350Nm from 1,250rpm to 4,800rpm. While the 184hp 420d offers 380Nm of torque, accessible from 1,750rpm to 2,750rpm.

The standard six-speed manual gearbox is characterised by a short shift action and an optimum spread of ratios, allowing drivers to exploit the power and torque of the TwinPower Turbo engines with the maximum efficiency. All versions will be available with an optional eight-speed Sport automatic transmission which includes a Launch Control function and manual shifting via steering wheel-mounted paddles. In every case, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are lower for the automatic model – down to only121g/km in the case of the 420d.

The three additional engines due to go into production in November 2013 are the 184hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder 420i and two 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesels – the 258hp 430d and the most powerful 4 Series model, the 313hp 435d. Both six-cylinder diesels come as standard with the eight-speed Sport automatic transmission, while the 435d is only available with the xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system.

The BMW 4 Series Coupé in the UK
The new 4 Series Coupé will offer a significantly higher standard specification than the model it replaces. 

As standard the 4 Series Coupé is fitted with front and rear parking sensors, heated front seats, Servotronic steering, a Sport multi-function leather steering wheel and Xenon headlights.  DAB radio, Dakota leather upholstery, Two-zone air conditioning, Cruise control, Bluetooth, USB, Comfort Go, Drive Performance Control, iDrive Controller, 6.5-inch free-standing colour screen and automatic lights, wipers and boot opening complete the standard specification of all models across the range.  Six-cylinder models also feature electric front seats and metallic paintwork as standard.

The Drive Performance Control switch allows owners to adapt the car’s set-up for a particularly sporty or exceptionally economical driving style. It includes ECO PRO, COMFORT and SPORT modes. Sport and M Sport versions add an even more dynamic SPORT+ programme to the repertoire.       

All versions of the 4 Series Coupé in the UK, except the SE, will also have 18-inch light-alloy wheels and Sport seats as standard, while Luxury and M Sport variants additionally come with the BMW Business Media package (which includes BMW Business Navigation, BMW Emergency Call and the BMW TeleServices remote diagnostic system). M Sport versions will also include M Sport suspension, a three-spoke M Sport leather steering wheel, Aluminium interior trim, M Sport light-alloy wheels and M aerodynamic body-styling kit.  Adaptive M Sport suspension, with electronically variable damping which can also be adjusted through the Drive Performance Control, is optionally available on all models.

EfficientDynamics: sportiness with a sense of responsibility
Every 4 Series Coupé is equipped with a suite of EfficientDynamics technologies to ensure maximum driving pleasure does not mean high fuel consumption, CO2 emissions or running costs. With lightweight design, sleek aerodynamics and highly efficient power units, it also encompasses intelligent features to help the driver maximise fuel economy.

The Air Breathers and Aero Curtains located, respectively, behind and ahead of the front wheel arches play an important role in the improved aerodynamics of the 4 Series Coupé by reducing turbulence, and therefore drag, in the area around the front wheels.

Other EfficientDynamics technologies include Auto Start-Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration, Electric Power Steering and ECO PRO mode.

ConnectedDrive keeps the 4 Series driver in touch with the outside world
The BMW 4 Series driver and passengers can remain in touch with the outside world thanks to the innovative features included in the optional ConnectedDrive media packages. These include the latest BMW Professional Multimedia Navigation system, Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI), Head-up Display, Driving Assistant, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Lane change warning system, glare-free High-beam Assistant, Park Assist and Dynamic Safety. Collectively, these help to keep the driver more alert, reducing the possibility of accidents and minimising the consequences should one occur.

BMW Professional Multimedia Navigation now includes enhanced 3D graphics, greater functionality, a new iDrive Touch Controller for writing text and a movable cursor in the interactive map. In conjunction with RTTI it can identify possible delays on the route ahead and divert the car around them.

The Driving Assistant option uses a camera mounted in the rear-view mirror to detect a possible collision, alerting the driver and initiating autonomous braking if necessary. The same camera is also used by the Active Cruise Control to maintain the gap between the 4 Series and the vehicle ahead, alerting the driver if the car ahead brakes suddenly. The Lane change and Lane departure warning systems also use a camera and radar sensors to warn the driver of a potential collision when changing lanes.

Park Assist and Surround-view now offer drivers surround, side or overhead views of the area around the car when manoeuvring, while Dynamic Safety monitors the driver’s behaviour and issues warnings if there are signs of fatigue. The glare-free High-beam Assistant allows main beam to be left on without blinding oncoming traffic or drivers immediately ahead by masking only those parts of the light pattern which would cause glare. This gives the 4 Series Coupé driver maximum night vision at all times.

The latest infotainment services include full speech recognition and voice control with, a dictation function, text-to-speech, web radio, social networking, Google Maps and remote locking or unlocking of the car via the free BMW Remote App.

The BMW 4 Series Coupé goes on sales in the UK on 5 October, 2013 priced from £31,575 OTR for a BMW 420d SE Coupé.

Ends

The BMW Group

The BMW Group is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI, Husqvarna Motorcycles and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 29 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2012, the BMW Group sold about 1.85 million cars and more than 117,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2011 was euro 7.38 billion on revenues amounting to euro 68.82 billion. At 31 December 2011, the BMW Group had a workforce of approximately 100,000 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last eight years.

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