RE: 2020 BMW 4 Series spied!

RE: 2020 BMW 4 Series spied!

Thursday 18th July 2019

2020 BMW 4 Series spied!

G22 underpinnings and an M440i range-topper are due for the forthcoming two-door Bavarian



The next-generation BMW 4 Series will be given a sporting makeover when it arrives in July 2020, as suggested by two lightly disguised development cars, which have been spied on top of a transporter in Germany. As far as we can see from the pairing, the G22-based coupe will get accentuated lines - emphasised by a sleeker nose and extended tailgate - to create a sort of scaled-down 8 Series silhouette and more substantially differentiate the two-door from its saloon sibling.

What lies beneath that new body, however, will be largely similar to the 3 Series, with that car’s G20 base lending aluminium and high strength steel segments and a pair of wider tracks, as well as double front wishbone and rear multi-line suspension. We’re familiar with the advantages of the new CLAR structure, which include higher structural rigidity and better efficiency of weight, because the effects have been clear in every version of the G20 saloon we’ve tested, from mid-rung 320d to M340i.



On that subject, much of the 3 Series engine line-up will be carried over, with a punchy turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel likely to continue as the strongest seller in Europe and an all-new M440i, powered by BMW’s 3.0-litre inline six petrol, providing the highest performance this side of the following M4. In the 3, the straight-six has 374hp and 369lb ft of torque, so expect the same for this car, which will also be xDrive only like the saloon. While that seems like an odd decision for a hot variant like this, BMW might want to leave the M3/M4 pairing with some dynamic breathing space from a cheaper, though not much slower, M440i.

If the G20 is anything to go by, the best handling 4 Series will be those equipped with adaptive damping; the 3 Series benefits substantially from this adjustable hardware by being both comfortable and keen on a technical road. Although the option of adaptive steering will probably remain one to pass on for PHers, with BMW’s electric system still not having any feel in reserve to give away. There’ll also be automatic eight-speed and six-speed manual gearboxes for the range, with an M Sport differential there as an option.


The rest of the 4 Series setup will be largely identical to that of the 3, with the same new-gen infotainment system inside top trim cars, giving them the voice-controllable BMW 7.0 operating system complete with a central display and digital instrument cluster. It’s a setup that’s second only to Audi’s Virtual Cockpit – but the 4 Series could, arguably, claw back any lost ground with its sleeker exterior design and more sporting demeanour. That its coupe lines look to be emphasised further in the next-generation might significantly boost its appeal, a job which a 510hp M4 halo would only go further towards completing... 




Author
Discussion

richboycoleman

Original Poster:

5 posts

68 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
Who cares...another platform creation to fill a market slot that doesnt really exist. BORING!

cowboyengineer

1,410 posts

113 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
Not sure the coupe is a niche. Pretty standard in the last couple of decades.

Not sure you’ve heard of the m3

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
richboycoleman said:
Who cares...another platform creation to fill a market slot that doesnt really exist. BORING!
Just as well you only post twice a year - this place is bad enough without ill informed fools like you. 3 or 4-series coupe has been around for a long time and sells well, in a market 'slot' that very much does exist.

9k rpm

515 posts

209 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
richboycoleman said:
Who cares...another platform creation to fill a market slot that doesnt really exist. BORING!
Yes they’ve only sold just over 300k 4 series BMWs since launch clearly a market slot that doesn’t exist.
rolleyes

School holidays are here I see......

toon10

6,140 posts

156 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
Ignoring the first stupid comment, I'm looking forward to see how this will look. I've been looking at options when my m lite goes back next year. I love the 4 series as I'm after something a little bigger but don't really need the practicality of a 3 series. It will be interesting to see how the new car will affect prices of the outgoing model as despite being around for some time, I don't think it's dated too much and would be happy to pick up the current 440i if the deals are right.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
toon10 said:
Ignoring the first stupid comment, I'm looking forward to see how this will look. I've been looking at options when my m lite goes back next year. I love the 4 series as I'm after something a little bigger but don't really need the practicality of a 3 series. It will be interesting to see how the new car will affect prices of the outgoing model as despite being around for some time, I don't think it's dated too much and would be happy to pick up the current 440i if the deals are right.
There will be some absolutely cracking deals in Q2 next year - they're a year away from model launch and you can get huge discounts now - I enjoyed 20%+ discount against my previous 440i Cabrio and the (bought Nov 2018) M4 Competition I'm driving now. Best deals in the UK will be right after plate change in March, when there's still enough stock in the supply chain to motivate BMW UK and dealers to shift the metal.

E65Ross

34,946 posts

211 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
richboycoleman said:
Who cares...another platform creation to fill a market slot that doesnt really exist. BORING!
Market slot that doesn't exist? 4 seater coupes have been around for decades, and selling well rofl What planet are you from?!

cerb4.5lee

30,189 posts

179 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
toon10 said:
I'm looking forward to see how this will look.
Same here. I think the current 4 series is a nice looking thing and I've toyed many times with getting one. I really like the new 3 series so I'm expecting to really like this new 4 series too.

toon10

6,140 posts

156 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
Same here. I think the current 4 series is a nice looking thing and I've toyed many times with getting one. I really like the new 3 series so I'm expecting to really like this new 4 series too.
I think the 4 series is the nicest looking car in the current BMW range although I'm not taken with the 8 series. It looked great in pictures but less so in the metal. On a smaller profile like the 4 series, the look might be fantastic. Or it could just look like a smaller 8 and not be so good. Fingers crossed!

T1berious

2,243 posts

154 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
Having gone from the E92 to the F32. I'm mighty impressed by the do anything nature of a big 4 seat coupe.

440i is plenty quick enough for a daily so I can only imagine the new one with 374bhp and 4wd will be a lot of car for a lot of people (will even be useable as a winter hack with the right tyres and 4wd).

Be interested to see the reviews on release.

iainrollo

11 posts

215 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
Earlier this year I chopped in my M440i after 2 years of very happy ownership. Plenty of performance, goon infotainment and I thought very stylish. My only complaint is that it didn't do to well on depreciation compared to similar Audi's I've had in the past but overall and in particular when you put it into sport + or as I like to call it turbo nutter mode it went like a stabbed rat. I'm sure the next version will be just as good if not better.

Shiv_P

2,725 posts

104 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
iainrollo said:
Earlier this year I chopped in my M440i after 2 years of very happy ownership. Plenty of performance, goon infotainment and I thought very stylish. My only complaint is that it didn't do to well on depreciation compared to similar Audi's I've had in the past but overall and in particular when you put it into sport + or as I like to call it turbo nutter mode it went like a stabbed rat. I'm sure the next version will be just as good if not better.
M440i?

Vocht

1,630 posts

163 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
It looks much more like a junior 8 series rather than a slight update of the F32/33 generation car (which was too similar to the E92/93 3 series for my liking).

The convertible has gone back to a soft top too (much alike the 8 series)....


Chestrockwell

2,624 posts

156 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
This’ll be my next car, I loved my 430d, I’ll have the newer 430d with the m sport diff when they’re a year old and lost the biggest chunk.

I’ve got a feeling this will look a lot better than the 8 series.

Oily76

186 posts

110 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
Hope it looks better than the new 3 series, still haven't quite got my head round it and prefer the outgoing model. May just be familiarity, but the new one just looks less resolved.
Current 4 series is a very handsome car.

Oily76

186 posts

110 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
Hope it looks better than the new 3 series, still haven't quite got my head round it and prefer the outgoing model. May just be familiarity, but the new one just looks less resolved.
Current 4 series is a very handsome car.

E65Ross

34,946 posts

211 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
Shiv_P said:
iainrollo said:
Earlier this year I chopped in my M440i after 2 years of very happy ownership. Plenty of performance, goon infotainment and I thought very stylish. My only complaint is that it didn't do to well on depreciation compared to similar Audi's I've had in the past but overall and in particular when you put it into sport + or as I like to call it turbo nutter mode it went like a stabbed rat. I'm sure the next version will be just as good if not better.
M440i?
I'm not sure exactly what you're asking him? Are you asking is he sure of the model he had? Or are you not sure an M440i exists? It does exist smile

Touring442

3,096 posts

208 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
I hope they haven't ruined it - the existing 4 Series is such a great looker.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
The existing 4 Series 440i is actually designated as the 440i MSport (I had one before my M4) - no idea why you would bother pulling someone up on that versus 'M440i' though, I certainly understood what he meant.....Strange place this is sometimes!

cerb4.5lee

30,189 posts

179 months

Thursday 18th July 2019
quotequote all
toon10 said:
I think the 4 series is the nicest looking car in the current BMW range although I'm not taken with the 8 series. It looked great in pictures but less so in the metal. On a smaller profile like the 4 series, the look might be fantastic. Or it could just look like a smaller 8 and not be so good. Fingers crossed!
Yes and it is a very nice looking thing the current 4 series. I've not seen the 8 series in the metal yet(my Mini needs a service soon so I will get the chance to see one then) but I really hope this one is a cracker...all being well!