3 Series
4 Series
3 GT
just too damn ugly? Well all praise BMW, there may now be a solution; the 4 Series Gran Coupe.
A four-door 3 Series that isn't a 3 Series
6 Series
and almost certain to feature in the
2 Series
range as well, the Gran Coupe is essentially a four-door version of the coupe that was derived from the four-door. Confused? The length (4,638mm) and width (1,825mm) are identical to the standard 4 but the roof is 12mm higher, 112mm longer and 'gently stretched'.
The advantage of this is more headroom for rear seat passengers and another 35 litres of boot space at 480 litres. A 40:20:40 split folding rear seat allows a maximum capacity of 1,300 litres.
BMW describes the Gran Coupe as a '4+1' seater, possibly the most ridiculous configuration title since the Evora's 2+0. In practice that means four people can get in easily through the frameless doors with a fifth perched atop a token middle seat ('console surface' is the technical term) straddling the transmission tunnel. 4+1 seater then.
The Gran Coupe is essentially very similar to the 4 Series elsewhere. The dash is identical with the same Modern, Sport, Luxury and M Sport specifications available on top of the standard SE. A 143hp 418d kicks off the range with a 420d, 420i, 428i and 435ialso initially offered. BMW's xDrive 4WD will be an option on the 420d and 428i, plus there are three transmission choices (a six-speed manual, eight-speed auto or eight-speed sport auto). The other engines currently offered in the 4 Series will surely arrive in time. Enough choice you think?
With Chris having so enjoyed the
M6 Gran Coupe
recently, we can't help but hope for an
M4
equivalent soon. That's certainly a more appealing prospect than the M4 cabriolet, that's for sure.
The 4 Series Gran Coupe will be launched at Geneva, although we don't yet have a date for UK sales. Prices will probably reflect the strategy used for the 6 Series, with the four-door coupe costing more than the two-door but less than the cabriolet. Got that? So given a standard 420d SE is £31,795 and the drop-top 420d is £36,675, expect the a 420d Gran Coupe to be somewhere around £34K.