At BMW,
there really is something for everyone these days. Just take a look at the
massive 3 Series/4 Series range – you can
have a sedan, coupe, convertible, wagon, or funky-backed Gran Turismo. And now,
with the introduction of the 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe, you can have another
sedan... err, hatchback, actually. But perhaps, a better one.
Compared to the 3 Series sedan, the 4 Series Gran Coupe is both longer and wider by about half an inch, but is shorter in overall height by an inch and a half. Honestly, to our eyes, it looks a little better than the 3 Series, too, what with its longer roofline, more sculpted rear haunches and lower stance. Full interior volume specs for the 4GC aren't available as of this writing, but we expect them to be roughly the same as the 3 Series, perhaps with a small decrease in headroom and rear legroom. Trunk space, at 17 cubic feet, matches the 3 Series sedan, and because the 4GC actually uses a hatchback design, it should be easier to access.
Powertrains are completely carryover from the rest of the 3/4 Series range. The 428i uses BMW's well-liked 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 240 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque, and the 435i is fitted with the company's 3.0-liter turbo-six, good for 300 hp and 300 lb-ft. An eight-speed automatic is the only transmission available in the US with either model and rear-wheel drive is standard. Only the 428i can be had with BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system, and interestingly, the 428i Gran Coupe is actually expected to be more fuel-efficient than its 3 Series sedan counterpart. The GC is estimated to return 23/35 miles per gallon city/highway, compared to the 23/33 mpg in the 328i sedan. The 435i Gran Coupe should achieve the same 22/32 mpg ratings as the 335i sedan.
When we drove the 435i Coupe last summer, we actually found it to be a lot more engaging than its 3 Series counterpart, mostly thanks to its lower ride height and retuned suspension. The 4 Series Gran Coupe promises similar things as it can be had with an adaptive M suspension and variable sport steering. Of course, the same Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ drive modes have carried over from the sedan, as well.
Compared to the 3 Series sedan, the 4 Series Gran Coupe is both longer and wider by about half an inch, but is shorter in overall height by an inch and a half. Honestly, to our eyes, it looks a little better than the 3 Series, too, what with its longer roofline, more sculpted rear haunches and lower stance. Full interior volume specs for the 4GC aren't available as of this writing, but we expect them to be roughly the same as the 3 Series, perhaps with a small decrease in headroom and rear legroom. Trunk space, at 17 cubic feet, matches the 3 Series sedan, and because the 4GC actually uses a hatchback design, it should be easier to access.
Powertrains are completely carryover from the rest of the 3/4 Series range. The 428i uses BMW's well-liked 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 240 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque, and the 435i is fitted with the company's 3.0-liter turbo-six, good for 300 hp and 300 lb-ft. An eight-speed automatic is the only transmission available in the US with either model and rear-wheel drive is standard. Only the 428i can be had with BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system, and interestingly, the 428i Gran Coupe is actually expected to be more fuel-efficient than its 3 Series sedan counterpart. The GC is estimated to return 23/35 miles per gallon city/highway, compared to the 23/33 mpg in the 328i sedan. The 435i Gran Coupe should achieve the same 22/32 mpg ratings as the 335i sedan.
When we drove the 435i Coupe last summer, we actually found it to be a lot more engaging than its 3 Series counterpart, mostly thanks to its lower ride height and retuned suspension. The 4 Series Gran Coupe promises similar things as it can be had with an adaptive M suspension and variable sport steering. Of course, the same Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ drive modes have carried over from the sedan, as well.
BMW's Luxury, Sport and M Sport trims are once again
available here in the 4 Series Gran Coupe, with a nearly carryover interior,
save a bit more in the way of rear seat space. The car will officially debut at
the Geneva Motor Show in March, and hits US showrooms this summer, with the
428i and 435i Gran Coupes priced at X and X, respectively, not including $925
for destination. This means both of the 428i models command $3,000 more than
their respective 328i sedans, and the 435i Gran Coupe costs $2,400 more than a
335i sedan.
The thing is, good as the 4 Series Gran Coupe should be, it hardly seems necessary. But that hasn't stopped BMW before, and the truth is, this could very well be the 3 Series sedan we wanted all along – albeit at a price. Be sure to tell us what you think of the new 4 Series Gran Coupe in the Comments, and tell us if you'd take it over a standard 3 Series in our poll below.
source: http://www.autoblog.com/2014/02/01/2015-bmw-4-series-gran-coupe-official-photos/The thing is, good as the 4 Series Gran Coupe should be, it hardly seems necessary. But that hasn't stopped BMW before, and the truth is, this could very well be the 3 Series sedan we wanted all along – albeit at a price. Be sure to tell us what you think of the new 4 Series Gran Coupe in the Comments, and tell us if you'd take it over a standard 3 Series in our poll below.
by Steven J. Ewing
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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