BMW 4 SERIES COUPE REVEALED

BMW has unveiled pretty much everything about the brand new 4 Series Coupe. What is the 4 Series? It is the replacement of the 3 Series Coupe and is based on the F30 (current 3 Series) model. The 4 Series will be in Mzansi before the end of 2013 and will be launched with a variety of engines in tow. Internationally only two of these are available at launch.

The 4 Series Coupe is the first BMW to benefit from the new naming strategy of using even numbers for 2-door Coupes and odd numbers for sedans. It’s 26 millimetres longer than its predecessor, 43mm wider and 16mm lower. Most importantly perhaps is that it has a 50mm longer wheelbase and weighs in at up to 45kg lighter. Weight-loss is a very good thing because it improves performance and fuel consumption. Heavy cars require and use more energy than their slimmer cousins.

The two engines being mentioned at launch are fitted in the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) 428i and 435i. The former uses a turbo 2.0-litre to give out 180kW and 345Nm of torque, while the 435i keeps the same 3.0-litre turbo for its own 225kW and 407Nm of torque. The torque figure may be revised for the Mzansi models. Two gearboxes are available; the 6-speed manual and 8-speed automatic, with the usual drive modes of CO PRO, COMFORT, SPORT or SPORT+.

The normal plethora of interior luxuries are supplied either standard or as options, including iDrive with navigation, Advanced Real Time Traffic Information (in some markets), connectivity, entertainment, online access, voice commands, Google search and reverse camera among others.