With its performance-minded suspension and near-perfect weight distribution, the 428i feels athletic and nimble. Optimisation measures carried out at the front apron and the rear of the car have earned the two-seater a lift coefficient to match the sporting figures of the current. It doesn't belong there because despite the slinky shape, this is a reasonably practical car with knockout looks. The 4-series is lower and wider, and its suspension is stiffer, too. The new coupe style is one of the best looking as well.
The roof takes 20 seconds to lower and can operate while driving up to 11 mph. The manual version is rated , although we logged 120 miles on our test loop at 28 mpg with ease. The three trim packages are Sport Line, Luxury Line, and M Sport. So the new system may be more rational than what came before it, but it does lack a certain esoteric charm. The front-mounted camera ensures that additional signs or temporary restrictions - at roadworks, for example - are taken into account.
Turn off the freeway and onto the fun stuff and the Gran Coupe is a balanced, fun car to drive. On the freeway, four passengers or a squeezy five won't notice much noise apart from a bit of tyre roar from the fat 255 section rubber. Incredibly smooth power with great brakes and handling. Yet compared to the related 3 Series, you're paying more almost four grand when new for plenty of identical hardware, two fewer doors and less practicality than the sedan. There are two trim levels: 428i and 435i.
And now this progression is enshrined in the series-production model. The electronic limited-slip function for the rear differential can then provide extra-sporty acceleration out of corners or sharp bends. Its low-slung, low-cabin profile is impressively sporty and highlighted by flared fenders and a character line rising from the front fender to the rear taillights. Added to which, a host of innovative technical features and exceptionally high internal efficiency ensure that powerful acceleration and assured, short bursts of speed are possible with no additional fuel consumption over the manual gearbox. The 4 Series will launch in coupe form with a choice of a four or six-cylinder turbocharged engine. Some cars wobble about; some lurch.
If the system detects an impending collision and senses that a crash is unavoidable, the car will be decelerated automatically and held at a standstill with its brakes locked. As in the 3-series, Luxury, Sport, and M Sport trim lines will be offered. Both gearboxes work in tandem with the fuel-consumption-reducing Auto Start Stop function. The versatility of the car is quite remarkable as well. Should you want the real thing, of course, there's the top-spec 435i model and its 300-hp, turbocharged 3. The 19-inch wheels, frameless windows and low ride height give it almost a supercar stance.
Yes, if you get the Sport Line package or the M Sport package, your car will be considerably sharper in terms of its handling than our Luxury Line tester, but the drive mode switch does serve to alleviate much of this. An eight-speed automatic is standard; a six-speed manual is a no-cost option. And a car that is quietly stylish without being tartan might be burgled and vandalised less often. If you want leather or a rear-view camera, you'll have to pay extra for those, too. To our eye, it makes the car look more substantive, but we can see how some might decry it as looking somewhat chubby too. Both transmissions come with an automatic stop-start function that turns off the engine when the car stops in order to save fuel.
Inside the car, features such as M door sill finishers, an M leather steering wheel and an M driver's footrest shape the sporty yet elegant ambience. The 435i has a 3. The gently sloping roofline - a hallmark coupe trait - creates a smooth transition into the rear, stretches the car's overall appearance and elegantly accentuates the sporting profile of the flanks. The system's electronics analyse driving behaviour on the basis of various onboard signals. And every time you use the car you will need to turn up the audio volume again. An optional 6-cylinder remains for those seeking more power. Added to which, the standard high-gloss black B-pillars and black wrap-around window strip lend the car's sporting character even greater punch.
The steering is precise and engine is powerful and adventurous. No, we are not getting the detuned 420i or diesel 420d models sold in other markets. Or at least we imagine they were. Naturally, a wealth of option packages is available to help you customize your 4 Series. A button next to the rear headrest causes the seatback to fold forward, revealing the wind blocker stowed in its specially designed port. The 428i uses a 2.
. It was an oasis of calm in the centre of that magnificent 1980s whirlwind. Together with the glare-free High Beam Assistant, Adaptive Headlights with cornering lights and variable headlight distribution, they set the benchmark. Buying a coupe then, and really, any coupe, is a vote for style. Owners were mailed interim notices on May 28, 2015.
With only small increases in rpm between gear changes, the ideal gear is on hand in virtually any situation out on the road. And that means it threads its way through corners with supreme ease and even greater precision. The layout is quite utilitarian, if not exactly flamboyant. On the road, the 435i moves with gracious athleticism. As in the 3 Series, the dashboard and the interior present a high-quality, understated, and businesslike ambience. The promise of pure dynamics contained within those figures is made true out on the road. Should a collision be unavoidable, automatic moderate hazard braking is actuated.