New BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé launch review

Tried and tested

I guess there was no better to test the latest addition than in the Valley of a Thousand Hills in KwaZulu-Natal, the famed Comrades Marathon route.

With every uphill, there is a downhill. The road is full of left and right twists and then some potholes to make the driving experience that much more demanding.

The Gran Coupe stuck to the road like a famous glue brand, and when it came to braking, I stopped the vehicle, dropping from speeds of around 120kmph to zero, in a matter of seconds.

The cabin complements the exterior aesthetics of the vehicle. You can smell that leather when you buckle up in the driver’s seat and all the ‘bells and whistles’ are within easy reach of the driver. Over 40 in fact, and then there is a Heads Up Display so that you don’t take your eyes off the road.

Driving dynamics

This four-door coupé captures the imagination with its enhanced driving dynamics, a sharper design following the BMW brand’s new design language, a refined premium feel for its interior and a host of innovations in the areas of operation and connectivity.

In addition to the driving pleasure and sporting elegance for which BMW is renowned, modern functionality is central to this gran coupé concept for the premium midsize segment.

Comfortable access to the rear compartment, five full-size seats, a large tailgate and a variable-usage load compartment ensure the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé retains its model-specific skillset in everyday driving and on longer trips.

Take me inside

The model-specific body concept results in a versatile interior offering generous amounts of space in the rear.

The new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé offers 470ls of boot space. Load capacity can be expanded to a maximum of 1,290ls by folding down the sections of the rear backrest.

The overall interior quality is just impressive. Sport seats and a Sport leather steering wheel come as standard. Add to that a large glass slide/tilt sunroof, ambient lighting and the Harman Kardon Surround Sound System.

Expressive front, powerful rear

Bold lines and surfaces with a three-dimensional structure are the defining elements of the 4 Series Gran Coupé.

The front end drops deep down and at its centre is the large and vertically prominent BMW kidney grille that transmits a feeling of assured presence. The slim full-LED headlights come with U-shaped fibre-optic light guides for the daytime driving lights. There is also the option of Adaptive LED Headlights with BMW Laserlight including BMW Selective Beam non-dazzling high beam assistant.

Precise lines, doors with frameless windows and flush-fitting handles, and powerful shoulders shape the elegantly sporty silhouette of the new BMW 4 Series. And the low-slung, muscular stature of the car is also accentuated by a rear apron with vertical aero lips at its outer edges and a Black finish for its lower edge. The stylishly darkened full-LED rear lights extend well into the flanks.

Four and six

Four and six-cylinder engines provide a clear boost for dynamism and efficiency. This is where that sheer driving pleasure comes from. The new 4 Series Gran Coupé underscores its vividly enhanced sporting credentials with a performance model at the top of the range.

The BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupé is powered by a 285kW six-cylinder in-line petrol engine.

The four-cylinder petrol engine in the BMW 420i Gran Coupé produces maximum output of 135kW, and a 140kW four-cylinder diesel engine can be found under the bonnet of the BMW 420d Gran Coupé. All the engines team up with an eight-speed Sports Steptronic transmission with gearshift paddles as standard.

The new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé comes as standard with 18-inch light-alloy wheels. Standard specification for the new BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupé includes 19-inch M light-alloy wheels and an M Sport differential with electronically controlled, fully variable locking function in the rear differential.

Stay connected

The driver and passengers in the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé benefit from the extended possibilities provided by BMW Operating System 7 as standard.

Customers can take their pick of a control interface for the situation at hand: control display touchscreen, familiar BMW Controller, multifunction buttons on the steering wheel, voice control or optional BMW gesture control.

There is also access to a range of highly advanced digital services, including the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant and Remote Software Upgrades.

The standard BMW Live Cockpit Professional features a fully digital screen grouping including a high-resolution instrument cluster with a screen diagonal of 12.3 inches behind the steering wheel and a 10.25-inch control display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available via the car’s operating system.

Price

• 420d Gran Coupe from - R980 000
• 420i Gran Coupe from - R930 000
• M440i xDrive Gran Coupe from R1,300,000