The new BMW 4 Series has been spied on the road ahead of its launch here next year – and the replacement for the 3 Series Coupe is clearly shaping up well to rival the Audi A5 and Mercedes C-Class Coupe.
The swooping roofline takes cues from the larger 6 Series, and although the disguise hides the front and rear styling, the 4 Series is expected to follow the lead of the bigger coupe so that it stands out from the 3 Series saloon.
There’ll be more rear legroom than in the existing 3 Coupe due to a longer wheelbase, which will also boost stability and handling.
The car in our pictures wears Sport badges, and is clearly a performance version – possibly the six-cylinder 435i – with large alloys, front wheelarch extensions and twin exhaust pipes. But even the most basic 4 Series will have more of a focus on handling than the 3 Series Coupe.
The punchy 3.0-litre straight-six in the 435i will be part of a wide range of petrol and diesel engines lifted from the current 3 Series, although less powerful engines like the 2.0-litre turbodiesel in the 316d aren’t likely to be offered.
EfficientDynamics technology will be fitted as standard across the range, while there will be a choice of a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic boxes.
The 4 Series Coupe pictured here will arrive late next year, and will quickly be followed by a 4 Series Convertible, as well as an M4 that’s expected to deliver around 450bhp.
A 4 Series Gran Coupe – a four-door coupe rival to the Audi A5 Sportback – is then expected to arrive in 2014.
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Looks very nice indeed. Rear headroom seems less than current e92 model though. Can't wait to see the gran turismo.
Very promising. I just hope they don't use those headlights which run into the grille per on the new 3 series.
Lets hope the 4 cylinder engines in this one don't need lots of work on the coils failing all the time see (http://www.e90post.com/forums/...
Will it actually be called the 4-series though? Its been a rumour for nearly 10-years now but has never come to light.
This has no chance of being called the 4 Series, I am pretty sure BMW would not want to drop the iconic M3 name and use M4 instead.
I hope they include the option of X-Drive on the 4 Series and every other BMW entering the UK from 2013 onwards - just as they have done in the rest of the world since 2011.
Nice to see they have a sense of humour by covering the front and back of the car - like we don't know what it will look like.