Revealed: BMW’s two-door 4 Series

BMW’S longer, wider and lower 3 Series-based coupe will wear a fresh look – and a new badge – when it arrives in Australia later this year.

In a move that aligns the new mid-sized two-door, four-seater coupe with other even-numbered model names in the BMW line-up, the 4 Series will share its underpinnings with the fourth-generation 3 Series sedan, wagon and convertible range.

Likewise, BMW’s 1 Series Coupe will become the 2 Series for the next generation of the German luxury marque’s compact city hatchback.

Shown ahead of its world premiere at the Frankfurt motor show in September, the production version of the new 4 Series Coupe carries over the 3 Series Coupe’s traditional styling and remains largely faithful to the concept that debuted in Detroit earlier this year, albeit toned down slightly.

The concept’s pronounced full-width front air vent has been reigned in, for example, with BMW favouring a more understated design. The matching rear vent of the concept has also vanished in the road-going version.

So called ‘air breather’ vents, which reportedly reduce drag behind the front wheelarches have survived, as have full LED headlights although these are destined for the options list.

BMW says the proportions differ significantly from those of the outgoing 3 Series Coupe. Although 26mm have been added to its overall length (now 4638mm), a 50mm-long wheelbase (2810mm) and a roofline than now runs 16mm lower than before (1362mm) “shine a particularly vivid spotlight on the dynamically stretched coupe outline”.

Its sporty stance is also reinforced by its extra width, now out a further 43mm to 1825mm with the rear wheelarches marking the car’s broadest point for the first time. Front track is out 45mm to 1545mm, while a full 80mm of extra width is realised at the rear axle (now 1593mm).

A perfectly even weight distribution between the front and rear wheels, unique suspension tuning and the lowest centre of gravity in the current BMW range should, according to the car-maker, ensure class-leading road manners.

The standard 4 Series Coupe sits 10mm closer to the road than the latest 3 Series sedan, helping bring the centre of gravity down below 500mm – “significantly lower than its predecessor’s” – and the roll centre is now 19mm lower than the previous 3 coupe.

Familiar 3 Series design cues combine with features unique to the two-door series in the cabin, such as large frameless doors, automatic belt feeders, contoured sports seats and a 40:20:40 split-fold option for the rear bench, while the iDrive dial is now a touch controller.

BMW has announced three ‘TwinPower’ turbocharged engines for Europe, including the 435i and 428i petrol variants, and a diesel 420d. All come with automatic engine idle-stop.

The entry-level 428i uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 180kW of power and 350Nm of torque, and manages a 0-100km/h time of 5.8 seconds with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The flagship 3.0-litre six-cylinder 435i develops 225kW and 400Nm, and makes the 0-100km/h dash in 4.9 seconds when fitted with an automatic transmission.

Despite making 135kW and a hearty 380Nm and making the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.3 seconds, the diesel-engined 420d uses only 4.6L/100km on the European combined cycle.

BMW Australia said the 4 Series was likely to arrive in Australia in the fourth quarter of this year.

It says it was still too early to discuss local pricing and specification.