2014 BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe
The four-door saloon version of the coupe that came from…a four door saloon
By Imthishan Giado
I think my head is starting to hurt. To recap – the four-door 3-series saloon has two other variants: GT hatch and station wagon. It begat the coupe-styled 4-Series with different front and rear ends, which further spun off a folding hardtop convertible. And now to make the circle complete, the 4-Series has a four-door saloon version. Confused yet?
The reason this car exists is because plenty of people are prepared to pay good money for a more stylish version of a car that everyone else already has. In the old days, that was the coupe, but now buyers don’t want to compromise. That’s why the 4-Series has exactly the same dimensions as the regular 4-Series coupe, though the roof is 12mm higher and 112mm longer to enable the more graceful shape.
It also has a 435-litre boot: exactly the same as the 3-Series saloon, in case you’re wondering (though the 4GC is a hatchback). For those who carry passengers: the rear seats are a ‘2+1’ shape. Good enough for occasional three-abreast use, then.
Untangling ourselves from the nomenclature, one has to admit that thanks to that 4-Series front end, this a very good looking automobile. BMW promises the driving experience will be softer than the regular 4-Series, and all the expected engines will carry across: a 2.0-litre turbo four with 240bhp/255 lb ft in the 428i and a range topping 435i with the 3.0-litre turbo six with 300bhp/300 lb ft, all naturally matched to ZF’s excellent eight-speed auto. Expect M Sport editions to follow and eventually, an all-bells-and-whistles M4 Gran Coupe.
Check out more pictures of the new 4 Series Gran Coupe in the gallery below
