What is it?
It’s the second generation of BMW’s four-door version of the two-door version of a four-door car.
The 4 Series Gran Coupé might have seemed like a strange concept when it first came out and the jury is still out on whether it merits the term ‘coupé’, but fact is that enough people were seduced by the original’s combination of coupé looks and near-estate practicality. As there’s a new 3 Series and a new 4 Series, it was only natural that there would be a new 4 Series Gran Coupé.
Like its siblings, the Gran Coupé has grown significantly compared with its predecessor: it’s 143mm longer, 27mm wider and 53mm taller. In fact, it’s a bit bigger in every direction than even the 3 Series. Although its luggage capacity is 10 litres smaller than a 3 Series saloon's, the hatchback does make it a much more practical proposition. The sloping tailgate means that owners of large but claustrophobic dogs will still want to go for an estate, though.
The floor is also not completely flat and having D-pillars that need to house hinges and lifters for the electric tailgate introduce some pretty big blind spots.
What's it like?
You enter the Gran Coupé’s cabin using trendy flush door handles not found on the regular 4 Series, although you can bet your house that come facelift time, all 4s will have them. Once inside, it’s familiar territory because the front-seat area is the same as in any other 3 or 4 Series. You can accuse BMW’s interior designers of a lack of creativity, but when it’s this good, it’s hardly worth dwelling on.
The 4 Series doesn’t come in any of the base trim levels, so it’s always quite plush, too. Every Gran Coupé is an M Sport, with heated leather sport seats, a big iDrive screen, digital dashboard and three-zone climate control all standard.
In the rear, it trades the coupé’s individual buckets for a regular bench that folds in a 40:20:40 split. Passengers taller than six-foot will find their hair brushing the headlining and leg room is typically tight.
The engine range is a little less extensive than with the 3 Series too, with no 418 models, and also no 430d. What’s left is a duo of four-cylinder petrol engines with rear-wheel drive, the 420i and 430i; one mild-hybrid diesel, the 420d, which can be had with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive; and the straight-six M440i xDrive, which also has a 48V mild-hybrid system.
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These internal combustion models seem pointless now that the i4 has arrived. The smart money will either hang on to existing cars or migrate to the EV. If you're paying attention to the market, new combustion models make no sense at all any more.
So the Gran Coupe is taller than the 3-series - what utter nonsense. Shame as I'm a sucker for a 5 door coupe, assuming it has the H point of the coupe variant. This is just a more expensive 3-series hatchback.
btw regarding scrappage, I think some people forget that there are 20 million cars on our roads with just maybe 250,000 new EVs being registered a year (guessing). ICE cars are going to be here a long, long time yet. A lot of people still drive round in 10yo cars, not because they are anti-EV, they just can't afford a newer one. I can't see that changing door many years yet.
As you say, probably a little premature. I can't see many private buyers buying a brand new BMW next year, probably involving a PCP with GMFV, and keeping it for eight years.
Busineeses are also on thrre or four year change cycles with their vehicles, so this will definitely be on its second or third owner by 2030.
That's probably more of an issue for used car buyers, than for those buying new in the next few years, as second hand IC vehicle prices will likely drop like a stone, when all new cars sold are EV's.