BMW ditches classical 3 series nameplate in favour of the 4 series nameplate for their new compact luxury coupe.
The 3 series nameplate carries a lot of historical significance. To the hardcore petrolhead, it represents the greats, ranging from the grand-daddy of the M3s the E30, to the latest, the E92. One would expect BMW to keep the name ‘clean’ and pure. However, that is the opposite of what BMW will be doing for their next compact luxury coupe – they are rebadging the 3-er as the 4-er.
Other than the obvious, what makes the 4 Series different from its 4-door 3 Series sibling? Not much. The cabin is pretty much the same as the 3 Series, with slightly less room and 1 less seat.
Since the cars are relevatively similar, what has BMW done to the 4er to justify its more premium pricetag? For one thing, BMW have fiddled with the springs, dampers and camber angles. To tie the entire package together, they have also slightly tweaked the rear axle for greater agility. There is also an M-sport package, which gives you stiffer suspension and an Adaptive M Sport set-up featuring adjustable dampers, although the latter is an option available on all versions.
The upgrades to the 4 Series go way beyond the mechanical bits; the interior has a bit more kit too. The range kicks off with SE models, which has a leather interior, cruise control, an electric bootlid and heated front seats as standard, all of which are extras on the 3 Series SE. To further sweeten the deal, BMW has thrown in front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone air-con, Bluetooth and DAB radio.
With a better interior and better mechanicals, one would expect the powerplants to be better as well. To an extent, they are. The 4er is available with three petrol engines and three diesels. The most basic diesel in the range is a 2.0-litre unit that is identical to the one in the 3 Series. This motor kicks out 181 bhp, which when paired with the 8 speed gearbox that is standard equipment, can propel the sleek coupe to 100 km/h from naught in just 7.5 seconds while still delivering relatively decent fuel economy. The 420i is the entry-level petrol model, and has the same 181 bhp power output as its diesel counterpart. If all you want is power, then go for the 309 bhp 435d model. Be warned though, for with the standard xDrive four-wheel-drive system, opportunities for tail-out antics will be greatly reduced.
BMW may have ditched their classic nameplate (and their conservative styling for that matter), but they have certainly not ditched their ability to build a great car. Sure, it isn’t as pretty as its predecessor, and it’s certainly more expensive, but the refinements BMW have made to the car would surely improve anyone’s daily commute. Sometimes it isn’t about power, nor is it about how much tech you can shove into the cabin of a car, but how well designed it is and how much satisfaction it gives the driver on a twisty road. Being a BMW, we shouldn’t have too much to worry about in that regard.
