If you're looking for a German coupe-class car that will satisfy both the 'groom' and 'vroom' demands you have, search no further, BMW's 4 Series will fit the bill.
When BMW announced that the new 3 Series coupe was going to be rebadged as the 4 Series, I started to worry for our local distributors. After all, the number 4, when translated is cantonese, sounds similar to the cantonese word for 'die', or death. Superstitious buyers have long avoided having the number 4 on their registration plates. What more a car model bearing that dreaded digit?
Well, it seems my worries were unwarranted. This week alone, I spotted three 4 Series coupes on our roads, and I heard of at least two other people who have ordered one for themselves. Yup. All this, during high COEs and challenging loan regulations. It boggles my mind.
It's not surprising though. Because the 4 Series is a really good steer. On that note, we'll delve right into the drive first, because this is where the 435i we have here really shines. If you've driven the previous 3 Series coupe, you'll notice a big difference in this new car. Aluminum is now used in the suspension to reduce unsprung weight, and it is just one of the areas BMW has tweaked to save weight on the new car.
Already experienced in the 3 Series sedan, the new chassis is both agile and accurate, and the nicely-weighted steering is sharp and communicates a rich amount of feedback to the driver. With its wider track, longer wheelbase and lower centre of gravity, the coupe responds keenly to any directional changes. This is one chassis that can harness all 306 bhp and 400 Nm that the 3-litre turbocharged unit generates. 0-100 km/h will be cleared in 5 seconds, and the speedo will find 250 km/h, if you can find the road.
The 19-inch wheels on our test car were rather pretty and the rubbers that came with them provided a lot of grip in every situation we found ourselves in with the 435i. Having the car in Comfort mode is actually rather adequate. Only if you're in an 'attack' mode, would you need to switch to Sport or Sport+. Sport mode sharpens the throttle response, quickens the damping rates, adds weight to the steering feel and delays the upshift points. Move to Sport+ and the stability control intervention is reduced. Allowing you to have a bit more fun.
Even then, the grip on the car is so good, you would really need to build up a lot of speed, or go in heavy-footed into a tight corner before you see any tail-out action. Ultimately, the 435i is not meant to be driven like a racing machine, even though it would easily hold it's own on a track day.
We've seen the ZF 8-speeder on many BMWs, but the 3 Series coupe (now the 4) is one of the last few models to adopt this brilliant 'box. The shifts are fluid and rapid, and the extra cogs also help to reduce fuel consumption. The paddle-shifters are familiar and are located behind the steering wheel - I was hoping to see the new M sports steering wheel in this car, but it was a shame Performance Motors didn't spec that.
The feeling of being one with the 435i is helped by the snug red leather seats. Some may find it a tad loud, but I'm actually a fan of anything-but-black! It's actually pretty much 3-Series sedan in here, but the use of brushed aluminum and a sportier colour combination help to lift the sense of occasion slightly. Space and headroom is adequate. We tested it with a 6-footer, and his hair sort of brushed the roof lining a bit, but otherwise, it was fine.
Step back out and you'll notice that the wider track on the 4 is quite noticeable. It's clearly wider and lower, so the stance is quite evidently more aggressive. Somehow though, it's not as sleek as the model it replaces. There's a chunkiness to the new coupe, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The new lines on the car do exude more strength, and in the right colour (read that as red, silver or white), it could look rather dashing.
The BMW 4 Series is not a flamboyant sports car, and it doesn't pretend to be one. It's a stylish and comfortable coupe that handles brilliantly with excellent dynamics, and it will bring a big smile on your face overtime you decide to dance with it. For now, it's the best German coupe to have, at least until the M4 hits town.
