SPACE, GRACE AND PACE

During the Munich drive, I also managed to clock around 100km behind the wheel of the latest addition to the BMW 4 Series family – the Gran Coupe. This is the third and final variant in the line-up after the Coupe and Convertible, and a very important one for the brand as the Gran Coupe accounts for half its global sales.

The M440i xdrive Gran Coupe is propelled by the same engine as the M240i Coupe. Larger and heavier than the latter (the Gran Coupe is also bigger than its predecessor), I expected the M440i Gran Coupe to lag behind in most driving scenarios, but I was proven wrong. The 48V starter-generator supplements the engine with an extra 11hp, which comes into play when I accelerated off the line or when I required a quick burst of speed to overtake. Hence, the century sprint takes 4.7 seconds – just 0.4 seconds more than the M240i Coupe.

The only time the car struggled against the coupe was at the Oberjoch Pass. At the tight and twisty sections, I felt the car’s size and heft. I have no doubt that the car will hold its own against others of its size and power. When I hit the Autobahn, the M440i Gran Coupe shone. The longer wheelbase and heavier kerb weight made it a supremely comfortable cruiser. At highway speeds, the in-gear acceleration performance is on a par with the M240i Coupe and the cabin remained impressively quiet.

The M440i Gran Coupe’s 470-litre boot also neatly swallowed four luggage bags and three backpacks. With three passengers aboard and accelerating to 140km/h, I was reminded that this ride offers the convenience of a saloon plus the driving experience of a high-performance coupe. It doesn’t get better than this.