Does latest BMW look like a winner?
...Ian Donaldson tries a coupe worth more than a quick glance
YOU can’t accuse BMW of trying to play down the one single issue that’s got car geeks talking about the new 4 Series Coupe - it’s staring you in the face.
Yes, it’s that distinctive radiator grille. You will probably have one of two reactions to this stylistic boldness; either those large kidney shapes hark back boldly to famous BMWs of the past.
Or they’re so hideous they might put you off ever buying the car.
Order your new 4 Series in a darker colour and you’ll notice the front beaver teeth much less anyway.
You won’t see them at all, of course, from the driver’s seat. Which is where BMW hopes you will spot the way its new coupe drives better over both the outgoing version and the new saloon 3 Series on which this latest car is closely based.
More sportingly will be an answer that satisfies both BMW and a potential buyer.
And thanks to lowering the car, fitting parts to stiffen the body, tweaking suspension settings and pushing the wheels outwards for a wider track, this is a car that enjoys being pushed a little.
The new 4 Series Coupe starts at £39,870 and ends for the moment at £53,875 in a currently available range which stretches from an entry level 420i M Sport fourcylinder petrol engine with 184hp to the 374hp six-cylinder petrol M440i xDrive, with all-wheel drive.
BMW expects diesels to take a healthy slice of the 4 Series cake.
Performance ranges from lively (7.5 seconds to 62mph, 420i) to decidedly brisk (4.5 seconds, M440i xDrive) while officially quoted economy unsurprisingly favours the diesels, with up to 72.4mpg on tap officially.
As standard, the newcomer has leather trim, 18ins alloys, larger digital display, reversing camera, acoustic windscreen to cut exterior noise, three-zone air conditioning, heated front seats and an expansive and easily read digital instrument panel. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is fitted across the range, as are full LED headlights.
What it doesn’t have is much room for rear passengers - but that’s the deal with most coupes, which cost more than their saloon siblings and sacrifice style for practicality.
Doesn’t stop lots of people buying them on looks though. The boot is a family-sized 440 litres and the rear seat backrest folds 40:20:40 too, adding to the practicality.
A brisk cross country drive in a 420d showed that BMW’s latest diesel can put up a fine fight for use by drivers with long distance drives plumbed into a busy business life, perhaps. The dash readout showed a healthy 48.2mpg.
Never eye-stretchingly quick, though, but fast enough to make the miles disappear quickly.
Add in a surprisingly well controlled ride and a level of fit and finish that you feel will bring long term contentment and BMW has produced a car that looks like a winner. Whatever you think of that radiator grille.