BMW bucks the trend to deliver new-look car

Complacent might be too strong a word for it, but I’ve felt for some time that BMW has become rather set in its ways.

Its offerings are indeed fine cars and the quality of engineering under the surface is second-to-none.

But, over recent years and like its fellow German brands at Mercedes and Audi, there’s been a look of same-ness across the range so that at times it seems the only difference between the entry-level models and the top-of-therange examples is the overall size of the car.

So I was surprised, and more than a little pleased, when the second generation of the 420d, in M Sport Coupe mode, arrived for a few days.

Dominating the end of the bonnet, and a big departure from the standard trademark kidney-shaped grille, is a gaping mouth which looks like it is about to take over the whole front end and swallow anything that gets in its way. It’s dramatic to say the least and at the forefront, literally, of what the designers describe as “impactful” styling.

The result is a welcome departure from the conventional.

It is a big car so I was interested to see if this latest version of the 4 Series had improved its behaviour which, in tricky conditions, could prove to be something of a handful, especially if you were bold, or foolish, enough to disengage some of the automatic handling functions.

But before that, I took time to look at the overall package.

With a mild hybrid powertrain it’s the lightest, most aerodynamic and fuel-efficient version of the model.

The designers have gone to town by making the bonnet’s arrow-shaped lines zero in on the grille.

Meanwhile, at the outer edges of the front apron, the vertical intakes for the air curtains emphasise the width of the car.

There’s less metal above the front wheel arches

“The car feels livelier and more responsive with an eagerness to get up and go

while the rear flanks are large and muscular to accentuate the car’s width and low centre of gravity.

It’s longer, with increased wheelbase, wider and only minimally taller.

Combined with short overhangs, slender pillars, long doors with frameless windows and a flowing roofline, it’s a pretty sleek looking machine.

So how did it behave on the open road?

Actually, it was quite superb, with poise, stability and great fun when I was able to pull out the power from the two-litre diesel unit which benefits from the new mild-hybrid assistance set-up.

The recuperated energy collected by the battery can be supplied to the 12V electrical system or used for generating additional drive power when fed back to the 48V starter-generator.

When the car is accelerating, that adds extra bhp and torque which means the car feels livelier and more responsive with an eagerness to get up and go when called upon, while still displaying some refinement.

The eight-speed Steptronic transmission is delightfully smooth and seamless, and the whole set-up leads to excellent economy for such a big car.

In my time with it, I managed just under 50mpg, which is good, but still short of the claimed figure of nearer 70mpg

It had four very smart Vernasca leather seats and the front sport ones have side bolsters with adjustable support for the back.

I was happy to be up front – space in the back is limited for head and legroom for adults and that’s only after you’ve negotiated your way in through the gap behind the front seats.

Pulling the awkwardlyplaced lever in the back of the front seats moves them forward slowly but even then you have to be a bit Houdini-like to squeeze into the rear space.

The instrument panel is excellent with a range of display options. However, once again there’s such a host of electronic functions and features that it would take you a month of ownership to work out what you want... and how to negotiate the screen menu to get there.

Overall, the BMW 420d M is a big car and now with a big and bold front end to match.

It’s a great cruiser on the open road but a lively nipper and with excellent handling, too, when you venture on to the back roads.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT: The dramatic design of the car veers away from what we have come to expect from the familiar design of a BMW.

The exterior design, including a new-look grille, gives a fresh, bold feel to the car. A spacious front is carried by leather seats designed to support the back, although the rear seats can take a bit more effort to climb into.