BMW 4 Series (2020) Review

June 2020

All-new BMW 4 Series coupe unveiled

At 4,768 millimetres, the new car is 128mm longer than its predecessor and 27mm wider (now 1,852mm), and its wheelbase has grown by 41mm to 2,851mm. Only 6mm has been added to the vehicle height, which is now 1,383mm.

Full-LED headlights are fitted as standard, with two U-shaped fibre-optic light guides in the lower section serving as the daytime driving lights. Adaptive LED Headlights with BMW Laserlight, including BMW Selective Beam non-dazzling high beam assistant, are available optionally. Slim LED fog lights are standard on all models except the BMW M440i xDrive Coupe and BMW M440d xDrive Coupe.

The new BMW 4 Series Coupe can be ordered in M Sport model format. Large outer air intakes in the front apron and a striking rear apron with an inlay in Dark Shadow and a diffuser element in High-gloss Black showcase the two-door model’s performance credentials. Other M Sport model design features are air intake trim elements, side window surrounds and exterior mirror bases in High-gloss Black.

The range is spearheaded by a new BMW M440i xDrive Coupe model, which features a powerful six-cylinder in- line petrol engine. The new BMW 4 Series Coupe will also be available with a choice of two four-cylinder petrol units and a four-cylinder diesel from launch. The line-up is set to expand further with the arrival of two straight-six diesel engines scheduled for March 2021.

All the engines link up as standard with the eight-speed Steptronic transmission, which can now be specified with the new optional Sprint function. BMW xDrive is also available on the four-cylinder diesel model, while the intelligent all-wheel-drive system features as standard on all six-cylinder variants.

Mild hybrid technology has been included with all diesel engines and with the straight-six petrol unit of the flagship BMW M440i xDrive Coupe. Fitting a 48V starter-generator and second battery greatly increases the scope for utilising Brake Energy Regeneration and the electrical power it produces.

The recuperated energy collected by the 48V 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, the generator is also able to offer the driver an electric boost effect that instantly makes an extra 11hp available.

The trio of petrol engines available for the new BMW 4 Series Coupe feature a twin-scroll turbocharger, an enhanced High Precision Injection system, VALVETRONIC fully variable valve timing and Double-VANOS variable camshaft timing.

The new 3.0-litre. six-cylinder in-line unit comes with weight-optimised pistons and con rods, a twin-scroll turbocharger with indirect charge air cooling, and water-cooled exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head. It generates 374hp and maximum torque of 500Nm. The car can sprint from 0-62mph in only 4.5 seconds.

The BMW 430i Coupe and BMW 420i Coupe benefit from extensively upgraded four-cylinder petrol engines. The more powerful of the 2.0-litre pair generates 258hp and peak torque of 400Nm. This enables the new BMW 430i Coupé to accelerate from 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds.

The four-cylinder engine in the new BMW 420i Coupe has a maximum output of 184hp and peak torque of 300Nm, enabling it to get from 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds. The new BMW 420i Coupé returns average fuel consumption figures of 48.7 – 53.3mpg with CO 2 emissions of 132 – 122g/km.

A new, highly responsive two-stage turbocharging system now forms part of the BMW TwinPower Turbo technology integrated into all diesel engines for the new BMW 4 Series Coupe.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel unit in the BMW 420d Coupe and BMW 420d xDrive Coupe additionally uses an advanced version of the common-rail direct injection system. The engine generates maximum output of 190hp and peak torque of 400Nm, enabling a 0-62mph sprint times of 7.1 seconds (BMW 420d Coupé) and 7.4 seconds (BMW 420d xDrive Coupé).

Multi-stage turbocharging technology also features in the 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line unit powering the new BMW 430d xDrive Coupe (due to become available from March 2021). The turbocharging system’s variable turbine geometry ensures a high level of responsiveness, with 650Nm of peak torque on tap. Maximum output is 286hp, allowing the car to accelerate from 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds.

The new BMW M440d xDrive Coupe (due in March 2021) features a straight-six, 3.0-litre diesel engine producing 340hp. Peak torque, meanwhile, has increased to 700Nm. For optimum response and power delivery, the new power unit’s high-pressure and low-pressure stages both feature variable turbine geometry. The new BMW M440d xDrive Coupe requires just 4.7 seconds to reach 62mph from rest.

This is the first time that every BMW 4 Series Coupé has been fitted with an eight-speed Steptronic transmission as standard. The latest version of the automatic transmission has been revised to provide even sharper shift characteristics with greater efficiency and refinement. All models are fitted with shift paddles on the steering wheel.

Besides the Launch Control function for traction-optimised acceleration off the line, the eight- speed Steptronic Sport transmission is also the first to feature the brand-new Sprint function, designed to maximise performance when putting in a sudden burst of speed or overtaking. The Sprint function features as standard in the BMW M440i xDrive Coupé and BMW M440d xDrive Coupé and is available for all other model variants in conjunction with the M Sport package Pro.

The M Sport differential is standard in the BMW M440i xDrive Coupé and BMW M440d xDrive Coupé and optionally available on the BMW 430i Coupe and BMW 430d xDrive Coupe if the M Sport Pro Package is specified.