BMW has taken the covers off of the Concept 4 Series Coupe at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show. According to the carmaker, the concept, said to be 85 percent production-ready, previews not only the upcoming second-generation 4 Series Coupe due next year but also the all-new electric i4 that’s set to debut in 2021.
The new concept shows how BMW is intending to give the Audi A5 Coupe rival a far more distinctive identity from the 3 Series on which it’s based, with a more “emotional and dynamic” design that emphasises performance.
“The intent is to give the car its own character, which is why it’s got a new kind of BMW face,” said BMW Design’s Stefan Woerns. “It’s clearly different from the 3 Series, and unique to the 4 Series, which is as it should be. The intent is to position this car as more exclusive and upscale.”
The front of the car is shaped around a large, new interpretation of the BMW kidney grille – inspired from the 1930s 328 coupe, with a highly sculpted bonnet and a very low front that includes large side air intakes and a new U-shaped intake underneath the grille. The LED headlights are thinner than usually seen on a BMW, and on the concept, they do without a glass cover.
The side profile of the car is that “of a classic coupé”, taking several cues from the larger 8 Series, with a long wheelbase and short overhangs to emphasis the flowing coupé roof. There are two ‘character’ lines on the car, placed lower than usually seen on a BMW. The concept sits on 21-inch wheels featuring 3D-effect alloy rims, while the slim wing mirrors are made of a single piece of aluminium. The rear is built around a prominent diffuser and features sculpted twin exhaust points. The lights retain BMW’s traditional L-shape but feature a new ‘heartbeat’ design.
The concept shown at Frankfurt is an exterior concept only, with no technical details revealed about the concept or the upcoming production model. However, disguised prototypes of the new 4 Series are already undergoing testing on international roads, and it is understood that the car will use BMW’s latest CLAR platform, which supports both rear- and four-wheel-drive.
The engine line-up is expected to be similar to that of the 3 Series, using a range of 2.0-litre four-cylinder and 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol and diesel powerplants, with a plug-in hybrid model also likely. A new M4 is also under development, while the production coupé will be followed by a convertible and a four-door 4 Series Gran Coupe.
BMW does offer the current-gen 4 Series Coupe in India, though only in its full-blown M4 guise. For the next-gen 4 Series, BMW could bring the car to India in multiple body styles, including the high-performance M4, to compete against the likes of the C-class Cabriolet and Coupe, and the Audi A5.
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