Say Hello To The Sexy New BMW 4-Series

BMW has released details of its sexy new 4-series, which is like a two-door 3-series, but, err, not. If you’re allergic to pointless PR waffle, fear not - there’s more here than meets the eye.

The 4-series is a lot different to the old 3-series Coupe. In the past, the Coupe version of BMW's compact repmobile was simply a lightly breathed-on version of the same car, but check these figures out...

The new car is 26mm longer than the old Coupe and comes with a 50mm longer wheelbase too, so the wheels have been pushed further into the corners. That’s good for stability and handling. The track - the distance between the centres of the left and right wheels - has been widened by 45mm at the front and 81mm at the back, so it also has a much bigger footprint on the road. And that wider rear end should make it a feisty little hooner, a little like the 997-generation Porsche 911. We definitely like that.

It’s 16mm lower than the 3-series Coupe, and while BMW will probably bang on about aerodynamics and efficiency, we think that its long, low, wide shape looks the danglies. All of these changes will chisel just over £3000 more out of your wallet than an equivalent 3-series saloon.

As for engines the 4-series will use the turbocharged petrols and diesels you already know and either love or hate. Expect the range to run from 2.0-litre units with around 180bhp to the 300bhp+ turbo six-pots. You can also bet your mother’s pension on there being a 440bhp M4 version further down the line, too.

It says a lot, though, that the range-topper is a diesel. The 435d - which comes with BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system - is the most powerful 4-series with 309bhp, but we also know the engine is a heavy old beast so it’s almost like BMW is abandoning the whole handling thing for the sake of CO2 emissions. Sorry, but the day we see a diesel as one of the main cars in a Fast & Furious franchise film, we might take it seriously.

The car launches in October, with all the engines ultimately available by November. The least you’ll pay for one is £31,575 (for the 420d), but if you're hankering after a top model you'd better be prepared to cough up more than £40,000 for the 435i.