New Three-series Coupe Starting Signal For Four-series BMW

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

BMW splits the row of three. The new middle class coupe climbs a number higher and is filled with further derivatives.

The three is dead, long live the four. Don't worry, sedans and station wagons in the middle class will not be shaken. After all, BMW has sold almost ten million cars in this segment since 1975. But at least the more pleasurable body variants will have a new name in the future. When the coupé goes into the next round in October 2013, that will be the starting signal for the four-series, in which further offshoots are to follow quickly. "We'll take an example from the six," says a BMW spokesman, promising a four-door convertible as well as a Gran Coupé with four doors.

Four-coupé celebrates its premiere in Detroit

The formal farewell to the threesome is more than just a numbers game. At least that is what the study of the four-coupé promises, which has now been revealed as a fairly concrete outlook on the production model and will celebrate its public premiere in January at the Detroit motor show. The two-door model is not just drawn in bloom as it was before. In addition to the new shape, there are independent details such as the more upright and more pronounced kidney grille, the distinctive headlights and, above all, the so-called "AirBreathers" which, as gills behind the front wheels, are supposed to positively influence the flow in the wheel arch.

And above all, there are independent proportions. It is not for nothing that the wheelbase is five centimeters longer, while the roof is two centimeters flatter and the car is almost five centimeters wider with up to eight centimeters more track width. Drawn clean and sinewy but without a superfluous line, the foursome looks incredibly fast even when standing.

More powerful engines for four BMWs

In order to keep this promise, the engineers only use the three-series technology kit very specifically. Driving dynamic refinements such as active steering with the guided rear axle, an adjustable chassis or the eight-speed automatic transmission are therefore set as well as the option of all-wheel drive. The engines from the weaker variants of the three-series, however, are initially left out. Where there is the limousineeven with a lean 116 or 136 hp than the 316d or 316i, the four-car starts appropriately with more powerful power plants. The 320d as the preliminary base model already has 136 kW / 185 PS. For the 328i as the weakest petrol engine, 180 kW / 245 PS are already in the list, and with the 225 kW / 306 PS strong 335i, it is easy to wait for the M3, which is also firmly promised, which will then probably become an M4.

Although BMW is following the example of the six with the four. But the parallels stop when it comes to pricing. Because wherever the Bavarians are doing well in the luxury class, they want to keep their limits in the tough competition with cars like the Audi A5: With a target price of around 38,000 euros, the new four-coupé would be only around 500 euros more expensive than its predecessor in the three-series. (SP-X)