Summarize

BMW calls its all-new 4 Series' styling ‘standalone’. It suggests that the newcomer's prominent and completely different vertical kidney grille follows the tradition of legendary BMW coupés and reflects the engine’s high cooling air needs in a distinctive character, squarely focused on delivering dynamic driving pleasure. 

Well, the new Four certainly is 'clearly differentiated from the 3 Series’ and benefits 'clean surfacing, a striking front end and signature coupé proportions.’ One thing is for sure though, those images shot of Franschhoek Pass are already splitting opinion and that’s just the start... Bring it on!

Due for global release from October 2020, the local range will be kicked off by the 275kW 500Nm straight-six turbo M440i xDrive Coupé at the end of the year. Good for a 4.5 second 1-100km/h dash with a speed limited 250km/h top end, the 440i sips 6.8 l/100km and emits 155g CO2 per km. We think it will be even quicker though, if our recent test of the 340i xDrive is anything to go by...

The 440i xDrive will be backed by the choice of the 135kW 300Nm 7.5 second 0-100 240 km/h 5.3 l/100km 122 g/km 2-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol 420i Coupe and the 2-litre turbodiesel 140 kW 400 Nm 420d Coupé that will take 7.1 seconds to reach 100 and also go on to 240 km/h on local launch later this year. Other new 4 Series Coupé models in the international market will include xDrive variants for the 420i and 420d, a 430i and a 430d xDrive Coupé, some of which should make their way here too.

The straight six petrol and all the diesel new 4 Series models will benefit an 8 kW 48 volt starter-generator mild hybrid system to boost the combustion engines for even sharper response and optimal efficiency. All the diesels also now have now have two-stage turbocharging, while the optional eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission version gets a new Sprint function for instantaneous and dynamic acceleration.

The stiffer and weight-minimised new 4 Series Coupé gets a 21 millimetre lower centre of gravity and 23mm broader rear axle track than the latest 3 Series for 50:50 weight distribution, while optimised aerodynamics reduces rear axle lift. New 4 gets bespoke tuned lift-related damper suspension with an even firmer optional M Sport option, along with additional options in Adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers, M Sport brakes and a fully variable lockable M Sport differential.

An M Sport model will offer an alternative to the standard spec and there will also be an M Sport package Pro with that Sport transmission,19-inch M light-alloys and a 'sporty interior soundtrack', over and above an extensive selection of M Performance kit available from launch. 

The new Four's sporty driver-focused cockpit gets a new display grouping with up to a 10.25-inch Control Display, optional fully digital 12.3-inch instrumentation and a much improved new generation 3D head-up display. Add a 'high-quality centre console design', new sports leather steering wheel and sports seats up front and two individual pews aft.

A wider range of driver assistance systems includes warnings for front collision with brake input, and lane departure with steering assisted lane return and there’s a new active navigation with an emergency lane function. 

Add Park Distance Control with front and rear sensors and an optional Parking Assistant Plus as part of the new BMW Operating System 7 featuring an intelligent personal assistant, cloud-mapped navigation; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and WiFi connectivity with remote software upgrading.

So there you have it - the new BMW 4 Series is bold. Is that too bold for you? Or not...?