What's the news?
BMW is updating the 4 Series Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupe with mildly updated styling and cabins for the 2017 model year. As with the 3 Series and 3 Series GT facelifts in 2016, the update is very much a mild refresh of what went before, with detail changes mostly.
Exterior
On the outside, there are new bi-LED headlights, fitted as standard, in the traditional twin-eye design with overhead 'eyebrow' indicators. The reflectors and the rear lights are also new, set higher up the boot lid to make the whole car appear lower and sleeker. There are also new 18- and 19-inch alloy wheels and new paint finishes - there's an exclusive new Snapper Rocks Blue that "is a new shade of turquoise that projects an aura of youthful vigour and intense sportiness." And you can also have Sunset Orange - "a bold, orangey-red colour."
"The maxim guiding the BMW 4 Series model update was 'stick to the proven formula but add extra richness to the cars' character'. That's why the exterior design shines the spotlight most brightly on the dynamic and elegant qualities of the BMW 4 Series family" said Domagoj Dukec, Head of Exterior Design at BMW.
Interior
Inside, the cabin looks, overall, much the same, but there are detail changes including chrome finishers, more gloss black panelling and electroplated switches for a classier look. There are now more options to choose from for the interior styling, too. BMW has added Midnight Blue Dakota, Cognac Dakota and Ivory White Dakota leather to the range, while new choices for the interior trim strips include Carbon Aluminium, Light Fineline and High-gloss Black with Pearl Chrome accent strip.
There's a new interface for the infotainment iDrive system, using the 'tile' layout taken from the new BMW 7 Series and 5 Series, which can be rearranged and setup as the driver pleases. As always, Comfort, EcoPro and Sport driving systems are available, and there's a new inductive smartphone charging cradle, plus a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot with Apple CarPlay as an option. The 4 Series can also be fully tricked out with BMW Connect, allowing you to digitally integrate the car into your online life.
Mechanicals
On the suspension front, the springs and dampers are a little stiffer than before on the Coupe and Gran Coupe, while the adaptive dampers have been recalibrated for a more neutral on-the-limit response, with better overall stability. The steering for the folding hard-top 4 Series Convertible has also been reworked for greater precision.
The engine line-up now consists of three petrol engines - the 184hp 420i, the 252hp 430i and the 326hp 440i, all turbocharged. There are three diesel engines in the shape of the 190hp 420d, the 258hp 430d and the 313hp 435d xDrive with four-wheel drive, with an additional entry-level 150hp 428d available in the four-door, fastback Gran Coupe that has CO2 emissions of just 107g/km, depending on the tyre and wheel choice. Most models can be optionally specified with xDrive four-wheel drive.
Anything else?
On the M-car front, the BMW M4 Coupe and Convertible get some of the same styling changes, but retain their existing 431hp straight-six turbo engines, along with an optional Competition Pack that raises power to 450hp and brings with it more honed sports suspension.
"The arrival of the first BMW 4 Series marked the beginning of a new era for BMW. The Coupe, Convertible and later the Gran Coupe signposted their 'extra portion' of dynamism, elegance and exclusiveness over the BMW 3 Series with their own designation. The model update distinguishes the 4 Series cars even more clearly from their sister model series and ensures that this 'extra portion' makes its presence felt both inside and out" said Karim Habib, Head of Design at BMW.