[ad_1]
By Willem vd Putte 
6h ago
CAPE TOWN – I tried not to start the first paragraph without mentioning the grid, but unfortunately I had to get into the trap.
And when you start with that, you know it has to be the new BMW 4 Series officially launched in South Africa and available at your nearest BMW dealer.
That grid has gotten people talking since it was first revealed last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show (remember when we could attend big meetings without caring about anything in the world?). I was lucky enough to have been there and it certainly managed to attract the attention of the motor industry and it seems there weren’t many fence keepers.
I personally didn’t like it. I am of the opinion that first impressions inevitably stay with you, be it a painting or a person, and I do not subscribe to the idea that “you will come to like it.”
Either way, it’s here to stay and, aside from the grille that divides opinions, the new 4 Series coupe fills its niche with poise.
Building on the popular 3 Series platform, BMW has improved the stiffness of the 4 Series in the front bulkhead and strut brace.
They have also made it 128mm longer and 27mm wider than the previous generation and, to add to its street presence, it has a longer wheelbase, a lower ride height, and more front and rear track widths. widths.
We can expect the new Gran Coupé and convertible variants in the first quarter and the M4 Coupé in the second quarter, so for now there are two turbocharged petrol engines and a turbodiesel available.
The 420i Coupé has a four-cylinder petrol unit under the hood producing 135 kW and 300 NM of torque that drives the rear wheels via BMW’s eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission that also powers the 420d Coupé with 140 kW and 400 NM of torque available between 1750 and 2500 rpm.
The M440i xDrive delivers a healthy 275 kW and 500 Nm from its 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder turbocharged mill that powers all four wheels as required by driving conditions. It is equipped with launch control and BMW claims it will get you to 100 km / h in a decent time of 4.5 seconds.
The 420d Coupé provides a refined ride, as we expected from that derivative engine, and the smooth Steptronic transmission adds to its appeal. The one we drove in the Western Cape was equipped with the optional M Sport package and while it looks good note that it is still a two liter diesel under the hood and with larger alloys and low profile tires, the comfort of driving is compromised. as is the noise from the road.
That said, it’s still going fast and once it’s adjusted to highway speeds it proves to be an incredibly comfortable cruiser with excellent fuel economy to match.
The M440i xDrive obviously uses its M kit better thanks in part to the standard adaptive M sport suspension, modified front suspension, tuned M transmission, and electronically controlled differential.
The 4-Series Coupé’s center of gravity has been lowered by 21mm, which brings the driving position down as well, and while it may take some getting used to once you play around the corners, it makes perfect sense.
BMW has installed a Sprint function in its arsenal that allows you to move one down on the steering transmission paddle that shifts the gears a couple of gears down, allowing you to accelerate quickly and appreciate engine noise even if it starts. of him reaches the cabin.
The handling is what you would expect from a car of this nature, with almost no body roll, sharp and crisp approach and exit even on tight forks and in Sport mode, even the odd screeching of the tires.
Going through slower traffic, slowing down effortlessly, and stomping on the accelerator in high gears quickly causes the speedometer and rev counter to move up in the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster before stabilizing again.
However, we found that even in comfort mode, the ride skirted the stiff side and it will take some getting used to, especially on the bumpy sections of suburban roads.
While the design of the new 4 Series may polarize its quality and the sporty interior remains among the best, as does its handling and overall driving dynamics, and if you prefer its styling a bit more individualistic, this would be the Beemer for you. you. .
BMW 4 SERIES PRICES
420i Standard Package: R755 400
420i M Sport Package: R800 800
420d standard package: R802 900
420d M Sport Package: R848 300
M440i M Sport Package: R1 117 450
DRIVE360
[ad_2]
