Launches & Reviews Review South Africa

The new BMW 4 Series Coupé: The next chapter

It was Henry Ford who said that you can have any colour you want, as long as it is black. On the flip side of that, there is a myriad of pop and rock songs with 'black' in the title that comes to mind. AC/DC's Back in Black, The Rolling Stones' Paint it Black, Pearl Jam's Black and Metallica's Fade to Black are just some of the chart-toppers that come to mind. But back to cars. Some of the world's best sports cars are best suited in the colour black, and the recently launched BMW 420d Coupe is no exception. Even when it stands still, it looks fast. And the colour just suits the coupe version of the 420 series.
Image credit: Naresh Maharaj
Image credit: Naresh Maharaj

The latest generation of the sporty two-door model for the premium midsize segment underscores its distinctive character profile with both a vehicle concept focused squarely on delivering dynamic driving pleasure and the clear differentiation of the coupé from the new BMW 3 Series. The 420d has a four-cylinder in-line 1,995cc diesel engine and is mated to an eight-speed Steptronic transmission. Engine output is 140kW at 4,000rpm with 400Nm. During testing, I was able to obtain 0 to 100km/h in 7.1 seconds, with a top speed of 240km/h.

Sharper and dynamic

The BMW 420i and 420d are offered in standard base or the M Sport package. All model variants are standard with eight-speed Steptronic transmission with a new Sprint function for instantaneous and dynamic acceleration manoeuvres.

Image credit: Naresh Maharaj
Image credit: Naresh Maharaj
Image credit: Naresh Maharaj
Image credit: Naresh Maharaj

The new BMW 4 Series Coupé has a sharper character than its predecessor. A precisely optimised body structure and chassis technology ensure characteristic performance attributes together with finely balanced 50: 50 weight distribution. Optional M Sport suspension with even firmer set-up for dampers, mounts and anti-roll bars.

Options a plenty

Adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers, M Sport brakes with a choice of blue or red brake callipers, M Sport differential with fully variable locking function in the rear differential. The coloured brake callipers really add that extra sportiness.

Prominent, vertical BMW kidney grille follows the tradition of legendary BMW coupés and reflects the engine’s high cooling air requirement. Stretched side window graphic, powerfully sculpted shoulders and flowing roofline exude athleticism and sporting elegance.

Standard LED headlights with extremely slim contours. Adaptive LED Headlights with BMW Laser light available as an option. Stylishly darkened LED rear lights with eye-catching L-shaped light bars also adds to the overall look of the vehicle.

Interior

New interior design centred to deliver that sporty driving experience. Driver-focused cockpit design, new display grouping with up to 10.25-inch Control Display and optional, fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster makes it easier for the driver to focus on the road. Control panel with high-quality design on the centre console, new sports leather steering wheel and newly developed sports seats comes as standard. There are two seats in the rear with defined individual-seat character.

Assist me

A significantly wider range of driver assistance systems is all there to make sure that safety comes first. Front collision warning with brake input and Lane Departure Warning with lane return by means of steering assistance are now standard as well as speed limit information. Optional Driving Assistant Professional includes features such as Steering and Lane Control Assistant with new Active Navigation and the automatic formation of emergency lane function.

The heads up display has also been improved and now offers 70%larger projection surface. Innovative 3D visualisation of the surrounding area in the digital instrument cluster shows the driver the vehicle and its surroundings, as well as the activated assistance systems and the functions they can offer.

Park Distance Control with front and rear sensors are standard. Optional Parking Assistant for automated entry into and exit from parking spaces now includes reversing assistant. Parking Assistant Plus also comes with Park View, Panorama View, 3D Top View and Remote 3D View. BMW Drive Recorder creates video up to 40 seconds in length of the car’s surroundings. Impressive.

Is this the next chapter in a coupé tradition shaped by numerous legendary BMW models? Perhaps it is.

About Naresh Maharaj

Naresh Maharaj is a petrol head who loves cars and writing about them. He is also a Member of the SA Guild of Motoring Journalists. Naresh is also an international sports correspondent and an acclaimed corporate MC and voice-over artist. Naresh is a sports/news producer for community radio stations and also an award-winning sports journalist. Contact Naresh on moc.liamg@123jarahamn.
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