In the automotive industry, niches within
model lines simply beg to be filled. There are two simple premises at play: if
you don't create that niche, a rival will stake its claim there and net a wider
audience; and it can breathe new life into an existing model line. That divide
can simply be a spin-off similarly monikered to the model on which it's based,
or you can do what BMW claims to have done by nixing the 3 Series Coupé name in
favour of a higher numeral and claim the birth of a new model line altogether.
BMW has gone the latter route with its 4 Series in a daring bid to broaden its
portfolio. But does the jump from 3 to 4 span a wide enough divide?
With
a lower centre of gravity than the previous Coupé and a surprisingly compliant
ride, the 4 Series is both entertaining and comfortable to drive
A Second Glance
In many road tests, the topic of styling is
a purely subjective affair that constitutes a facet of our overall assessment.
But, the fact remains that buyers often go the Coupé route to ensconce
themselves in a sportier, more distinctive alternative to the equivalent
four-door. So, deeper consideration of the design plays an important part here.
Having perennially been considered the
aesthetically most adventurous of the premium German trio, BMW has of late
adopted a far more measured approach to its design ethos. Consequently, we
never expected the 4 Series to represent a radical departure from its sedan
sibling, as was the case with the E92.
But, park the 4 nose-to-nose with the 3
and, total doors aside, elements that are otherwise difficult to discern are
unearthed.
Step
inside and the spacious, high quality interior of the BMW 435i still impresses
With the 4, it's as though the sedan's skin
has been smoothed and pulled taut over a marginally more muscular frame.
There's greater depth and definition to such touches as the swage crease
bridging more prominent wheel arches flowing into the apex of brakelamps that
have been given a narrower, more horizontal bearing than those of the
four-door.
Throughout, there is a distinct impression
of flow from nose to tail that gives the 4 a flatter, more elongated silhouette
that's further impressed by a more rounded, compact rump with just the merest
hint of the signature Hofmeister kink and the crescent-shaped cutting into that
slender D-pillar going against the aesthetic flux.
Front-on, the bonnet creases have also
become more defined, while the slight upsweep of the headlamps, widening of
those kidney-grille nostrils and broader tracks fore and aft give the 4 a
slightly more aggressive-looking visage than its four-door sibling.
The
front seats are comfortable and supportive
Although both exhibit a cab-back profile,
the 4's more pronounced sweep into the tail and narrower glazing constitute a
significant 62 mm height difference, further accentuated by our M Sport-specced
test unit's 10 mm drop in ride height, deeper skirts and an even sportier take
on the sedan's front apron with larger intake nacelles.
From whichever angle, there's no denying
that the 4 is a decidedly good-looking car, if not a visual quantum leap over
its sedan sibling.
It's a similar story inside. There's the
feeling that the ground gained by the sensual bodywork has been lost in the
cabin. You'd be hard-pressed to find many significant differences between the
interior designs of the 3 and 4.
The M Sport package ushers in some neat
touches that uplift the proceedings a little, namely a beautifully sculpted
sports steering wheel and a smattering of Estoril Blue garnish that edges some
of the panel surfaces, but there's little else to lend a real sense of
occasion.
Rear
access and spaciousness are both pretty good for a 2+2
It's nevertheless a great place to be. The
driving position is low-slung, while the narrower glazing and sports seats with
good lateral bolstering lend the cabin a satisfyingly snug feel. There's no
faulting the build quality, either. Everything feels solid, road and powertrain
noise is well suppressed and all of the controls fall easily to hand.
Sitting on the same platform, the 4's
wheelbase mirrors that of the 3 and there's a reasonable 752 mm of legroom in
the rear. But, while the accommodation for those clambering aft isn't inhumanly
cramped, that steeply raked roofline will see taller folk's crowns brushing the
roof's lining.
