1 Oct 2013
BMW switched monikers from 3 Series to 4 Series for its coupe and cabriolet range in 2013 in a bid to differentiate its bread and butter sedan offering and presumably attract more buyers.
Initially launching in two-door coupe guise ahead of the cabrio that arrived in March 2014 and then the brutal M4 in June, the 4 Series was available in three specifications – the base 420d which is the sole diesel, the mid-spec 428i and the 435i. An entry-level 420i petrol model was added to the coupe range in January 2014.
The 420d was powered by a 135kW/380Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel, with fuel consumption of 4.6L/100km, while the 428i featured a retuned version of BMW’s 2.0-litre turbo-four petrol engine, uprated to 180kW/350Nm of torque with fuel use of 6.4L/100km.
Under the bonnet of the 435i was a 225kW/400Nm 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with a twin-scroll function to widen the spread of boost, consuming 7.4L/100km and dashing from a standing start to 100km/h in 5.1 seconds.
In the 420i and the identically specified 420d, standard gear included 18-inch alloy wheels, an eight-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters (although a six-speed manual was a no-cost option), dual-zone climate-control air-conditioning, a Bluetooth, sat-nav, a reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors.
At the top of the range, the 435i gained keyless entry, a premium Harman Kardon audio system, the M Sport package with suede-look roof lining, more aggressive-looking body plastics, M-logo alloy wheels, an M-badged steering wheel, and variable electric steering with adjustable weight.
BMW launched the cabriolet in March 2014 with identical specifications to its hardtop sibling.
