Is the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe just a 3 Series?

BMW launches official images of the new 4 Series Gran Coupe. But, isn’t the 3 Series already a 4 Series Gran Coupe?

Okay, somebody is going to have to walk me through this. Last year BMW began a ‘new era’ with the 4 Series Coupe, a sleek, dynamic even-numbered addition to its Coupe range and an effective death knell for not only the 3 Series Coupe but also the M3 Coupe. All well and good (in fact, VERY good judging by our first drive in the animal in Portugal), but doesn’t the introduction of the new 4 Series Gran Coupe rather dilute this ‘new era’? Does a four-door 4 Series mean we shall soon be waving goodbye to the 3 Series saloon too, or is BMW going über ambitious and pitting the two models against each other (base price depending)?

Aside from the obvious addition of two rear doors, a 12mm increase in roof height and 112mm stretch, there’s little difference between the Coupe and the new saloo…sorry, ‘4+1 seater’ Gran Coupe. And that’s a good thing, since the 4 Series remains – in my opinion anyway – one of the most stunning models of 2013. There’s also the strong 306hp 3.0-litre six-cylinder (435i), and 184hp and 245hp four-cylinder (420i, 425i) engine range with TwinPower Turbo technology, so 0-100kph times are pretty impressive. And if previous experience with the Gran Coupe range is anything to go by (remember our M6 GC experience?), then the newboy is likely to be very impressive when we finally slide behind the wheel.

Still, I can’t help wonder if BMW is plugging a gap that isn’t actually there.

Source – BMW