MUNICH: BMW has officially launched its latest 4 Series (G22) coupe with five variants to replace the outgoing F32 4 Series.
Dimensionally, the sleeker-looking G22 now has a 2,851mm wheelbase (+41mm) and measures in at 4,768mm-long (+128mm), 1,852mm-wide (+27mm) and 1,383mm-tall (+6mm).
However, despite being taller, the German carmaker says that its centre-of-gravity is now lower by 21mm thanks to its added width and widened track that's grown by 28mm at the front and 18mm at the rear.
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Externally, the G22 looks absolutely revised thanks to the newly designed front kidney grille flanked by full-LED adaptive headlights with a double-U fibre-optics design that act as daytime running lights while the rear also sports full-LEDs and dual-branch tailpipes.
Under the hood, the G22 now uses BMW's new 48V starter-generator motor that can help provide an added 11hp in power delivery while also able to help reduce fuel consumption and emissions via the Brake Energy Regeneration system.
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The company says that they've upgraded their 2.0-litre turbocharged engine extensively with the entry-level 420i making use of 184hp and 300Nm for its rear wheels while the 430i gets a power boost to 258hp and 400Nm - allowing them to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 7.5 and 5.8 seconds respectively and onwards to a top speed of 240kph while the 430i gets electronically limited to 250kph.
The flagship M440i xDrive Coupé model uses a larger 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line petrol engine producing 374hp and 500Nm of torque for the xDrive all-wheel-drive system.
Developed with the expertise of BMW M GmbH, the M440i's engine comes with weight-optimised pistons and con rods, a twin-scroll turbocharger with indirect charge air cooling and a water-cooled exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head.
Compare the new 4 Series with the current model
Getting from 0 to 100kph takes 4.5 seconds and top speed has been electronically restricted to 250kph.
Regardless of the powerplant, all engines are mated to an eight-speed Steptronic transmission as standard, which can now be specified with the new optional Sprint function.
The G22 builds on the 3 Series (G20) chassis with reinforcements and an almost completely sealed underbody to improve air flap control and a reduce coefficient of drag (Cd) figure that's as low as 0.25Cd.
If wanted, customers can tailor the driving experience with options that include M Sport suspension, Adaptive M suspension with variable sport steering, M Sport brakes and the M Sport differential.
BMW has increased the stiffness of the body structure and suspension mountings to help up the G22's driving qualities by using a shear panel for connecting the front spring strut towers to the bulkhead and an integral tower-to-front end struts as well as bracing elements for added stiffness for the rear axle area.
The dampers now use a double-joint spring strut front axle and five-link rear axle offers for handling and long-distance comfort.
The standard lift-related dampers aid performance and comfort by reducing body movement on bumpy road surfaces as well as improved handling when cornering.
Increased damping forces, firmer springs and anti-roll bars have been employed to give the G22 its new-found handling characteristics.
The M Sport suspension, standard across the range, includes stiffer settings for the lift-related damping and the likes of additional body struts, more rigid mounts, firmer anti-roll bars and increased negative wheel camber.
The optional Adaptive M suspension combines all the qualities of M Sport suspension with electronically controlled dampers.
Continuously adjustable valves allow the damping force to be metered at each wheel individually and as a function of vehicle load.
Switching between the various Driving Experience Control switch modes produces a clearly perceptible variation in the damping characteristics.
An extra mode can also be selected using the Driving Experience Control switch on models with Adaptive M suspension.
In the Adaptive setting, the steering, damping and accelerator responses along with the Steptronic transmission’s shift characteristics are automatically adjusted to suit the driving style.
Electric Power Steering including Servotronic speed-sensitive power assistance is fitted as standard.
Variable sport steering, with a ratio that adjusts to changes in the steering angle, is part of the M Sport suspension and Adaptive M suspension set-ups.
M Sport models come with 18-inch M light-alloy wheels while the M Sport Pro package upgrades them to 19-inch M light-alloy wheels.
The M440i is fitted as standard with a unique Cerium Grey Double-Spoke 19-inch light-alloy wheel while 20-inch light-alloy wheels for the new BMW 4 Series Coupé are available from the Original BMW Accessories range as an optional extra.
The brake discs now consist of a grey cast iron friction ring with an aluminium brake disc chamber.
The optional M Sport brakes that's standard on the new M440i uses a four-piston calipers at the front while the rear uses mono-calipers and both bear the M logo while being painted in a blue
Inside, the four-seat cabin features a driver-centric cockpit that's been accented by the horizontal lines around the instrument panel and further emphasised by electroplated strips extending into the door areas.
The outer edges of the high-set centre console now have knee pads to cater to those who enjoy twisted roads while at speed.
The start/stop button for the engine is now positioned in a control panel in the centre console, where the newly designed selector lever is joined by the iDrive Controller and the buttons for the Driving Experience Control switch and electromechanical parking brake.
Newly developed front sport seats are standard, featuring contoured side bolsters to handle hard cornering times.
All models also include front-seat heating as standard and electrically adjustable sports seats including memory function are available for customers who choose to upgrade to the Comfort Plus package.
Vernasca leather trim comes in a choice of five colours and includes special decorative quilting and seam patterns.
Extended BMW Individual Merino leather trim and BMW Individual full leather trim are also available for M Sport Pro Edition models, as well as the M440i xDrive Coupé and M440d xDrive Coupé. LED ambient lighting is standard across the range.
M Sport models come complete with Sports seats with M-specific upholstery, an M leather steering wheel with more user-friendly multi-function buttons, door sill plates and digital instrument cluster display bearing the M logo .
An Anthracite-coloured BMW Individual headliner and interior trim strips in Aluminium Tetragon with accent strips in Pearl-effect Chrome round off the interior ambience while sound quality can be upped with the optional Harman Kardon surround sound system.
At the rear of the cabin, the G22 has a convenient 40:20:40-split backrest that also provides an access panel to the larger 440-litre boot.
Opting for the M Sport variant means that a Sprint function will be added as well as a sporty engine soundtrack in the cabin when SPORT mode is activated.
Additionally, M Sport brakes will be swapped in, which is also available for the 420i, as well as 19-inch M light-alloy wheels, a piano-black rear spoiler, BMW Individual High-gloss Shadowline trim with extended features and BMW Individual lights Shadowline and M seat belts.
The M Performance Parts portfolio offers the ability to retrofit items such as 20-inch M Performance forged light-alloy wheels in Y-spoke design with a Jet Black matt finish, a carbon-fibre front grille, front splitter and side skirt attachments, as well as aero flicks for the front apron in High-gloss Black.
The G22 can be had with an M Sport model format that adds on large outer air intakes in the front apron, a more pronounced rear apron with an inlay in Dark Shadow and a diffuser element in High-gloss Black
Other M Sport model features include air intake trim elements, side window surrounds and exterior mirror bases in High-gloss Black.
Building on the M Sport model, the new M Sport Pro Edition combines the M Sport Pro package with a choice of three exclusive Individual Metallic exterior paints – Dravit Grey, Tansanite Blue and Aventurin Red (available in July 2021).
The new edition gains an even sportier edge with a unique 19-inch Jet Black Double-Spoke wheel, Black High Gloss Mirror Caps and the choice between Individual Aluminium Fabric High Gloss or Piano Black interior trim.
Particularly for the M440i xDrive Coupé and BMW M440d xDrive Coupé, the kidney grille surround, air intake trim, exterior mirror caps and trapezoidal exhaust tailpipe finishers will be in Cerium Grey metallic.
But if that isn't sporty enough, then perhaps an M Carbon exterior package would be more palatable which comprises of a front-wing air intake finishers, exterior mirror caps, a diffuser element in the rear apron and a specially moulded rear spoiler - all made from carbon fibre.
