BMW 4 Series 2013 News

The New York motor show in April will see the announcement of which vehicle has won the 2014 World COTY, and there looks to be a tough -- and very varied -- field of finalists.Last year's winner was the Volkswagen Golf, which also took awards in pretty well every country on the globe. But this year it could be anything from the little electric BMW i3 to the offroading Jeep Cherokee and even the Citroen C4 peoplemover, judging by the shortlist.A panel of 69 motoring experts from around the world -- including Carsguide's Paul Gover and National Motoring Editor Joshua Dowling -- will choose the winner from: Audi A3, BMW 4 Series, BMW i3, Cadillac CTS, Citroen C4 Picasso, Ford Fusion/Mondeo, Infiniti Q50, Jeep Cherokee, Lexus IS, Mazda3, Peugeot 308 and Skoda Octavia.The 10 finalists for the 2014 World Luxury Car are the Bentley Flying Spur, BMW X5, Cadillac ELR, Cadillac Escalade, Maserati Ghibli, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Porsche Macan, Range Rover Sport and Rolls-Royce Wraith.Due to a tie, there are 11 finalists for the 2014 World Performance Car: Alfa Romeo 4C, Audi RS 6 Avant, BMW M6 Gran Coupe, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Ferrari 458 Speciale, Ford Fiesta ST, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster, Mercedes-Benz A/CLA45 AMG, Porsche 911 GT3, Porsche 911 Turbo and Volkswagen Golf GTI.A separate panel of five 'green' experts will choose the 2014 World Green Car from Audi A3 Sportback e-tron (+ Audi e-gas), BMW i3, Honda Accord Hybrid, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Volkswagen XL1.Similarly, a panel of five design experts will decide on the 2014 World Car Design of the Year, from among: BMW i3, Cadillac CTS, Citroen C4 Picasso, Mazda3, Lexus IS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volkswagen XL1.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

The BMW 4 Series Coupe hits Australian showrooms this month, and we're already getting a good look at the droptop version. BMW has released video and details of the new 4 Series Convertible, which replaces the previous 3 Series equivalent and carries over features like the folding hardtop rather than the soft-top of the 1 Series and larger 6 Series.For the footage, BMW head of exterior design Domagoj Dukec gives an overview of the subtle changes to the body, and we get our first view of the roof's choreography as it folds into the long-decked boot.The roof can be lowered at the touch of a button in 20 seconds, at speeds up to 18km/h. A redesigned sound-absorbing headliner drops cabin noise by a claimed 2dB, while a redesigned windblock can now be stored behind the rear seat, and neck warmers are available for front seat occupants for the first time.What's under the bonnet for Australian variants hasn't been confirmed yet, but will be likely to match the 4 Series coupe line-up. That means a base model 420d powered by a 135kW/380Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel four; a 428i carrying a 180kW/350Nm 2.0-litre petrol turbo four; and a 435i carrying a 225kW/400Nm 3.0L turbo petrol six.We've yet to see the price tags, but there will be a premium over the coupe's pricing, which are expected to come in at about $70,000 for the 420d, $85,000 for the 428i and $110,000 for the 435i.Watch the BMW 4 Series convertible in action here.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

BMW has released details of the new 4 Series Convertible, with the new drop-top joining its 4 Series Coupe sibling in replacing the previous 3 Series equivalent.As with the 4 Series Coupe, the new Convertible has grown in length, width and wheelbase over the previous model, giving it a sleek overall profile that is just 10mm taller than the new hardtop.Like the outgoing 3 Series Convertible, the new 4 uses a folding hardtop to deliver coupe/convertible duality, unlike the soft tops of the smaller 1 Series Convertible and larger 6 Series drop-top.The new 4 Series top comes with a redesigned sound-absorbing headliner that drops cabin noise by a claimed 2dB, and can be lowered at the touch of a button in 20 seconds, at speeds up to 18km/h.A redesigned windblock can now be stored behind the rear seat, and neck warmers are available for front seat occupants for the first time.Boot capacity is a useful 370L (up 20L) with the roof up, which drops to 220L with the top down. A folding rear seat backrest and ski-port offer further storage flexibility.Australian drivelines are yet to be confirmed, but are expected to match the coupe with an entry-level 420d with a 135kW/380Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel four; a 428i powered by a 180kW/350Nm 2.0-litre petrol turbo four; and a 435i carrying a 225kW/400Nm 3.0L turbo petrol six.BMW claims 0-100km/h acceleration of 8.2 seconds for the 420d Convertible, while the 428i drops to 6.4 seconds, and the 435i manages 5.6 seconds.The coupe’s six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmission options are also expected to carry over, and a hotter M4 variant will follow after the M4 Coupe’s official debut. Local 4 Series Convertible pricing is yet to be announced, but you can expect a premium over the coupe's estimated $70,000 for the 420d, $85,000 for the 428i and $110,000 for the 435i, which hit showrooms this month.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn 

We've had a few looks at the coming BMW 4 Series Convertible decked out in camouflage while it was testing, but this is our first chance to see official images of the car -- and some of its accessories.Leaked onto a Belgian BMW website, the photos show the styling echoes the 4 Series Coupe, minus the roof. Unfortunately all the images show the car with the roof down, so we're still yet to see how the BMW designers have handled the roofline for the retractable hardtop.We'll find out more closer to the 4 Series Convertible's official debut, likely to be within a few months judging by these shots, which look catalogue-ready.BMW will likely be launching the droptop in versions that align with the coupe: an entry-level 420d with a 135kW/380Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder; a 428i powered by a 180kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder; and a 435i carrying a 225kW/400Nm 3.0L turbo six-cylinder.Transmission choices will be six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels, with all-wheel drive an option. They'll be followed later by a high-performance M4 version.Pricing announcements are a fair way off, but you can expect a premium over the coupe's estimated $70,000 for the 420d, $85,000 for the 428i and $110,000 for the 435i, which hit showrooms this month.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

The design drops any attempt to link to the regular four-door model.

...new naming game to the former 3 Series coupe, is obvious from this near-production car.It's likely to be larger than the 3 Series sedan and pitched primarily against the successful Audi A5.This reporter is on Twitter @paulwardgover 

According to Carparazzi, the car has a folding steel roof and is being positioned to win sales against the good looking Audi A5.

With both a coupe and a cabrio to stretch the 3-Series sedan into a pair of new 2+2s.The good looking BMWs get a new name and a new place in the range and the plan is to have them ready for action next year, probably just before the arrival of the new M3.

... pictures of the upcoming coup-convertible model, most likely to be called the 4-Series Cabrio. There is speculation in Europe of both two and four-door 4-Series models.

... comes from Carparazzi with this picture of the 4 Series Cabriolet.The hardtop convertible will arrive in 2013 at about $80,000 and headline a range that takes a new name, instead of living off the 3 Series family.BMW is likely to have a 4 Series coupe, cabrio and GT to go up against Audi's good looking A5 range.