BMW 4 Series News

BMW was just getting set to unveil their new 4 Series Gran Coupe over the weekend, but were beaten to the reveal by images of the new car leaking online. However the full set of images and some details of the new 'four-door coupe' followed pretty swiftly.The 4 Series Gran Coupe is based on the same platform as the 4 Series coupe and convertible and will join them later this year adding some extra sports flair to the line-up.The images show a lower-slung stance and sleeker profile, with the extended and steeply raked rear roofline echoing coupe styling while still offering a semblance of four-door practicality -- although the side views suggest that tall people will have to duck if sentenced to the rear seat. BMW says the boot space is 480 litres -- 35 litres more than the coupe.The drivetrain line-up largely follows the coupe, meaning the entry point for us is likely to be a 420i with a 135kW/270Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder. Also in the petrol line-up are a 428i with a 180kW/350Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder and a 435i with a 225kW/400Nm turbocharged six-cylinder petrol.Turbodiesel versions are a 420d with a 135kW/380Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder and a 418d (not available here in the coupe) with 105kW four-cylinder.Echoing the price positioning of its bigger sibling, the 6 Series Gran Coupe, expect prices for each variant to slot in between that of related coupe and convertible, meaning a start price of somewhere around $75,000 if the range kicks off with a 420i (which doesn't get a convertible version here) or around $80,000 if the Australian entry level follows the 4 Series convertible in opening with the 420d.BMW has also released details of optional all-wheel drive versions for the 428i and 420d, both of which will be offered with the brand's xDrive system -- although there is no confirmation yet they will arrive here with the rest of the Gran Coupes, expected to hit later this year.“We’re looking at the 4 Series Gran Coupe arriving just after mid-year, early in the third quarter,” BMW Australia spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher says, confirming that we’re unlikely to see the 418d lower level diesel here.“We think we’ll see a similar drivetrain line-up to the coupe, opening with the 420i. What we do look at is that we like to offer quite a lot of variety, but also need to be conscious of the complexity of product range. So it will certainly closely shadow the 4 coupe, which has been received extraordinarily well by the media and public.“What we’re doing at the moment is finalising pricing and specification -- which we’ll be announcing later this month – and we think people will be pleasantly surprised by the prices and the amount of spec for the Gran Coupe.”Watch the desktop version of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe video here. 

There are exciting new releases planned across the board; from budget hatches to practical SUVs, to exotic supercars. We’ve broken them down into segments and likely price categories to help you. We've based our price estimations on the current market, but some estimations could change in the future, and some model ranges span across price categories, so be sure to check our other stories...New cars for 2014 | less than $20,000New cars for 2014 | $20,000-$40,000New cars for 2014 | $40,000-$59,000New cars for 2014 | $59,000-$100,000LUXURY CARSAudi A8: Audi will refresh its A8 flagship sedan lineup by mid-2014, with subtle styling tweaks and interior details, along with shuffled drivetrain options. (Approximately $188,000-$249,000)Audi RS7 Sportback: Essentially a five-door hatch version of the existing RS6 Avant, the RS7 will arrive in February with sleeker Sportback styling than the wagon, and the same 412kW/700Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. 0-100km/h is the same 3.9 seconds too. (Approximately $240,000)Bentley Continental GT S: While Bentley prepares its first SUV model, there’s not much else in store for 2014 from the legendary Brit aside from powered-up new S models added to the V8 Continental GT lineup. (Approximately $380,000)Jaguar XJR: Jaguar will add the new XJR to its XJ big sedan lineup in the first quarter, with the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 performance flagship to sit above the existing Supersport range-topper. (Approximately $350,000)Lexus RC: Lexus’ new RC coupe should arrive before the end of 2014 to take on the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5, with a choice of petrol V6 and hybrid drivetrains likely to expand to include a high-performance 5.0-litre V8 RC-F soon after. (Approximately $70,000-$130,000)Maserati Quattroporte and Ghibli: 2014 is set to be a big year for Maserati, with the new Quattroporte (Approximately from $250,000) arriving in V6 form in January, and V8 form in February, with the return of the smaller Ghibli sedan ( Approximately from $150,000) in March.Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Mercedes will cap its local S-Class sedan lineup in January, with the arrival of the $385,000 S63 AMG high performance model. The 430kW/900Nm twin-turbo V8 S63 will sit above the existing S350 and S500 models, and be joined by the diesel-electric S350 BlueTec hybrid and twin-turbo V6 S400 variants by June. (Approximately $250,000-$385,000)Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe: Mercedes’ upcoming S-Class Coupe is expected down under before the year’s end, with the yet to be officially revealed new model replacing the existing CL coupe models. A drop-top version is also planned, and a V8 and V12 petrol-only lineup is expected with an entry price north of $300,000 likely.Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid: The plug-in Panamera E-Hybrid is also due early in the year, with a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 and 70kW electric motor to enable 3.1L/100km fuel use with 0-100km/h acceleration in 5.5 seconds. (Approximately $296,900)SUV/4WDLand Rover Range Rover: Before mid-year, Land Rover will add a range-topping lineup (Approximately $250,000) with new hybrid versions of it and the Sport expected before the end of the year. (Approximately $102,000-$182,000)Porsche Macan: Porsche will add the new sub-Cayenne Macan SUV to its Australian lineup from June, with the cheapest diesel model forming a new entry point to Porsche ownership at $84,900. Twin-turbo 3.0 and 3.6-litre V6s will sit further up the price scale, with the 294kW top-spec capable of 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds. (Approximately $84,900-$122,900)SPORTS/PERFORMANCEAston Martin V12 Vantage S: Aston will add its fastest model this side of the ultra-exclusive One-77 in the first quarter of this year, in the form of the track-ready V12 Vantage S coupe. (Approximately $450,000)BMW M3 and M4: BMW’s new M3 and M4 mid-size performance heroes are set to arrive after mid-year, with the move to twin-turbo six power resulting in the fastest M3 to date, and matched by the renamed M4 coupe. (Approximately $124,000-$180,000)BMW i8: The i8 plug-in hybrid sports car is expected to arrive before the year’s end, blending grand tourer luxury with 4.4 second 0-100km/h acceleration and 2.5L/100km fuel economy. (Approximately $200,000)Ferrari 458 Speciale: The first of 60 Australian examples of Ferrari’s hardcore 458 Speciale are set to arrive before mid-year, with the lighter, more powerful track-focused special able to lap Fiorano 1.5 seconds faster than the old Enzo flagship. (Approximately $550,000)Jaguar F-Type Coupe: Jaguar will add the recently unveiled Coupe version of its stunning F-Type in the third quarter, with the 20kg lighter V6, V6 S and V8 S variants also expected to slightly undercut their soft-top counterparts on price. The Coupe-only F-Type R will sit at the top of the hardtop range, with the 404kW/680Nm spec V8 promising 0-100km/h acceleration in the order of 4.2 seconds. (Approximately $125,000-$200,000)Lamborghini Huracan: With the Gallardo now officially out of production, Lamborghini is keen to follow with its Huracan replacement to sit beneath the V12 Aventador models before June. The V10 Huracan is set to challenge Ferrari’s 458 with an uprated version of the Gallardo’s 5.2-litre V10 and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. From $428,000Nissan GT-R: Nissan will bring its latest incarnation of the GT-R performance coupe down under from March, with cosmetic upgrades the key changes for 2014. New LED headlights and taillights are changed for the first time since 2007, and mesh wheels keep Nissan’s giant-killer a fresh opponent for Porsche’s new 911 Turbo models. (Approximately from $170,000)Porsche 911 Turbo and GT3: Porsche will launch several key hi-po versions of the 991 911 to its Australian lineup in the first half of 2014, with the $359,800 Turbo and $441,300 Turbo S arriving first in coupe and convertible ($29,000 premium) guises, with the $294,000 track-oriented and now PDK-only GT3 soon after.Porsche 911 Targa: The new semi-convertible unveiled in Detroit will touch down in Australia before mis-year, with a new folding roof mechanism and all-wheel drive 4 and 4S versions. Both manual and PDK auto will be available, and prices will sit $2,300-$3,300 over existing Cabriolet models. (Approximately $247,900-$291,050)CONVERTIBLESAston Martin Vanquish Volante: For those who prefer their V12 Astons roofless and with a back seat, Aston will bring the Vanquish Volante to Australia in the first quarter of 2014. (Approximately $510,000)Bentley Continental GTC S: Like the hardtop GT, the soft top Continental GTC is set to score a powered up S model in 2014. (Approximately $420,000)BMW 4 Series convertible: The folding hardtop version of BMW’s 4-Series coupe is expected by March, and echo its hardtop sibling with 420d, 428i, and 435i drivetrains. (Approximately $85,000-$120,000)   

There are exciting new releases planned across the board; from budget hatches to practical SUVs, to exotic supercars. We’ve broken them down into segments and likely price categories to help you. We've based our price estimations on the current market, but some estimations could change in the future, and some model ranges span across price categories, so be sure to check our other stories...New cars for 2014 | less than $20,000New cars for 2014 | $20,000-$40,000New cars for 2014 | $40,000-$59,000New cars for 2014 | over $100,000 LIGHT CARSBMW i3: BMW will bring the high tech i3 city car down under from September, with the pure-electric i3 BEV expected to start at about $60,000, and a range-extended i3 REX version with a 647cc petrol generator further up the price scale. (Approximately $60,000)SMALL CARSAudi A3 sedan: Audi will add a sedan version of its A3 small car to the existing Sportback hatch lineup from January, with the hot S3 version to follow in April, and the drop-top A3 Cabriolet (from about $57k) to complete the lineup in about September. (Approximately $65,000)BMW 2 Series: The discontinued 1 Series coupe will be replaced by the new 2 Series coupe in around May, and will likely mirror the petrol and diesel drivetrains of the existing 1 Series hatch. A soft-top convertible is also in the works, but its launch date is still up in the air. (Approximately $45,000-$85,000)FAMILY CARSInfiniti Q50: Infiniti models are set to become a more common sight on Australian roads before June, with the Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series-rivalling Q50’s arrival, boasting fresh styling, rear-wheel drive, and a choice of diesel or hybrid drivetrains. (Approximately $51,900-$73,900)Mercedes-Benz C-Class: Mercedes' new C-Class sedan and wagon are due around mid-year, with a range of new engines and an 80mm wheelbase stretch to help combat the also enlarged BMW 3 Series and Lexus IS rivals. Drivetrain availability from launch will include the 115kW/250Nm 1.6-litre C180 and 135kW/300Nm 2.0-litre C200 petrols, and the 125kW/400Nm 2.1-litre turbodiesel C220. A smaller diesel, diesel-electric hybrid and more powerful petrol engines will come later. (Approximately from $60,000)Tesla Model S: The long-awaited Tesla Model S pure-electric passenger car is due to arrive locally in the second quarter, with the five door hatch balancing style, performance, and all-electric tech in equal measures. (Approximately $80,000)Volvo S60 and V60: Volvo will introduce the first of its new Drive-E engines to the S60 sedan and V60 wagon range in March, with power and efficiency gains promised, along with a new eight-speed auto. (Approximately $49,000-$78,000)LUXURY CARSLexus RC: Lexus’ new RC coupe should arrive before the end of 2014 to take on the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5, with a choice of petrol V6 and hybrid drivetrains likely to expand to include a high-performance 5.0-litre V8 RC-F soon after. (Approximately $70,000-$130,000)SUV/4WDAudi RS Q3: The company’s first RS-badged SUV will arrive in February, with the RS Q3 borrowing its 228kW/420Nm five-cylinder heart from the TTRS, and promising 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds. (Approximately $81,900)BMW X1: The baby bimmer SUV is also in line for a refreshing in March, with styling and interior tweaks expected. (Approximately 46,000-63,000)BMW X5 sDrive 25d: BMW will add the first two-wheel drive X5 to the new 2014 lineup early in the year, with a price-leading $82,900 2.0-litre turbodiesel sDrive 25d undercutting the existing all-wheel drive xDrive 25d by $5000. (Approximately $82,900)Ford Territory: The Territory SUV will score SYNC-inclusive revisions by the end of the year, ahead of its 2016 fate. (Approximately $40,000-$63,000)Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: The stylish Range Rover Evoque is due for an update before June, with a new nine-speed auto delivering fuel economy gains of about 10 per cent, plus styling tweaks to bring it in line with the new full-size Range Rover and Sport models. (Approximately $50,000-$91,000)Porsche Macan: Porsche will add the new sub-Cayenne Macan SUV to its Australian lineup from June, with the cheapest diesel model forming a new entry point to Porsche ownership at $84,900. Twin-turbo 3.0 and 3.6-litre V6s will sit further up the price scale, with the 294kW top-spec capable of 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds. (Approximately $84,900-$122,900)Volvo XC60: Volvo’s new Drive-E engines will also appear in the XC60 SUV in March, with power and efficiency gains promised, along with a new eight-speed auto. (Approximately $57,000-79,000)SPORTS/PERFORMANCEAlfa Romeo 4C: Alfa will bring a limited number of its limited-build 4C sports car to Australia in around June, with the mid-engined, carbon-chassised performance hero expected to lob for as little as $75,000.Peugeot RCZ-R: Building on the brand’s reignited performance cred thanks to the excellent 208 GTi, the French brand will also add the hot RCZ-R to the lineup in the second quarter, with a highly tuned 199kW version of the existing petrol version’s 1.6-litre turbo. (Approximately $70,000)CONVERTIBLESBMW 4 Series convertible: The folding hardtop version of BMW’s 4-Series coupe is expected by March, and echo its hardtop sibling with 420d, 428i, and 435i drivetrains. (Approximately $85,000-$120,000)  

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.