BMW 4 Series on sale

What's the news?
BMW has officially launched the new 4 Series Coupé in Ireland. In spite of the name, it's very closely related to the F30 3 Series saloon, although pretty much all of the exterior panels are different. Compared to its direct predecessor, the E92 BMW 3 Series Coupé, the 4 Series has a 50mm longer wheelbase, is 16mm lower and 43mm wider. That extra length in the wheelbase does wonders for the rear seat accommodation, which could almost be described as generous. Well, by Coupé standards anyway.

Needless to say, diesel power represents the core of the 4 Series range and the 420d SE version starts from €46,320, although you'll need to add an extra €4,500 for the desirable M Sport specification. Actually, even that price is something of a misnomer, as that's for a car with a manual gearbox, something that BMW Ireland reckons it will sell precious few of. Something which lends credence to the rumour that BMW is seriously considering phasing out manual gearboxes altogether...

Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloys, leather, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, PDC on front and rear (Park Distance Control), Xenon lights, DAB digital radio and electrically adjusted seats. The 420d scores a very wallet-friendly 120g/km CO₂ rating, and the reduction in CO₂ means that many models are now cheaper than the equivalent old 3 Series Coupé versions, including the headlining (for now - until the new M4 arrives...) 435i model, which is now €3,000 cheaper than it was when it was a 335i.

BMW Ireland reckons it will sell more than 100 4 Series Coupés next year, confident that the slight uptick in the economy is enough to kick-start coupé sales anew, something that will be aided by an impressive finance package that puts a 4 Series on your drive for 30 per cent down and €399 a month.

The 420d, 428i (turbocharged 2.0-litre four-pot, makes a lovely noise) and 435i are all on sale from this Saturday, while the 420i, 430d and 435d go on sale in November. BMW is also using the 4 Series to put a big push on its optional xDrive four-wheel drive system, which will be available on the 420d, 420i and 435d models, with prices starting from a €2,250 premium (on a 420d SE) and which adds only 9g/km to the CO₂ figure.

Anything else?
Normally, the widest point of a BMW is the door handles, but the 4 Series' broadest point is actually its rear wheel arches. Which could create some interesting incidents in tight parking spaces...

Read Shane's first drive of the BMW 435i Coupé here.