BMW presents the BMW Concept 4 Series Coupe

I really like it, but what's up with the vent on the front fenders?

I've seen a few versions of it now, none of which quite seem to work. It's just distracting.

Love it. I actually will understand the price increase considering the substantial changes in mechanicals and visuals. Beautiful exterior.

20" wheels are BS but whaddya gone do.

I have been waiting for these pics. I happen to think the F30 is just plain ugly. Can't stand to look at it actually. So I had major concerns about giving up my lease in Feb 2014. No worries now. 4 series looks awesome. It's amazing how much different a coupe versus 4 door can change the look on a similar design. Then again, I have always been partial to the look of a coupe.

Originally Posted by Technic

That's Alcantara/faux Suede/real Suede. The same as the headliner.

The steering wheel in the photos says 'BMW Individual' on it.

Clearly this is an enhanced interior, the standard version will be a bit less Elvis Jungle Room methinks.

BJ

Not digging the exhaust, those square covers are hideous. Why do car manufacturers feel they have to hide the exhaust pipe, it never looks right. Makes it look like an Acura, yech! rest of it looks good.

As a side note, I'm concerned for BMW's financial health. They must've hired an undergrad marketing major to write-up this description. The following are a few word counts:

1. Dynamic - Used 17 times (23 times if you count aerodynamic and efficientdynamic)
2. Design - used 22 times - in one part it was used in 7 out of 10 sentences in a row.
2. Exclusive/Exclusivity - 10 times - you know you are in brand snobbery country when the marketing materials can't even make something feel exclusive without using the word exclusive 10 times
3. Proportion - 6 times

...

You get the point. I actually enjoy well written, artistic marketing pieces. It truly is an art to make **** up out of thin air to create appeal or highlight what you want highlighted.

By marketing piece standards, this PR piece wasn't even that long....but I had to stop reading it because it was so obnoxiously written.

-front bumper
-rear bumper
-side vents
-large hood (looks pregnant)

+new LED DRLs, really like that look
+rear LED tails, long and sleek. I also like the new Audi A5 tails, this is something similar

interior is nothing special, just a F30

Exhaust I can live with, similar to a Lexus

And we all know the production car will not look like this. Just look at the leaked photos. Side mirrors and door handles are different.

Ok one last thing: I actually find the interior very well done by BMW individual. It's obviously an individual job, but the video at least presents it very artfully and nicely differentiated from the current 3. Something about the dash design looks much more upscale in terms of materials choice. Can't put my finger on it.

Wouldn't want to be sitting on braided belts though

Visually, at least from the exterior, it looks like a marriage of the 3 Series and the A5. Not bad, except I hope the front facia on production car loses those enormous Audi-inspired lower air scoops. Given the taper of the roof-line, I wonder whether the convertible version will be a soft-top with those signature flying buttresses from the 6 Series.... That would be nice!

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

The steering wheel in the photos says 'BMW Individual' on it.

Clearly this is an enhanced interior, the standard version will be a bit less Elvis Jungle Room methinks.

BJ

Does it come with a peanut butter, bacon and banana sandwich?

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

The steering wheel in the photos says 'BMW Individual' on it.

Clearly this is an enhanced interior, the standard version will be a bit less Elvis Jungle Room methinks.

BJ

I didn't see that at first glance.

Indeed some people have much more money than taste. Elvis was one of them.

That "individual interior" is coded ZSDP aka The Scottsdale D0uchebag Package

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

The steering wheel in the photos says 'BMW Individual' on it.

Clearly this is an enhanced interior, the standard version will be a bit less Elvis Jungle Room methinks.

BJ

I thought that it was obvious that it was Individual, seriously.

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

The steering wheel in the photos says 'BMW Individual' on it.

Clearly this is an enhanced interior, the standard version will be a bit less Elvis Jungle Room methinks.

BJ

Well put.
Some of the OTT trim won't make production let's hope that they choose wisely.

The lights and exhaust have clear Audi/Lexus influences. The marketing people may be getting a bit too much say.

You never really know about a car design until you see it in person but it looks like they got the basic shape right.

Very promising, I'm getting excited about an M4. That said, they of course chose flattering photo angles and it's concept. So we'll see. That interior color mix is awful but the F30 interior with some surface upgrades and toned down mixes would be great.

I think it will sell well now they make the coupe look more like all the coupes the competitors have.

But since when the table has turned? The lower front fascia is clearly copied from Kia.

Originally Posted by dtc100

I think it will sell well now they make the coupe look more like all the coupes the competitors have.

But since when the table has turned? The lower front fascia is clearly copied from Kia.

Car makers have followed trends since the dawn of... cars

It's not always a bad thing. It's a great looking car.

(now fix that side vent or lose it )

Originally Posted by Leslierc

Visually, at least from the exterior, it looks like a marriage of the 3 Series and the A5. Not bad, except I hope the front facia on production car loses those enormous Audi-inspired lower air scoops. Given the taper of the roof-line, I wonder whether the convertible version will be a soft-top with those signature flying buttresses from the 6 Series.... That would be nice!

I don't see any A5 there. Both the concept and the pre-production model we've seen look like much like the 6er, particularly the back half. The leather trimmed dash here shows how similar the 3er interior can look to the 6er interior.

Originally Posted by otonimus

Car makers have followed trends since the dawn of... cars

It's not always a bad thing. It's a great looking car.

(now fix that side vent or lose it )

BMW has set their own design trends over the years and the Koreans and Japanese (and others) copy those designs, and not the other way around!

Well, figured I'd throw down my 2c... especially considering the 4-series is on my short list when my 135i lease runs out (2 more years)

From the side, I dig it. The scoop behind the wheel is a bit like it's trying too hard to look fast... but it's not horrible. Certainly, it's in keeping with the brand identity (witness the side vents on M3's going back a ways). It also seems to fit nicely into the lines, but might have looked better if it had better followed the arch of the wheel opening. The roof line is nice, sculpted... the windshield is tall and upright... but the bulbous long hood kind of spoils it a bit. Also the trend toward a longer and longer overhang in front of the wheels seems to continue unabated. That's disappointing as well because I loved the "wheels pushed to the corners" look of my E46... this is just looking a bit generic.

The rear is a definite good progression on the E9x tail end. It's definitely got that family resemblance to the other new F-cars and has a nice, sculpted shape. I'm also digging the shapes of the tail lights. Trunk opening looks wide and practical as well. The exhaust though... not feeling that at all.

Interior's about what I'd expect (sans the individual "I want to ride around in a baseball" interior)... if you squint at it you can see an F30 interior almost note for note.

The front end though... yeah... I'm not really digging that at all. The "Kia Optima" chin is not good... I hope that doesn't make it to production. I actually don't mind the headlights reaching in to the grill, but that grill just looks wrong. Again it's like it's trying to hard to look fast. The new style halo lights are also odd looking... makes the car look like it's falling asleep to me. That's sending the wrong message; I love my 1'er from the front because it reminds me of a pit-bull or boxer looking expectantly at you as if to say "Are we going to go play now?" This "face" just has a look of someone who hasn't had enough sleep and is trying to look angry but just coming off as petulant.

Looking forward to seeing the production car... I think some of the details I'm not getting will be toned down a bit and maybe it'll be a bit more acceptable. I can't help feel that the hood looks rather tacked on... and rather long in relation to the rest of the car especially with that long front overhang. I know BMW have a history of having the driver as close to the center of the car as possible, but this is almost starting to look like the driver's being pushed a little toward the back.

It's going to be interesting to see how this shapes up in the next 2 years for me... this could be a contender for my cash when that comes, but to be honest I'm being drawn more and more toward the styling of the A5/S5 instead. I find the Audi to be a beautifully sculpted machine, but definitely doesn't have the driving dynamics of the Bimmers of the past. However, last time I drove an S5 and a Bimmer back to back I was surprised at how close it was. I was also comparing an S5 to an M3... which the M3 is definitely superior. Against the 335i it was too close to call. It'll be interesting to check the driving dynamics of this new 4-series coupe and see if they've improved things over the E92.

Originally Posted by beden1

BMW has set their own design trends over the years and the Koreans and Japanese (and others) copy those designs, and not the other way around!

Indeed.

I think that we're seeing an over strong retreat from the Bangle era.

that may be true, but i think it is painfully obvious (at least, if this concept is any good indication of the final product) that it is the other way around this time. The chiseled exhaust covers in the rear absolutely scream acura integra, and the christmas light LEDs above the fogs in the front look like an audi or the new lexus hybrid. I would love to flame leslierc for saying marriage between bmw and audi but it pains me to say that she is at least somewhat correct... lets hope they change it for the final design.

and for what its worth, i called it like a year ago that the f32 would have 6 series-like tail lights. so maybe all is not lost. also just took a closer look at the recent 6 series and it too has the acura TL rear exhaust and the christmas light LEDs above the fogs. so this is actually looking a lot like a baby 6. but that does not excuse it IMO.

acura tl exhaust:



christmas light LEDs:

Originally Posted by chris328

that may be true, but i think it is painfully obvious (at least, if this concept is any good indication of the final product) that it is the other way around this time. The chiseled exhaust covers in the rear absolutely scream acura integra, and the christmas light LEDs above the fogs in the front look like an audi or the new lexus hybrid. I would love to flame leslierc for saying marriage between bmw and audi but it pains me to say that she is at least somewhat correct... lets hope they change it for the final design.

I agree with you that this time BMW seems to have taken design cues from their competitors. Maybe it's because Audi is cleaning their clock in China sales?

I guess my previous statement was not clear as I was in the middle of paying bills at the time!

I agree with most folks here, looks good... but even discounting the low vents being toned down in production, they did not fix the general design issues the F30 has when viewed from the front. The front looks great from the side, but not from the front. (if that makes sense). That's disappointing. Looks great from other angles though...