Live from the Detroit: Whats HOT about the BMW 4 Series Coupe

by Tim Jones on January 14, 2013, 9:56 am

Bimmerfest.com is live at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show bringing you coverage of BMW and other highlights from the show. The biggest BMW news so far is the 4 Series Coupe concept. Successor to the 3 series coupe the new BMW 4 series writes a bold new chapter in BMWs history. Wider, lower, longer and more aggressively styled then the outgoing E92 3 series coupe the 4 series has a love it or hate it styling.

F32 4 series pictures

More pictures of the 4 Series Coupe

The concept 4 series coupe is a preview of what BMW will be releasing as a 2014 model year. The production model will be toned down with smaller wheels and less aggressive front and rear bumpers but the main sheet metal lines will remain.

2014 BMW 4 series

In person the 4 series is the sexiest car out of Munich. The much discussed F30 3 Series front end looks right at home with the aggressive styling of the 4 series. The car is very handsome in person and the side vents are more interested and dynamic then they appear in person. Additional stand out features include:

Side 'boomerang' vent appears to be functional
Front kidney grills are NOT functional to increase aerodynamic performance
Mirrors have F1 style aero spoilers and look great in person
It is low! There is almost no wheel gap, something that surely won't be the case with the production car
Dash features BMW Black Panel Technology
The full leather dash looks amazing
The BMW Individual twisted leather interior looks just as bad in person as it does in photos
Backseat headroom doesn't look any better then the E92 3 series coupe

Gallery: 4 Series Coupe Concept at Detroit Auto Show

The World Debut of the 4 Series Concept Coupe - Click here to see all 170 images

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40 responses to Live from the Detroit: Whats HOT about the BMW 4 Series Coupe

beden1 commented:
January 14, 2013, 10:38 am

The car looks great in silver. I look forward to seeing it live at the Philadelphia car show this coming weekend. Also want to see the debut of the new Corvette C7 and the Porsche Cayman S.

krash commented:
January 14, 2013, 10:49 am

That is nice!

raleedy commented:
January 14, 2013, 11:39 am

This "barbell" design element (thin strip across the end of the car with bulges on either side) reminds me of a little kid trying to make a scary face by stretching his mouth with fingers. Three of them (counting the headlight/(fake) grille, lower front air inlet and rear exhaust enclosure) on one little car strikes me as a bit much. Maybe I'm just lamenting the loss of kidney function.

JoeFromPA commented:
January 14, 2013, 12:08 pm

Wow, I'm very surprised by the shear amount of exterior styling going on. This is a significant departure from the e92 slab-paneling.

Those mirrors are overdone, the hood is seriously sculpted, the front end is going for the macho look, and the swage line looks like an escalade punched into the side of the car it's so indented.

I like the interior a bit more than the f30 in terms of the flow of lines - bit more organic in the center stack area.

Despite those comments, it looks very attractive and I realize they were aiming to outdo the gorgeous Audi S5 - and I think they've done it. Plus that's the best silver I've seen on a car since the Porsche 993 in Polar Silver.

boltjaM3s commented:
January 14, 2013, 12:18 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim330i

The BMW Individual twisted leather interior looks just as bad in person as it does in photos.

LOL. Elvis has left the building.

BJ

jackson328xi commented:
January 14, 2013, 12:49 pm

Do you guys think that the grills will be functional on the production model? They are on the F30 and I can't think of any production BMWs that have "fake" kidney grills. I don't know why it bothers me, but between that and exhaust notes being artificially enhanced in the cabin (i.e. Z4) some of this stuff is starting to feel gimmicky to me. I think there is still something appealing about the idea of form following function, and the thought that the engineers got the final word over marketing and design.

Maybe closing off the kidneys is form following function in this case, but at that point they should just be eliminated. Who knows.

brkf commented:
January 14, 2013, 1:24 pm

Huge improvement over the outgoing e92 and much better looking than the vanilla F30.

Zeichen311 commented:
January 14, 2013, 1:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackson328xi

Do you guys think that the grills will be functional on the production model? ... Maybe closing off the kidneys is form following function in this case, but at that point they should just be eliminated. Who knows.

Closed does not necessarily mean non-functional. At least one of the BMW hybrid concepts (the Vision IIRC) had active grille vanes that closed for aerodynamic efficiency when cooling airflow was not needed. Perhaps that technology has carried over to the 4 Series?

tim330i commented:
January 14, 2013, 1:46 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackson328xi

Do you guys think that the grills will be functional on the production model? They are on the F30 and I can't think of any production BMWs that have "fake" kidney grills. I don't know why it bothers me, but between that and exhaust notes being artificially enhanced in the cabin (i.e. Z4) some of this stuff is starting to feel gimmicky to me. I think there is still something appealing about the idea of form following function, and the thought that the engineers got the final word over marketing and design.

Maybe closing off the kidneys is form following function in this case, but at that point they should just be eliminated. Who knows.

BMW went out of their way to point out that the grills were blocked off for aero reasons. It seems strange that they would point that out and not have it carry over to the production versions. On the flip side I don't see how they don't need the cooling from the grills, the active vent concept makes a lot of sense.

Tim

JoeFromPA commented:
January 14, 2013, 1:59 pm

I believe the active vent design is on the current 7-series as well. You usually don't need that amount of airflow at speeds anywhere over 10mph, so it makes alot of sense. I just hope they are designed to fail open (like most modern thermostats).

tturedraider commented:
January 14, 2013, 3:42 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeichen311

Current production model 5ers and 7ers have active vanes. I would imagine the 6er does, too.

SilverX3 commented:
January 14, 2013, 3:57 pm

"Honey I shrunk the 6 series"

Too much of a mini 6

pony_trekker commented:
January 14, 2013, 4:33 pm

First instinct was "blech"

But now it's starting to grow on me. I like the low-slung look but the front and back are a bit busy.

Spagolli94 commented:
January 14, 2013, 8:04 pm

Hotness.

dsackman commented:
January 14, 2013, 8:07 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackson328xi

SNIP

... some of this stuff is starting to feel gimmicky to me...

SNIP

...and they even go so far as to move away from the angel eyes and copying Audi with led strip DRL's. That is quite flattering to Audi.

Sad some of the directions BMW is taking. Seems as if they lost it, or at least busy loosing it.

.

mynycbimmer commented:
January 14, 2013, 8:16 pm

This is old news, the concept car was revealed ages ago.

I want to see the production car.

angler commented:
January 14, 2013, 8:33 pm

not feeling it my lease is up in may and i might just lease another e92.

SilverX3 commented:
January 14, 2013, 8:55 pm

E92 has cleaner lines

this is a bit too Korean

ScorpioAthlete commented:
January 14, 2013, 9:11 pm

SUghhhhh_WEEEEEETTTTTTT!!!!!

jfox335i commented:
January 14, 2013, 9:17 pm

That is one ugly rear. Rest of it is ok.

ProRail commented:
January 14, 2013, 10:28 pm

It appears that some people don't like it. So what else is new?

SD Z4MR commented:
January 14, 2013, 11:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by beden1

The car looks great in silver. I look forward to seeing it live at the Philadelphia car show this coming weekend. Also want to see the debut of the new Corvette C7 and the Porsche Cayman S.

Are you sure the 4 Series Concept car is going to be in Philadelphia? This is a Concept car and it is going to be in Detroit for at least another couple of weeks. I'd highly doubt that they have another one to show in Philadelphia before the Detroit show is over. I'm thinking the same for the 'Vette too.

m8o commented:
January 14, 2013, 11:42 pm

Guess I'm the only one who sees Audi RS7 similarities?

Not to say they aren't gorgeous .... just see similarities.

jfox335i commented:
January 14, 2013, 11:47 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD Z4MR

Unfortunately, you're probably right. I checked the website for the auto show and there are no featured cars for BMW listed

I'll be there this Saturday, but I'm not anticipating seeing any of the cars I wanted to see for BMW. I think the i3 might be there, otherwise its gonna be the standard lineup.

marine24 commented:
January 15, 2013, 12:40 am

somebody please fix the body on this car. It looks like a horse with a huge bit in it's mouth. And they put it on the back too? NO!!!!!!!!!!

beden1 commented:
January 15, 2013, 12:51 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD Z4MR

I didn't think of that, and now that I do, that sucks if they don't have more than one for the shows. I may have to go to the New York car show then.

Ripred commented:
January 15, 2013, 1:58 am

Two gaping holes on each corner of front bumper, same on the rear... "TypeR VTEC Sparco" mirror design... More "fat" (longer, wider) than current 3-series coupe... Non-functional plastic spacers in a shape of "kidney grill"... "L.L. Bean edition" cupholders... Altogether looks awful, just as I expected from "new design language". Oh well, 12-year-old kiddies and simple-minded badge whores will still be throwing their (or their parent's) money at BMW when it will hit dealership in its final form (which I doubt will change in any significant way from this concept)

SilverX3 commented:
January 15, 2013, 3:43 am

It doesn't look elegant ..... Too muscle - look at me - wxnking style

SashaVol commented:
January 15, 2013, 3:52 am

EVERYTHING IS Good looking!!! I'm in love whit it <3

Sent from my LG-MS840 using Bimmer App

JoeFromPA commented:
January 15, 2013, 9:36 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfox335i

Unfortunately, you're probably right. I checked the website for the auto show and there are no featured cars for BMW listed

I'll be there this Saturday, but I'm not anticipating seeing any of the cars I wanted to see for BMW. I think the i3 might be there, otherwise its gonna be the standard lineup.

Ugh, No 3-series wagon at the car show?

Honestly, the low sales of that car in the U.S. are becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

spicytofu commented:
January 15, 2013, 11:03 am

i was expecting the production car.....concept is old news...

OVRTKR commented:
January 15, 2013, 4:03 pm

Beautiful Lines.....

3ismagic# commented:
January 15, 2013, 5:36 pm

That car is 90% awesome and 10% hideous.

Overall the lines are great and the lights look sweet.

however, The front and rear lower facia just ruin it. It looks like an ugly dog with a stick in its mouth.

That individual interior looks straight out some d-bag's living room in Scottsdale.

kkapdolee commented:
January 15, 2013, 7:15 pm

Will the production car look the same as the concept car? Does it ever? I've only recently been following bimmers so I don't know..

Axxlrod commented:
January 15, 2013, 7:33 pm

Too much Mustang...

iamthewalrus commented:
January 15, 2013, 8:24 pm

Gorgeous, but I'm not in this market. Too expensive and too big for a 2-seater that you'll struggle to parallel park in a city. If I had a McMansion in the 'burbs and a spare garage bay, this would be fun!

-James
Seattle, WA

pony_trekker commented:
January 15, 2013, 8:39 pm

I am thinking she is prettier

frowningdeity commented:
January 18, 2013, 12:31 pm

way too much bling. it's busy and over-styled. if i was 18 i would probably be in love with it. now as an adult, i prefer a gentleman's car that's cleaner and more elegant.

tim330i commented:
January 18, 2013, 4:05 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by frowningdeity

way too much bling. it's busy and over-styled. if i was 18 i would probably be in love with it. now as an adult, i prefer a gentleman's car that's cleaner and more elegant.

It will be toned down by the time it gets to production. A lot of the bling like the mirrors, door handles, etc. will end up looking like the F30 sedan.

Tim

trios commented:
January 20, 2013, 10:36 pm

Looks good back and front.

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