Trio of BMW models break cover – 4 Series Gran Coupe, X3 and X4
The three new BMW models include some fresh design details, but there is something very familiar about it all
In a bid to bring some life to its line-up, BMW has unveiled the all-new 4 Series Gran Coupe, as well as the updated X3 and X4. There are some key changes to the former, while the X3 and X4 get more subtle makeovers.
Brand new, but familiar
On the outside, the new 4 Series Gran Coupe looks very BMW, despite featuring the company’s new design language. In fact, just as many of the other new cars that the brand has recently unveiled, this latest 4 Series Gran Coupe appears so familiar that it suggests the design team at BMW is wedded to an extremely strict set of rules.
The Gran Coupe is 143mm longer, 27mm wider and 53mm taller than its predecessor. The most distinctive change when comparing this latest model to the previous is the inclusion of the infamous giant kidney grille. It dominates the front end (flashback to the iX SUV) and sits above a section of lower air vents. The outer air vents are positioned at the very edges of the front end, and are much larger on this latest model, while the dual C-shaped LED lights above are almost identical.
The sides of the Gran Coupe have been tidied up, with the door handles now sitting flushing inside the body work and vents behind the wheels matching those on the front end. The sharp belt lines that cut through the door handles on the previous model have been ditched for more subtle lines that disappear on the front doors before coming alive again in order to emphasise the rear haunches.
A slightly larger rear lip on the boot lid results in a curvier back end. Under this sits the rear lamps, which are slimmer and feature a single LED strip in the shape of a wave. The lights push into the centre of the car, eating into the body work that is used for the boot. There are some large black side skirts for the bumper, accentuating the width of the back.
As is BMW custom, the 4 Series Gran Coupe can be jazzed up when selecting the M model. Optional extras include a ‘Cerium Grey’ finish for the grille, air intake surrounds, exterior mirror caps, tailpipes, and badges. Other parts, like the side sill strips and lower rear bumper can be finished in high-gloss black, and there is a separate rear boot lip design too.
Changes on the inside are quite significant. The interior design team has worked to create a driver-centric environment, with a far less cluttered cockpit that is now based upon the central tier of the dash. This tier, finished in chrome, includes the air vents, climate control buttons, and a bubbly textured area (which is also featured on the centre console) spanning above the passenger footwell. It also acts as the base of the new touchscreen, which is mounted upright above the climate controls.
Elsewhere, most surfaces are covered in leather, though chrome is also used for the door handles and window switches. The small gearstick is now part of the same unit as the rotary control for the touchscreen, along with the engine start/stop button and driving modes. The old-school handbrake on the previous model makes way for a switch, which again sits in the same unit as the gearstick.
Buyers that opt for the M will benefit from more refined upholstery, a leather steering wheel, and a handful of other small trimmings.
The 4 Series Gran Coupe is due to hit the market in November 2021.
Updated, just a little
BMW describes the 4 Series Gran Couple as “all-new”, while the X3 and X4 have merely been subject to updates. There isn’t too much to shout about in terms of design changes, but the most obvious difference when comparing the two cars to their predecessors is the inclusion of the larger kidney grille – just like on the 4 Series Gran Coupe.
For the X3, the air intakes at the front end are more angular and feature a sharp line that extends out of the top and pushes inwards towards the grille. These lines run parallel to the lower bumper and work with headlamps to create an aggressive appearance for the front end. At the rear, the X3 gets new a lamp design. The C-shape LEDs face inwards and are extended by two lines that creep into the boot bodywork. The shape of the bumper is more dramatic, as is the boot lip.
The inside of the X3 is very similar to its predecessor. There are smaller air vents under the touchscreen, a few buttons have been discarded, and the housing of the gearstick also includes various switches (just like on the 4 Series Gran Coupe).
The X4 also features the new BMW kidney grille design, with the two sections joining at the centre by the glossy black surround. The air vents have been redesigned, and now consist of two sections separated by an angular piece of body work. These meet the narrow rectangular air intake that sits under the grille. It’s all a bit busy, but somehow this new X4 appears even chunkier than its predecessor from the front.
At the back, a larger bumper area is characterised by almost hectic glossy black surfaces that meet the bodywork, creating a mish mash of shapes and angles. Yet, above this, a clean horizontal line and the simple rear lamp design ensure that the back of the X4 is palatable.
Just like the X3, the interior of this latest X4 is almost identical to its predecessor. The changes are the same as those in the X3: smaller air vents, fewer buttons, and a more consise centre console.
BMW says the new X3 and X4 models will make their world debuts at the Chengdu Motor Show in China on the 27 August, and will be available to purchase in summer 2021.