BMW News: Rumorpile: 4-Series Means Coupes, Convertibles, and Gran Coup

[William Maley]

William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

September 26, 2012

For the longest time, we've been hearing reports and rumors that BMW would separate the 3-Series sedans and the 3-Series coupe/convertible, giving the coupes and convertibles the 4-Series moniker. Well, a new report from Automobile Magazine says the 4-Series is a done deal.

Automobile says BMW is moving this way to make money. Using the example of a similarly equipped 5-Series sedan and 6-Series Gran Coupe, the Gran Coupe would cost a third more than a 5-Series sedan. Separating the coupe and convertible from the sedan would allow BMW to charge a bit more.

The model breakdown for the 3-Series and 4-Series will look something like this,

3-Series

• Sedan
  
• Wagon
  
• GT
  

4-Series

• Coupe
  
• Convertible
  
• Gran Coupe
  

The 4-Series coupe and convertible will share the 3-Series platform. The 3-Series GT and 4-Series Gran Coupe will utilize a stretched version of the 3-Series platform. Engines will mirror the 3-Series lineup.

If you're wondering about whether M3 will solider on for the coupe or use M4, well its the latter. M3 will still be in use for the sedan.

Source: Automobile Magazine

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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[Carguy]

Now they need to call todays RWD 1 series in coupe and convertable forms the 2 series! Then they can offer the new and NIGHTMAREISH FWD models the 1 series!

[Robert Hall]

Now they need to call todays RWD 1 series in coupe and convertible forms the 2 series! Then they can offer the new FWD models the 1 series!

That's basically the plan from what I've read....

[balthazar]

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.... 'names' even pre-schoolers can keep straight.

Rearranging the deck chairs, IMO.

[G. David Felt]

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.... 'names' even pre-schoolers can keep straight. Rearranging the deck chairs, IMO.

Yes with higher prices and less features. steel your money with blah design.

[Drew Dowdell]

So wait, there will be an M3 and M4... but the M4 will be a coupe that is larger and heavier than an M3 sedan?

Also, BMW may be using the 6er v. 5er as an example on cost, but the 6er is more of a cut down 7-series coupe than a 5-series coupe equivalent.

[smk4565]

4-series is dumb to me, just like Audi A5 is dumb. It should be 3-series sedan, coupe, convertible, wagon. Multiple body styles on the 3 as it is now. 6-series/Gran Coupe are niche vehicles anyway so I don't mind the use of 6 there, especially since it is more 7-series than 5-series now.

Mercedes is going the opposite direction and I think for the better. C-class, E-class, S-class will all have a coupe, no more CLK or CL. Makes more sense. Much like Cadillac having CTS in 3 body styles makes sense, calling it CTS, CTC, CTW, or CTS2, CTS4, or something would be stupid.