4 Series (F32) [Spyshots] 2014 BMW 4 Series Spy Pics & Info

[SCOTT27]

The M6 will actually be surprising in many ways. It is more focused and is no longer just the M5 in a Coupe body.
They have changed the character to be more unique and worthy of an M flagship.



Have a look at this render and compare the outline of both the render and photograph and see if you see any simularities?
The Coupe of course will have a unique appearance to distance itself from the Sedan and establish the 4er insignia.
So in some design details you can look at the F30 and some details and think completely opposite. Some F30 design elements are carried over but are interpreted differently on the Coupe. Think of how they can be applied completely opposite from the interpretation on the sedan.

The new 4er Coupe will of course inherit the Coupe bloodline from the 6er which means sleek looks and sportier proportions.
And some characteristics including that "bow"like design feature , strong L-Shaped headlamps and headlamps with enclosed indicators with the 4er bringing in the unit behind the headlight glass and not open like the 6er.

With 3 models scheduled for the 4er - Coupe , Cabrio and Gran Coupe. Brings the 3er family (including all M variants) up to ten models with other concepts under investigation. The excellence of the new 3er family is that it will now be more profitable than before.
The individual model lines will increase profitability as will the flexibility of the modular matrix that underpins these models.

Of course the 4er will mean You will have up to 2013 to debate about this. Intensively...

 

[mini_cooper4]

It's really time to change the title to 2013 it's completely obvious it's an 2013 model and now it's confirmed by Scott too if that's what the big wait was for

 

[NarutoRamen]

Well, I personally don't give a rat's ass about the M3 sedan. In my mind, the M3 is officially dead. The M4 is going to be a completely different beast, but it's not the iconic M3. It's just sad that that name means more to the fans than to BMW. I know it's just a name, but that name means a LOT to many of us who have owned that car in the past, own one now, and want to own one in the future. But now we will have to buy the M4. Oh well, I guess Martin is right about the new game that the manufacturers are playing "plug that niche", but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

I know rose in any other name will still smell like a rose, but an M4 sounds like route number of a highway in merry ol' England. Whereas M3 sounds like what many of us know and love, the grandaddy of sports coupe, the one that started it all and the reason many of are us the enthusiasts we are. The M3, more than any car, is BMW.

Call me old fashion and trying to hold on to nostalgia, but between this, the whole Sdrive/Xdrive malarkey, and silly long names that are so blatantly ripped from meetings from Marketing "gurus" (hello, EfficientDynamics), that certain je ne se quoi that is BMW is surely being erased bit by bit till it has an identity that's no where near what it used to stand for. This is starting to suck.

All bitching aside, the prototype looks bitchin'.

 

[chonkoa]

What I think is so obvious that has to happen is that:

The previous M3 sedan sales were not as good as expected, I have heard or read, no longer will make the next generation version of the M3 sedan.

On the other hand would be extremely foolish not to use the name M3 in the coupe it is an icon, for which I'm sure there will be an M3 coupe (if bmw make the sedan, as well as M3).
GC will be the only - M4

opinions or statements of insiders??

Part of the reason for the disappointing sales number of the M3 saloon can be attributed to BMW lack of consistency. You cannot discontinue saloon sales with one generation and reintroduce it two generations later. Consumer do not like being confused with offerings, hence the need for consistency.
I see plenty of C63AMG Saloon on the road, and Merc has gotten in the coupe space with a few generations consumer will come to know that CXXAMG comes in coupe trim as well.

 

[klier]

M3 sedan and M4 coupe is not ideal, but at least we get to keep the M3 name. No M3 coupe will be something I'll never forgive BMW, btw.

 

[bmer]

They should name the coupe 3er and the sedan 4er. That way the coupe can retain the iconic M3 badge.

 

[NarutoRamen]

They should name the coupe 3er and the sedan 4er. That way the coupe can retain the iconic M3 badge.

Or you know, leave the damn thing as is. Honestly, why F__k with perfection?

 

[Sayyaaf]

E92 was also speculated to carry the 4er name, but it didn't happen and BMW chickened out

 

[Sunny]

Hope they still are chicken . Besides having to pay more cause the number is now 1 digit higher, I don't see anything in it for the customer.

 

[tomazino]

They need new number, cause there is too much models under 3er: sedan, touring, coupe, cabrio, GT, GC,...

 

[SKY]

Hope they still are chicken . Besides having to pay more cause the number is now 1 digit higher, I don't see anything in it for the customer.

But if they want de model to be independent of the 3er in terms of styling, and want it to be the brother of the 6er, and are naming the 1er Coupe the 2er... It makes sense from a MK point of view.

 

[EnI]

E92 was also speculated to carry the 4er name, but it didn't happen and BMW chickened out

At that time there was idea to give sports cars (coupes, cabrios, roadsters) even nomenclature. The Z4 was the first move, following by the reintroduction of 6-series. There were plans for X6 SAC, and for resurrection of 8-series (resulted later in Concpet CS / Project 'Gran Turismo' - which was unfortunately put on ice due to global financial crisis). And 4-Series & 2-series were also on plate. They opted out the 2-series since 1er was already the new Series needed to be established first.

4er was axed mainly due to M3 trademark. Since introduction of 4er would also mean introduction of M4 - with no M3 available until M3 sedan launch (which was reintroduced again with E90). That was to big marketing risk. So they postponed the 4er introduction.

This time is different. 6er is an established Series. So is the X6 (soon getting a smaller sibling in X4 form). Plans for the 8er are again activated. So are the ideas for new roadsters. 1er is established - and going FWD with next generation, so there is need to introduce 2er which will stay RWD - therefore they will do it this time.

So, with some well-established even-Series / models in BMW portfolio (and new coming) the 4er / M4 won't sound as exotic anymore. Especially when M3 will be available first - in M3 sedan form! So, no harm done to M3 trademark.

Also the competition is the factor: A5 is separated from A4, and E-coupe (ex CLK) is now attached to E-class, rather to C-class (where C-coupe's now filling the gap). Therefore upmarket push for 4er - to push it higher from 3er, and to allow it to directly compete with A5 & E-coupe.

So, this time the times are much better for 4er introduction - the context is right & there. Not so much back then in 2006. But the design was already separated from 3er sedan back then - although the coupe & cabrio retained the 3er nomenclature.

Another reason is the expansion of the models: new models coming in every series, therefore there is a need for differentiation to mainstream vs niche Series. 1er is coming as minivan (Compactive Tourer) as well, and as City car (sub-1er), perhaps even sedan in the future; 2er is eventually getting Gran Coupe variant); 4er is getting Gran Coupe, perhaps even GT (shooting brake); 6er - GC & GT; 3er - GT; 5er - GT etc ... Too much models for one series. Therefore introduction of new ones - the Even-Series.

 

[NarutoRamen]

It makes sense from a MK point of view.

Let me tell you something about Marketing...EVERYTHING can f__king make sense from a marketers perspective. With enough spin and a good enough advertising/promo plan, they can rationalize anything.

 

[EnI]

C'mon ... 3-series or 1-series with 8 models would be an overkill.

3er: sedan, touring, GT, coupe, cabrio, gran coupe, shooting brake, activity sports tourer. I'm not sure.
1er: 5dr hatch, 3dr hatch, coupe, cabrio, comapctive tourer, sedan / gran coupe, touring / Gt etc. Just too many too diverse models for one Series / nomenclature.

Making sports cars (coupe, crabrio, gran coupe, shooting brake, roadster) a new Series under even nomenclature makes the whole thing much more transparent.

Odd Series - more mainstream, more practical, more passanger / family oriented etc.
Even Series - more driver oriented, sportier, more niche.



It's weird to find eg. a sporty compe with the same nomenclature es eg the minivan.

 

[mini_cooper4]

Just don't make the 4er look softer than the e92...
Sharp all around! That's what I want and I'm a loyal customer

 

[Mr Robert]

^Cool, but it brings me to my next rant - it would suck if they deliberately made the M3 less powerful/sporty than a M4 coupe in order to justify a higher price tag for the M4 like we keep hearing they will do with M5 and M6 (I still hope that won't be the case).

They will make the M4 a soft touring rocket (more power, less edge - this is no longer an M3 anyway, right?) while keeping the M3 true to form. There's the differentation for you

 

[donkeykong]

They will make the M4 a soft touring rocket (more power, less edge - this is no longer an M3 anyway, right?) while keeping the M3 true to form. There's the differentation for you

So the 4er will be have hp than the 3er?

 

[Sayyaaf]

Ahh .. Just keep the GC variants and scrap everything else.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

They will make the M4 a soft touring rocket (more power, less edge - this is no longer an M3 anyway, right?) while keeping the M3 true to form. There's the differentation for you

I was about to get really annoyed until I realized you were being facetious. If they make the M's soft, well...I don't even want to think about that prospect!