10 Things You Need To Know About The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe

As part of its ongoing effort to leave no automotive niche unexplored, BMW has introduced the 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.  A four door model that borrows more from the two-door 4 Series coupe styling language than that of the 3 Series sedan whose mechanicals it shares, the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is spiritually linked to the larger, and more expensive 6 Series Gran Coupe.  Intended to appeal more to the emotional, rather than practical side of the brain, the 4 Series Gran Coupe isn't likely to sell in droves but it could find a home amongst those looking for something different than what their neighbors have parked in the driveway.

Let's take a look at 10 things you need to know about the 2014 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.

01. The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Is A Four-Door 'Coupe'

As mentioned in the opening paragraph, the 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is marketed as a four-door 'coupe.'  What exactly does that mean in the real world?  For all intents and purposes, the BMW 4 Series Grand Coupe attempts to maintain the slope-roofed proportions of the standard 4 Series coupe while adding in an extra set of doors.  Why go through the effort?  Theoretically, this allows for increased practicality while keeping the svelte shape of a traditional coupe, which is appealing to families who need four doors but who don't like the conservative styling of a sedan.

02. The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Rides On A Familiar Platform

The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe doesn't just stretch the roofline of the 4 Series coupe, but it also rides on the same platform.  This means that in addition to its curving silhouette, the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe features a few other call-outs that separate it from the 3 Series sedan (which can also lay claim to a similar chassis).  Roughly 4.4 inches longer than the 4 Series coupe, the Gran Coupe also has a wider track than the 3 Series sedan, which adds visual heft to its muscular sheet metal.  Each of the doors is also frameless - imitating the 4 Series coupe rather than the 3 Series sedan - and the rear end's additional width provides a final cue for those attempting to spot the differences between these three closely-related vehicles.

03. The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Provides '4 + 1' Seating

It would be a mistake to think that the 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is somehow as practical as a vehicle like the 3 Series sedan when it comes to passenger space.  The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe features less head room for those riding in the rear of the vehicle due to its plunging roof, and it's also been given something BMW refers to as '4 + 1' seating.  This basically means that the Gran Coupe is intended to haul four adults, with an additional 'seat' in the middle back that can be used in a pinch.  You do get a folding rear bench, however, including a center pass-through for hauling longer items, and BMW has followed Ford's lead by offering the option of opening the trunk by way of waving your foot under the rear bumper (useful when you have your hands full).

04. The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Offers A Pair Of Engine Options

The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe matches the 4 Series coupe note-for-note when it comes to engine options, which is a good thing for performance-minded buyers.  The BMW 428i Gran Coupe features a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 240 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque.  The next-step-up BMW 435i Gran Coupe delivers 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque from a turbocharged, 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine.  The latter figure is known to be under-rated by the factory, as the turbo six version of the Gran Coupe can hit 60-mph in a very quick 4.9 seconds.

05. The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Will Come With Optional All-Wheel Drive

Although rear-wheel drive is standard with the 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, it is possible to order both the four and six-cylinder editions of the car with the option of all-wheel drive.  Dubbed the BMW 428i xDrive and BMW 435i xDrive, respectively, each benefits from an all-wheel drive system that is able to automatically adjust to traction conditions as well as driving situations.  BMW has programmed the systems to bias power delivery towards the rear axles during spirited driving and also to intervene in order to shuttle torque where it will do the most good when cornering at speed.

06. The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Delivers A Single Transmission Choice

The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe will be available exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission handling the gear shifting duties.  While some might lament the absence of a manual tranny on the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe's options sheet, this isn't really a sports car - and given that the eight-speed autobox features a Sport mode as well as paddle shifters on the steering wheel to move from one ratio to the other, the majority of drivers will be well-served.  The eight-speed automatic transmission also allows the four-cylinder edition of the Gran Coupe to post fuel mileage figures of 23-mpg in city driving and 35-mpg on the highway, which is quite respectable given its level of performance.

07. The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Is Offered In Three Different Lines

The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is divided into three 'lines,' which can be thought of as BMW-speak for trim levels.  The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Sport line dyes much of the car's exterior trim black and can be had with sport rims (18 or 19 inches) as well as red accents throughout the interior.  The Luxury line takes a more conservative approach to the Gran Coupe's visuals, with a splash of extra chrome inside and out and same-size wheel options moving from double-spoke to multi-spoke designs.  The Gran Coupe M Sport line introduces unique 18 and 19 inch rims of its own, along with a more aggressive aerodynamic body kit, a different front fascia, exclusive exterior colors, sport seats, and plenty of M logos throughout the passenger compartment.

08. The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Can Be Ordered With Optional M Goodies

If you want some M performance to go along with your 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe M Sport line, you can hit the options sheet and load up on goodies.  The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe can be outfitted with one of two different suspension systems, including an electronically-controlled adaptive system that automatically reacts to road conditions or  an M Sport suspension system that features stiffer damping and springs as well as thicker roll bars.  The vehicle's brakes can also be upgraded to M Sport spec, which adds aluminum calipers and larger discs all around.

09. The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Features Advanced Safety Gear

The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is of course loaded up with the requisite number of airbags in order to ensure the safety of occupants in the event of a crash.  Helping to prevent an accident from ever occurring in the first place are a number of advanced safety features that can be installed on the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.  The Active Driving Assistant is what BMW calls its pedestrian detection system, and it can notify drivers via the car's available head-up display of anyone stepping into the path of the automobile (it can also detect other vehicles that get in the way, too).  Adaptive cruise control with automatic braking is also offered with the Gran Coupe, as are a blind spot monitoring system and a lane departure warning system.

10. The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Commands A Price Premium

The 2015 BMW 428i Gran Coupe will start at an MSRP of $40,300, while the BMW 435i Gran Coupe will retail for an MSRP of $45,800.  Sales are planned to start this coming summer, and a $925 delivery fee will be tacked onto each Gran Coupe's price tag.  The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is slightly cheaper than its equivalent two-door 4 Series coupe, but several thousand dollars more expensive than a BMW 3 Series sedan with the same drivetrain.  This is the premium that one pays for fashion - as well as a bit of inconvenience for anyone who needs a usable rear seat.