That’s down to how the 4 Series has an almost entirely reworked suspension setup over the 3 Series saloon (no slouch in itself), despite how both are mechanically identical. According to BMW, the 4 Series’ suspension kinematics has a sportier tune, its ride height lowered and its tracks widened. Against the 3 Series, it also has a roll centre that’s 19mm lower, and it has the lowest centre of gravity in the entire BMW range.
So, despite how it seems like the new “3 Series Coupe” has gone all fat and soft on the surface (like the 6 Series), it seems our fears are entirely unfounded – a point mooted on the narrow ribbons of hilltop tarmac surrounding Lisbon and confirmed at the Estoril racetrack.
The precise steering made short work of the circuit and the 306bhp on offer gave it sufficient grunt to punch it out of corners without having so much power as to terrify the average weekend track warrior.
Along with the above, the masses of mechanical grip afforded by the Bridgestone tyres, front-end positivity and sheer poise the 4 Series exhibited around Estoril (and indeed, out on public roads) make it a truly classy act.
Considering its breadth-and-depth of ability, the 4 Series raises the bar in the mid-sized coupe segment, making the upcoming M4 a hugely tantalising prospect. Going by BMW’s run of form with its mid-sized models of late, it’s hard to imagine the upcoming crown jewel of the 4 Series range (and the M3, too) as anything but devastatingly effective.
That said, for the purists, this might not appeal to them, despite how the 4 Series is lighter, more refined and more agile than before. A front end that’s 60 percent stiffer than the E92-generation 3 Series Coupe it replaces is no small feat, either.
BMW 4 Series Coupe
But for all the massive gains BMW have made in the 4 Series over its more plainly named predecessor, it isn’t all that much more fun to drive. In fact, the keener driver might almost describe it as being a little… well… too good.
The 4 Series has lost a fair bit of the playful, engaging nature we so loved in the 3 Series Coupe, something we experienced while slinging the latter along some hilltop passes near Penang some years back.
The BMW 4 Series performs equally well on the highways, back roads, on or off racetrack.
In its place is clinical efficiency, so possibly the most important question you need to ask yourself when considering buying the 4 Series is: “Does effectiveness trump charisma?”.
If you’ve answered “yes” to that, and had a good chat with your banker so getting it won’t send you straight to the poorhouse, you’ll find mid-sized coupe nirvana in the 435i. Or at least, this is as heavenly as it gets until the M4 arrives…
This article was first published in the September 2013 issue of Torque.
2013 BMW 435i Coupe 3.0 (A)
ENGINE 2979cc, 16-valves, inline-4
MAX POWER 306bhp at 5800-6000rpm
MAX TORQUE 400Nm at 1200-5000rpm
GEARBOX 8-speed automatic with manual select
0-100KM/H 5.1 seconds
TOP SPEED 250km/h (governed)
CONSUMPTION 14.4km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 169g/km
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