BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe (G26) and i4

The controversially-styled, second-generation BMW 4-Series is now available in Gran Coupe form, giving Bimmers what is like when today's 3-Series looks like this. If that wasn't enough, it even spawn its electric equivalent, the i4. It's investigation time, kids.

The new 4-Series Gran Coupe, priced at 45,800 Euros plus additional costs, and its i4 equivalent, priced at 58,300 Euros, are stark reminders of what happens when today's 3-Series wear the controversial front its coupe equivalent donned from the very start.

BMW is now living in an era of big grilles speedo boys call it nonsense and this Gran Coupe is no exception. The 4-Series Gran Coupe bears the same burden as its two-door equivalent but with two extra doors added, it adds some beauty to its controversial looks, meaning it's not half bad to look at it. The same goes for the i4 because while it strives to mimic the concept car's roots, there's no hiding the fact that's basically a 4-Series Gran Coupe with an electric powertrain.

Like the two-door equivalent, the interior still works like every BMW does and it packs gadgets to toy with especially the annoying voice control that your camera-toting mate will find it too much to bear. Thanks to two additional doors, it's roomier than the two-door version and easy to get in and out from the back.

Under the hood, you have a choice of either a 2.0L petrol, a 2.0L diesel (the one to avoid since this is Europe today), and then this; the 374PS 3.0L 6-cylinder turbocharged engine from the range-topper M440i xDrive variant. All variants are mated to an 8-speed Steptronic as standard as well as the micro-hybrid nonsense as well. As for the dynamics, the new 4 Gran Coupe drives better than the old one because of its low center of gravity, improved dynamics, sport-tuned chassis, and suspension setup, and others. In its normal rear-wheel-drive guise, it still works like a real BMW most speedo boys adorned, but with xDrive on the M440i, expect punchlines that will get you hooked for more.

The i4, meanwhile, bears a similar story. The normal variants are rear-wheel-drive only but the M50 variant is all-wheel-drive and because being all-wheel-drive with an extra electric motor in it, the power output is a total 544PS of power, more than today's M4 Competition, 795Nm of torque, a 0-100kph time of 3.9 seconds, and a top speed of 225kph. As for range, it's good for 512km based on WLTP standards.

Even with two extra doors and with the addition of the i4, it still has the case of "bad plus good equals better for everyone", just like the entire 4-Series range.

Photo: BMW AG

BMW M8 Gran Coupe

The first-ever BMW M8 may not be the ultimate M car as speedo boys hoped for but it sure loves to wiggle all-day, all-night, because of its M xDrive system that allows it to behave like a rear-wheel drive car. Having enjoyed the coupe and the convertible, there is now the first-ever M8 Gran Coupe for those who think the M5 looks a bit matured.

The first-ever BMW M8 Gran Coupe picks up where the old M6 Gran Coupe left off and with prices start at around 162,197 Euros plus additional costs, it's surprisingly more expensive than the M5 it was based on. Needless to say, while the M8 Gran Coupe is more like the stylish alternative to the M5, the way it drives feels like the M5.

Under the hood, the M8 Gran Coupe still carries the same 4.4L V8 Twin Turbo engine as the F90 M5, meaning it produces 625PS of power and 750Nm of torque in Competition spec and because it uses the same 8-speed automatic as the M5, it can get through 0 to 100kph in up to 3.2 seconds and electronically limited to 250kph or with an optional extra where it can be raised to 305kph.

Just like the M5, the M8 Gran Coupe has M xDrive with a nifty little feature that allows it to behave like a rear-wheel drive car. Such setting like this as well as some sport-oriented dynamics underneath and you got yourself a German super saloon that loves to wiggle all wheels everywhere.

Would you like this rather than the M5?

Photo: BMW AG

BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe

The 2-Series naming has been used on various body styles starting from the compact rear-wheel drive coupe we all love and the front-wheel drive people movers that we don't. To make it more complexing, there's a Gran Coupe in the range but don't get your hopes up because the first-ever 2-Series Gran Coupe is basically a saloon version of the latest 1-Series Hatchback, the front-wheel drive of course.

Starting at 31,144.54 Euros plus additional costs, the 2-Series Gran Coupe is the 2-Series most speedo boys may not like but it was aimed squarely at the likes of the A-Class Sedan and the CLA-Class as well as the Audi A3 Sedan. Late for the party but this leftist Bimmer sure knows a thing or two about how to deal with its homegrown foes.

Scoping through the design, the 2-Series Gran Coupe shares nothing in common with the two-door 2-Series. From every angle, this odd-eyed curiosity looks a bit bulky compared to its rivals and the questionable kidney grille in the front adds some more unanswered questions. In other words, it looks like a commoner's car on the road rather than a well-sculpted German luxury car on a budget.

On the inside, the baby Gran Coupe is surprisingly cozy to live with while on the driver's side, the toys stuffed in the dashboard can be worth enjoyable and annoying at the same time. Sure, it's got loads of tech ranging from smartphone connectivity, gesture control that is very BMW, voice controls that are annoying, and the BMW Intelligent Personal Asssitant that is so Alexa-ish, among many others to list, but rest assured that the baby Gran Coupe is all business and all pleasure. Boot space? Let's call it moderately good for heaps of groceries or other stuff it can fit through.

Because it runs on the same front-wheel drive platform as today's 1-Series, the 2-Series Gran Coupe isn't as fun to drive as its big brothers but it feels somewhat stable in some parts of the road even on pavements smothered with dirt, ice, and water. With the DSC system off, the 2-Series Gran Coupe shows off its rather BMW-ish side which isn't bad for a front-wheel drive saloon, although rather mild and tangy like a less spicy taco sauce.

In the range-topping M235i xDrive with its 306PS turbocharged 2.0L engine mated to an 8-speed Steptronic Sport gearbox and xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive that comes with a newly made LSD, it's a different being that blends the right balance of performance and stability, although it will leave drivers bruised with its grippy character that others may find it struggling to turn because it doesn't have the torque vectoring nonsense that the cooler M cars had. Challenging but worth the shot.

The 2-Series Gran Coupe may not be the best Gran Coupe you can drive but it sure knows how to add challenge to the likes of the A3 sedan, the A-Class sedan, and the CLA-Class. Overall, it's a decent luxury car on a budget that shows how serious BMW is, even when our favorite German luxury car maker's turning left at the moment.

Photo: BMW AG

BMW 8-Series Gran Coupe vs. Bentley Flying Spur (3rd gen)

Does the BMW 8-Series need to have a four door version even though we already have today's 5-Series? For the people behind them, "ja, wir konnen", and with that they made a variant that shouldn't be existed in the first place but they did because a few people wanted something better looking and better to drive than their F30 5-Series. Is the new 8-Series Gran Coupe the ideal alternative to the 5-Series or not?

2020 BMW 8-Series Gran Coupe

With prices start at 91,500 Euros plus on road costs, the first-ever BMW 8-Series Gran Coupe is more expensive than its 5-Series twin but since these so-called twins belonged to a different league, the 8-Series Gran Coupe was designed to take on the likes on the Porsche Panamera, Audi A7, and the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class as it means it. In fact, it's blatant to call this Gran Coupe the evil twin of the 5-Series because it does a lot more than that.

Because it's got four doors instead of the usual two like you get in the normal 8-Series, the Gran Coupe is made to accomodate VIPs at the back without squeezing through like they do with their two-door equivalents and because it is longer than the 5-Series, it's got slightly more room as well, meaning your VIP has some space to snooze about after reading this morning's newspaper.

Drive or be driven? Of course you can drive in it especially the 8-Series Gran Coupe comes solely with a 4.4L V8 TwinPower Turbo engine producing 530PS of power and 750Nm of torque and when mated to an 8-speed AT, it does 0-100kph in less than four seconds and top speed electronically limited to 250kph. And like the other 8-Series relatives, the Gran Coupe comes standard with the xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive with electronically controlled differential lock can adapt through various road conditions like it can recognize any road conditions with precision. Couple that with the ideal weight distribution, low center of gravity, Adaptive M suspension, Integral Active Steering, and the result is a fast four-door saloon that enjoys taking things easily while cruising around town in style and comfort no doubt.

The Gran Coupe really sets itself apart from the 5-Series apart because of its style and performance but because it was based on the reborn 8-Series that is not what the BMW fans hoped for, they believed it wasn't enough because if it wants to be more than just a 5-Series carbon copy, perhaps they should look some inspiration from something else...

2020 Bentley Flying Spur

This is the 168,300 Pound, all-new Bentley Flying Spur, and like the BMW 8-Series Gran Coupe, it's based on the same stuff found in today's Bentley Continental GT, but unlike the 8-Series Gran Coupe, it's powered by a 626bhp 6.0L W12 engine mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox, making it capable of hitting a 0-60mph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 207mph. That's more than enough to crush the 8-Series Gran Coupe into the wall of shame.

And like the Continental GT, the new Flying Spur comes with a wide array of features that will keep this heavyweight limo rolling for more action such as torque vectoring, adaptive suspension, and active differential. Even with the traction control system on, it's like something so wrong feels so right all along. It maybe fit for Queen and Country but for some thrills, the new Flying Spur feels like an action hero car in disguise and it easily body-shames the 8-Series Gran Coupe by a margin.

Anyway, enough body-shaming because with such pricing, it's best for people to make do with the 5-Series' evil twin, Either way, both the 8-Series Gran Coupe and the new Flying Spur are one of the most exciting sports saloons to get jealous for because of the style, performance, and comfort worth a million likes.

Photo: BMW/Bentley

BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe

The 4-Series is the coupe version of the latest-generation 3-Series because of BMW's naming scheme to use odd numbers as saloons and even numbers for coupes but not at all. Last year, the 3-Series spawned a Gran Turismo model and it's not half bad unlike the rhetorically ugly 5-Series Gran Turismo which is a bit like an unholy product between a whale or a turtle. Now, in a terribly confusing way, the 4-door version of a 2-door version of a 4-door saloon, called the 4-Series Gran Coupe, has arrived and judging by the looks of it, the new model kinda feels like the twin car of the 3-Series Gran Turismo.

2015 BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe

2015 BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe

Oh dear, it looks like this car faced an identity crisis because in the view of many, since this is the 4-door version of the 4-Series, what on Earth did they think that BMW wants to stay true to their namesakes because with the case of having odd numbers as saloons and even numbers as coupes, looks like BMW begins to lie on us because I don't think they really did a good job on the naming scheme and if customers showed up on the dealerships, the theory is that the sales between the 3-Series Gran Turismo and the 4-Series Gran Coupe are on a balance because if they went to the 4-Series Gran Coupe, the 3GT will hurt in the sales department because what was the whole point about selling two cars with the same specs in one dealership? This is like when two identical objects suffer the same identical damages when dropped on each other.

What's the difference between the 3-Series Gran Turismo and the 4-Series Gran Coupe? Almost nothing except the 4GC is shorter than the 3GT in terms of wheelbase and it's shorter but despite being shorter than the 3GT, the 4GC is much roomier at the back and because the rear boot opens like a spaceback of some sorts, it's quite a versatile one.

2015 BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe interior

Yes, because the 4-Series Gran Coupe feels more of an identical twin to the normal 3-Series saloon and the 3GT, expect the same engine choices from them ranging from the 2.0L TwinPower-Turbo petrol, a 3.0L TwinPower-Turbo petrol, 2.0L diesel, and 3.0L 6-cylinder diesel engine. Oh, and BMW recently added a new version to the 2.0L diesel engine. This recent diesel engine, to be added on most 4-Series models, especially on the Gran Coupe, develops 218PS of power, 450Nm of torque, and can go 0-100kph in 6.5 seconds when equipped with an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

Like its 2-door derivative, the 4-Series Gran Coupe comes with chassis improvements allowing this car for a more responsive steering  but can get some minor understeering issues if you going on the bends too quick. It maybe precise when driven carefully but it can be quite harsh in the ride comfort stakes.

2015 BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe

Prices for the 4-Series Gran Coupe starts at 35,750 Euros for the 420i model up to 53,850 Euros for the 435i Luxury Line Steptronic. At that starting price, it's cheaper to own than the 3-Series Gran Turismo but more costly than the 3-Series saloon. The F30 one. The BMW F30 3-Series I'm referring. So, would you refer one than...well, you know what? They're all the same beings. You can use your mystic other-worldly powers to decide which.

Photo: BMW AG

BMW M6 Gran Coupe

The current generation V8-powered M6, in coupe and cabriolet guise, is all about being bad wolves in sheep's clothing. It may look as subtle as a premium gran tourer but overall, its dynamic driving feel really gets the best of us, literally. It maybe mild but it's tangy when it comes to driving the M6. Now that the 4-door version ironically called the Gran Coupe came out last year, it seems that the M6 version is not absent to the Gran Coupe range. Let's find out...

2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe

Annoyingly, it seems the grand touring machine has added two extra doors and still call it a Gran Coupe. Excuse me but 4-door coupe? I thought coupes were made to be two-door cars and how come there's such thing as a 4-door coupe? What's next? 4-door supercar? Oh wait, there's an analogy for that. It was in the Aston Martin Rapide, Maserati Quattroporte, and the Porsche Panamera, I think. Anyway, for this terribly confusing version of the M6, does it still have the same grand touring dynamism of the normal M6 now with extra doors?

Well, yes. It is still fast. Zero to hundred in less than four and a half seconds and it's electronically locked in 255kph (305 km/h/189 mph if the optional M Driver's Package is specified). With 4.2 seconds of 100kph time, that's about the same as its equivalent rival from Mercedes-Benz, the CLS63 AMG 4-door coupe even though they both have the same power output from their V8 engines but unlike the CLS63 which has the nastiest vocal cords, the BMW M6's polar-bear friendly V8 seems to have its silence fallen. Get it? Silence has fallen. Anyway, forget about that, let's talk more about the new M6 Gran Coupe.

2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe

Even with the added doors on the side, it still feels like an M6. It still has the thrill of a grand tourer while delivering the comfort of a premium sedan. If you're not in a mood for fun and games, the M6 Gran Coupe really is majestic and if you've been chauffeured in one of those, rest assured that you have a sparkle on your reputation by the time you got out for school studies. Imagine if a rich schoolgirl riding in one of those... Anyway, in the whole "fun and game" stuff, it's not that quite bad at all. You can hoon all day long in here until the tires get burst at the end of the day as long as there's no one bothering your whole fun and games for the day. For the braking, it's not to shabby too because unlike most other cars equipped with the high-performance compound braking system, the M6 Gran Coupe comes served with the optional carbon-ceramic brakes made from a new type of carbon-fiber compound which generates greater resistance to heat, lower weight and exceptional resistance to wear.

It's tamed, it has a double-clutch gearbox, a V8 turbo engine, some sporting credentials as expected from the normal M6, this Gran Coupe version sure knows where's it heading. It tries to be more of a sensual 4-door coupe built for high-performance fun while retaining the comfort of an executive premium sedan that will keep your Sir Chief impressed for more. Think of it as your university professor in size zero hot pants but one thing you'll notice is its pricing and with the starting price of 128,800 Euros, it will take years for you to save some cash unless you win the lottery to get one for keeps. Go ahead, unless you said "Shut up and take my money", you won't get it but good luck for those looking for one of these then.

Available colors: Alpinweiss uni, Saphirschwarz metallic, Havanna metallic, Silverstone II metallic, Spacegrau metallic, Imperialblau Brillanteffekt metallic, Singapur Grau Metallic Sakhir Orange, and San Marino Blau.

Photo: BMW

BMW 6er Gran Coupe (F06)

Last year, the F12/F13 BMW 6-Series Coupe and Cabriolet are becoming one of my favorite long distance cruisers of all time not only because of their style but also of their performance figures thanks to their turbocharged engines. Now, this year, they've added an addition that is surely not a fitting addition to the 6-Series range.

2013 BMW 6er Gran Coupe

2013 BMW 6er Gran Coupe

This is the new BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe (codename F06), the Bavarian competitor against the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class and the Audi A7. Sadly then, this new Gran Coupe is a bit too misleading because to me, coupes have two doors but this one has four doors. There is no such thing as a four-door coupe but who cares? This car was heavily influenced from the 2010 BMW Gran Coupe Concept car as seen on the 2010 Paris Motor Show. This car shows the classic features of all BMW coupes: the long wheelbase, the vaulted bonnet with forward-pointing lines, the set-back greenhouse, the flat silhouette, the coupe-style roof line and the short front overhang reflect the dynamic potential of the vehicle. I don't care what BMW said about this car but to me, this is a bit too confusing because what you're looking here is a F12/F13 6-Series with extra doors on it.

2013 BMW 6er Gran Coupe interior

A typical BMW trademark interior though but the 6-Series Gran Coupe has a distinctive driver orientation typical of all BMW vehicles and the interior features create a luxurious ambience for all passengers. The standard iDrive feature comes with a 10.2-inch on-board monitor with an exclusive flat-screen design, surrounded by a chrome frame that highlights the monitor.

Obviously, because this is a 4-door 6-Series, the rear legroom has been enhanced but I'm afraid that this car can fit only four despite the fact that BMW said that this car can fit three at the back without the armrest. Just look at the middle part of the rear. It was somewhat occupied by the rear air conditioning so it's best to lay down the armrest to rest your wearing arms.

Let me put it this way. If you have a 6-Series Coupe, accessing to the rear seats is a bit too stressful. If you have a 6-Series Cabriolet with the roof off, you can jump through the seats but that wouldn't work because of the rear legroom. With the Gran Coupe, those two idiots in business suits now have access at the back.

Oh, and I'll give you a little tip. If you have an IQ of Jeremy Clarkson's, you might even do the Back Seat Driver trick but that won't work because you could lead to serious trouble.

2013 BMW 6er Gran Coupe

At first glance, then, the BMW Gran Coupe is available in three different flavors;

BMW 640d Gran Coupe
Engine: N57D30
Power: 313 PS
Torque: 630 Nm
0-100kph time: 5.5 seconds
Combined Fuel Economy: 5,7-5,6 l/100 km
CO2-Emission kombiniert: 149-148 g/km

BMW 640i Gran Coupe
Engine: N55B30
Power: 320 PS
Torque: 450 Nm
0-100kph time: 5.4
Combined Fuel Economy: 7,9-7,8 l/100 km
CO2-Emissions: 183-181 g/km

BMW 650i Gran Coupe
Engine: N63B44
Power: 408 PS
Torque: 600 Nm
0-100kph time: 4.9 seconds
Combined Fuel Economy: 8,8-8,6 l/100 km
CO2-Emissions: 206-199 g/km

All of these models have an eight-speed Sport automatic transmission and proven BMW EfficientDynamics technology. They even come with a Driving Experience button with ECO PRO Mode and the Auto Start Stop function. Petrol variants of the Gran Coupe do come with the available XDrive all-wheel drive technology for better traction and all-round travelling even in the rain. It's quite perfect if you've encounter a road covered with pee. Without it, you could be in big trouble.

For personalization, you might have a choice of either a BMW Individual for added exclusivity upon your request or the M Sportpaket for added sportiness. Anyway, the available colors are Titansilber metallic, Saphirschwarz metallic, Havanna metallic, Spacegrau metallic, Tiefseeblau metallic, Vermilionrot metallic, Orionsilber metallic, Mineralweiß metallic, Carbonschwarz metallic*, Citrinschwarz metallic**, Rubischwarz metallic**, Tansanitblau metallic**, Mondstein metallic**, Fronze Bronze metallic**, Brilliantweiß metallic**, Frozen Gray metallic**, Frozen Silver metallic**, Schwarz uni, Alpinweiß uni, and Imola Rot uni*

*M Sportpaket-only color
**Individual-only color

My comment:
This BMW Gran Coupe is too misleading and it feels like it was made by people for the people who don't exist, like the skyscraper from Hong Kong that was made by people for the people who don't exist. Remind you of any? So I ask again, who would made a 4-door coupe anyway? Is it because they waste too much money for some research and development? Is it because they answer responses from many men? I don't really know why but anyway, the Gran Coupe costs 79,500 Euros, making it more expensive than the Mercedes CLS-Class. So, I would rather buy it instead of the Gran Coupe and use the extras for something else, like um...Facebook credits.

Consider this one DELETE or EXTERMINATE.

Photo: BMW