New BMW 4 Series 2021 detailed: Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe rival bares its big teeth

BMW has revealed the second-generation 4 Series coupe, which debuts a dramatic new look for the brand.

Due in Australia in October, the latest 4 Series coupe stands out from the BMW crowd with its interpretation of the brand’s signature kidney grille, which is tall but relatively narrow. Needless to say, it divides opinion.

The 4 Series coupe’s fresh design is otherwise conservative, highlighted by sharp headlights with integrated hexagonal daytime running lights (DRLs), a heavily creased bonnet and pinched LED tail-lights. Of note, the alloy wheels and bumpers are variant-specific.

Read More About BMW 4 Series

BMW 4 Series 2021 previewed by Concept 4

Overall, the new 4 Series coupe is 128mm longer (4768mm), 27mm wider (1852mm) and 6mm taller (1383mm) than its predecessor, putting it on the large side for a mid-sizer.

Inside, the similarities between the 4 Series coupe and the mechanically related 3 Series mid-size car are more apparent, with both featuring the same cockpit design.

2021 BMW M440i xDrive coupe

This includes a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, with both powered by BMW’s latest multimedia system, which supports Android Auto alongside Apple CarPlay for the first time.

That said, the 4 Series coupe does pick up knee rests as part of its M Sport package, and its front doors are naturally different, so much so that they’re completely redesigned, while it also has two rear seats instead of three.

Under the bonnet, the 4 Series coupe will available with two engines in Australia from launch: a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine and a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder unit.

2021 BMW M440i xDrive coupe

The former is available in two tunes: 135kW/300Nm and 190kW/400Nm, dubbed 420i and 430i respectively, while the latter punches out 285kW/500Nm and is called M440i.

All are mated to an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission with paddle-shifters, with the 420i and 430i rear-wheel drive, while the M440i uses BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

BMW Australia will release pricing and full specification closer to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe rival’s launch.