The new BMW 435i Coupe in the test

"A Coupe design is the dream of every car designer", says Adrian van Hooydonk, mainly responsible for the appearance of the current BMW fleet, and allows the gaze gently over the muscular flanks of his latest creation. "Two doors are simply more creative freedom than four. Hence the formal language of a model is usually taken forward over the coupe."

Even numbers
At the appearance of the 4ers you get used to quickly and willingly. The proportions are elegant, well-known the snout and the interior in a similar form by 3. Only the sight of 435i-lettering on the tail is still getting used to. Where the four not the first even number that adorns the rear of a Bavaria: From 1989 to 1999, a BMW luxury coupe with the back of Number Eight adorned, in 1975 came the six-used and has since appeared three different coupe and convertible series its name.

new models
And so now the four for the Coupe and the Convertible in the 3 Series. The former is available from October this year, zweiteres follows early 2014 BMW justifies the name change with a stronger technical differentiation for 3 Series, the new number may well also serve clarity, if the model range will be expanded in the coming years to completely new body styles.

2,000 euros extra
Make no mistake about it: The higher number will allow higher prices. For over 2,000 Euro premium over the 3 Series Sedan, there is a picture book coupe that can satisfied smile and van Hooydonk. Enforce his ideas was for the chief designer is not always easy. "It is easiest for a designer, if there is no predecessor, then you have a lot of room there a predecessor, the engineers want to first remember that everything remains as before ". But Hooydonk wanted change, wanted shorter overhangs and wider flanks.

50 millimeter longer wheelbase
He got it. The 4p is 26 mm longer than the outgoing 3 Series Coupe, but has a 50 mm longer wheelbase and thus a remarkably short front overhang. In width 43 ​​mm were added. For the first time the wheel arch marks behind the widest part of the vehicle, the rear track grew by a whopping 80 millimeters. Is proportioned so the 4-sporty on the asphalt, the lowered roofline provides the typical coupé elegance.

Lower seating position
Behind the wheel can be accessed by you can plop down in the sports seats - which are driven by the us 435i series. The space resembles that of the sedan, but you sit much closer to the tarmac. A little cramped it is in the rear too: Although it might not seem so at first glance, the headroom is acceptable and also the knee fit behind the backs of the front seats - on long journeys is likely at least greater grown people feel quite concentrated anyway. Never mind who wants a motorhome, may pick up the 3 Series GT.

Technical specialties
On request, the middle-class Coupe is equipped with a lot of assistance and entertainment systems. A head-up display keeps the driver's eyes on the road. The Driving Assistant Plus warns of collisions with pedestrians. Internet and voice recorder make the vehicle into a mobile office. As standard the 4 is equipped with a start-stop system, as the first BMW model in this segment there is the coupe with LED headlights.