2020 BMW 4 Series: prices, specs and release date

Official images of the BMW 4 Series have been released, though the firm is choosing to give little away by presenting its next four-door coupe wearing a full body disguise. However, further technical information has been revealed, as the Munich brand says it is applying the “final touches” to the Mercedes C-Class Coupe rival. 

We’ve already driven a prototype version of the 4 Series – both in 430i and hot M440i trims – and the early signs show a huge amount of promise. Here’s everything we know so far.

New BMW 4 Series: styling

While BMW’s official images show the car wearing a heavy disguise, testing mules spotted elsewhere give us a slightly bigger clue as to what to expect once the cladding is lifted. The big talking point comes at the front, which will feature a full-height pair of kidney grilles. 

BMW says that the polarising look is a fresh interpretation of the vertical grille seen on the brand’s famed 328 sports car and the E9 coupe of the late sixties and early seventies. The controversial appearance is also intended to further distance the 4 Series Coupe from the 3 Series saloon on which it’s based.

Elsewhere, its styling is likely to be almost identical to the BMW Concept 4 from the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. Expect it to arrive with a pair of slim LED headlamps, flared haunches, and a squared-off tail

Specs and performance

Like its predecessors, the 4 Series is based upon the 3 Series saloon, and several mechanical and structural tweaks should make it a sharper car to drive. The roofline of the coupe body is 57 millimeters lower than the four door; not only does this improve aerodynamic efficiency slightly, but also lowers the car’s centre of gravity by 21mm. 

Further attention has been given to the suspension setup. The coupe’s rear track has grown 23mm from the saloon, while revised dampers and a strengthened front bulkhead promise more precise steering response.

The 4 Series line-up will show an increased focus on performance. Our exclusive images offer a glimpse at how BMW’s hot M440i xDrive variant could look. It’s marked out by a more aggressive body-kit and will be powered by a 369bhp turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six engine, which will send its power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

BMW has confirmed that the M440i xDrive model will also feature a 48-volt mild hybrid setup. The electric motor contributes up to 11bhp, and is claimed to improve throttle response and deliver smoother getaways from standstill. The motor is powered by a small additional battery that is charged up from energy that would otherwise be wasted during deceleration.

Above that, BMW will also engineer a flagship M4. This isn’t due until 2021, but it too will be powered by a 3.0-litre engine – one developed specifically by BMW’s M Division. Shared with the current X3M, this twin-turbocharged unit makes up to 503bhp and 600Nm. Plus for the first time in an M4, a selectable four-wheel-drive system will be used.

Prices and release date

Official prices are yet to be confirmed for the next 4 Series, but expect to pay a small premium over the equivalent 3 Series saloon. BMW will reveal the new model to the world in June, while  a convertible version of the 4 Series in 2021.

Is the grille too big on the next BMW 4 Series? Let us know your thoughts below…