Meet the Concept BMW 4 Series Coupe

A moment's silence, if you please: a TG favourite, the BMW 3-Series Coupe, will soon be no more.

It will turn into the BMW 4-Series Coupe you see above.

Despite BMW's heritage of the coupe versions of its saloon cars bearing evenly badged numbers, Munich's smallest coupe has always shared the same nomenclature as its saloon brethren. So where the 6-Series is a swoopy 5, and the old 8-Series a swoopy 7, now we have the 4-Series as a svelte 3. Understand? Good.

It's a concept for now, but will make production soon. And its sporting intent is evident in the car's proportions: it's 50mm longer, 45mm wider up front and 80mm wider at the back than the current 3 Coupe, as well as being 16mm lower.

The front of the 4-Series is meant to echo the 3-Series ‘family', but with some added grunt. To that effect, there are hexagonal LED headlights, with an ‘optical fibre' that links the lights to that famous kidney grille. Underneath that, you've got a wide, gaping air intake - perhaps hinting at mega-power 4-Series of the future - that stretches right around to the flared wheel arches.

Move to the back, and you've got a wide, broad-shouldered rear with a similarly gaping rear apron and ‘double-L' lights. Overall impressions? Like a 3 Coupe after a plyometrics course and a few protein shakes.

Inside, it is familiar 3-Series territory, but with fine detailing. So you get wood trim strips, tanned leather, hand-braided leather trim and even leather-covered cup holders.

So what about engines? BMW is remaining schtum at the moment, but we can expect the current 3-Series Coupe range to cross over, so you're looking at the magnificent 3.0-litre turbocharged sixer (435i), the 3.0-litre diesel (430d) and the 2.5-litre and 2.0-litre 425 and 420. It also means that when it arrives, the next two-door M3 will actually be called an M4, bringing an end to a whole lot of history.

Are the 4-Series Coupe's shoulders broad enough to take on that challenge? Let us know below...

Vijay Pattni