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The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe has always been the handsome one in the range, and now it has rediscovered its voice. For years, Canadian buyers could only have this sleek four-door as the all-electric i4. That has changed. BMW has reopened the Gran Coupe body style to petrol power, and it brings back a proper straight-six soundtrack.
The line-up is refreshingly clear. The 430i uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, while the M440i steps up to a 3.0-litre inline-six. Both lean on 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance, feed through an eight-speed automatic and send drive to all four wheels. In this market, four-wheel traction comes as standard, which suits the country’s mixed conditions.
The six-cylinder car makes a strong case. It serves up 386 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque, and BMW quotes a rest to 100km/h dash of 4.6 seconds. The delivery is not always as urgent as the figures suggest, since a flicker of turbo lag creeps in from a standstill. Once the mild-hybrid and turbo wake up, though, the Gran Coupe surges forward with real conviction. The engine’s smooth, silken note remains one of the great pleasures of the class.
Inside, the cabin follows BMW’s screen-led path. A single curved panel houses a 12.3-inch instrument display and a 14.9-inch touchscreen. Climate functions now live within the screen, and the boomerang-shaped dials cannot be swapped for classic round gauges. You sit low and sporty, gripping a thick-rimmed wheel, though the fiddly toggle gear selector feels at odds with the driver-focused pitch.
There is a sense of borrowed time here, which only adds to the appeal. An electric i3 is about to arrive as the new 3 Series saloon, and a revised petrol 3 Series is following. The i4 will bow out once the i3 lands, yet the petrol 4 Series is set to carry on. For anyone who loves a silky straight-six liftback, the message is clear. Grab one while you still can.
