New BMW 4 Series revealed: refreshed look and updated technology including laser lights
M4 CSL inspiration for the lights
BMW has unveiled its updated 4 Series Coupe and Convertible models ahead of the cars going on sale this spring.
Both the hard top and cabrio versions of the sporty two-door executive car will get small tweaks to their exterior designs, as well as some fresh technology features inside.
Most apparent is the introduction of new headlights with arrow-shaped light signatures made with clusters of LEDs, which are also available in high-specification “adaptive form”. That allows the lamps to automatically dip the high beam in the direction of oncoming traffic to prevent dazzle, while still providing maximum illumination elsewhere.
High-tech laser lights from BMW M4 CSL
Vehicles equipped with the more upmarket lights will be marked out by blue or grey accents in the headlights, depending on the customer’s specification, and the inclusion of Laserlight rear light clusters. Using fibre-optic strands to create complex shapes in the lights, the technology is making its debut on a mass-produced BMW, having previously been seen in the limited-edition M4 CSL.
Other smaller exterior tweaks include subtle changes to the enlarged grille, and larger exhaust tips in the rear bumper. New paint colours are also available, alongside new alloy wheel designs.
Flat-bottomed wheels
Inside, meanwhile, the 4 Series looks broadly the same as before, albeit with new steering wheel designs. Illuminated steering wheel switchgear and gearshift paddles are now standard across the range, while the M Sport package now includes a special flat-bottomed steering wheel with a 12 o’clock marker on the rim.
More importantly, BMW has fitted the massive Curved Display that spans most of the dashboard with its latest-generation infotainment system. Not only does that include supposedly more logical menus and easier access to features, but it also comes with an updated climate control interface that allows for fewer buttons on the dashboard and better access to heater and ventilation settings through touchscreen prompts or voice commands.
For the driver, the German company is offering an optional new augmented reality system for its navigation system, which puts a live view of the road ahead into the digital instrument display. Then it overlays information such as turn instructions, which help drivers pick the right turn at a complex junction or roundabout.
Tweaked ambient lighting, too
And BMW has tweaked the 4 Series’ ambient lighting, too, with adaptive lights that can use a driver-specified colour or offer animations to denote incoming phone calls or open doors.
While BMW is making changes to the 4 Series models’ exteriors and interiors, the engine range will remain more or less unchanged. With 2- and 3-litre petrol and diesel engines providing power, hybrid options remain conspicuous by their absence.
That said, BMW has included hybrid power in a way, with all 3-litre, six-cylinder versions of the 4 Series getting a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. That adds 11bhp to the power output, but it also helps to run the electrical systems more efficiently, allowing better fuel economy as a result.
Petrol and diesel engines dominate
As before, the engine range includes 2-litre petrol and diesel engines that are expected to take the lion’s share of sales, but performance-orientated 3-litre options will remain. These include the new M4 Competition models, which have also received much the same treatment as the hot versions of the regular 4 Series.
That means there are new lights, new wheel designs and new interior trims, as well as the updated infotainment system. As with the outgoing M4 Competition, a 3-litre, six-cylinder petrol engine provides power — 503bhp of it this time around — to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. All-wheel-drive versions of the M4 Competition will also be available, as will a Convertible.
BMW expects to launch its new versions of the 4 Series Coupe and Convertible in March, and though there’s currently no word on whether the five-door Gran Coupé will also be updated, it seems likely to get the same treatment at some point in the coming months.
Related articles
- If you were interested in the updated BMW 4 Series and M4, you might want to read our review of the BMW i5
- You might like to read our review of the BMW M3 Touring
- Or, check out the best luxury cars to buy
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