- 2,790
- Vancouver, BC
- liampage123
BMW 4 Series
- Thread starter LeadFootLiam
- 106 comments
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- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
Exactly, just like there was An 8 in the 90s. I find nothing wrong with this change in names and it really simplifies it to coupes in even and sedans in odds. Otherwise, the 3er would have a sedan, wagon, GT, coupe, and possible GC. That is too much and would probably cause confusion. I will miss the M3 denomination for the 2 door model but I'll miss NA engines more than that. Names shouldn't really mean that much to enthusiasts and it really helps others understand the model range.
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- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
I dunno, I mean, for the most part the S (sedan), V (wagon) and XC (SUV) thing hangs on pretty well. The only thing that throws a wrench in all of that is the XC70, which is a V70, with Crossover-ish capabilities.
Infinity throws everything out the window the the Q50. That name means absolutely nothing when Q = luxury sedan, and 50 has nothing to do with the engine displacement. Let alone the Q60, being the coupe version. What the hell was wrong with G37 and G37 Coupe? I'll never understand...
- 1,137
Actually Audi is more or less just a "fast follower" of BMW. There is not a single Audi vehicle type BMW has copied so far. You could argue that they copied the A7 with the 6 Grand Coupe, but in fact both tried to copy the CLS.
Audi also likes to play with numbers to make them look better.
1 series -> A3
3 series -> A4
4 series/ 3 coupe -> A5
5 series -> A6
7 Series -> A8
Its no coincidence that each Audi competitor has a higher number.
Merc is a different case. Until 1982, Mercedes only sold "E","G", "S" and "SL" models (like you said, Mercedes didn't start to officially name their cars like this until early 90s).
In the late 90s they started offering new vehicle types (SLK, M, CLK - well you could argue the SLK is the successor to the 190SL).
The CLK was sold to the public as a successor to the E Class Coupe, but in fact it was based on the C Class, thus it was no E Class anymore.
Things only started to get strange when they launched the current E Class and renamed the CLK again, eventhough its still based on the C Class (which also got a Coupe now too lol). The old E Class coupe also carried the same chassis-designation as the Sedan/Saloon (W124 sedan/S124 saloon/C124 coupe/A124 convertible), the current E class coupe carries a different one (C207 coupe, A207 convertible/W212 sedan, S212 saloon).
IMO this has turned into a total cluster**** now. You buy a E Class coupe, which's more expensive than the sedan/saloon, but you get a car which is based on the C Class platform, thus actually cheaper, while Mercedes also sells a C Class coupe at the same time, which costs much less (and drives better) than your E Class coupe.
Edit: Just wanted to say that Mercedes has gone crazy with the naming thing. 2015 the SLS runs out and its successor will be more expensive (I guess it will be a F12 competitor) and Merc is going to launch a cheaper SLS, which competes with the 911. It was rumored for a long time now that the SLS is going to get a little brother, but its not going to get named SLC, its name is going to be the....
Mercedes GT lol
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- 17,388
- United Kingdom
I think it's just a question of demonstrating a market for a product, once other manufacturers see it, they go for a piece of the same pie. I don't really call it copying. Copying is what Chinese manufacturers do!
As far as Merc's naming strategy goes... yup, it has me quite confused sometimes... !
As for the 4 series... the convertible's been seen now wearing much less camo... and I have to say.. it looks a bit rubbish! Without the longer swooping roof, I don't think the body shape works as well.. and with the roof up it just looks odd, and a bit frumpy, but then I was never a fan of the E93 either.
- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
It does look less like it's coupe counterpart compared to the E93 but it's not that bad. That said coupe>convertible for me
- 12,389
- Betelgeuse
- Beeblebrox_237
I like the convertible, just as long as it doesn't have that ugly side vent!
- 13,298
- GTPlanet
- Street-King-07
- Quattro Saltire
4-Series convertible official pictures.
- 17,388
- United Kingdom
I dislike convertibles, and I don't think the 4er makes for very nice looking one, but it does help if the pictures aren't BMW's weird studio ones:
- 12,389
- Betelgeuse
- Beeblebrox_237
After looking at the official photos, I take it back. I don't like the convertible.
- 27,219
- United Kingdom
- 8,230
- Drayton Bassett, North Warwickshire
- Duffers999
- Clark Duffy
I think the F30 and F31 look quite good, well proportioned and smart. This F32 just looks a bit too 'chunky' for me. Not liking the proportions, the non E92 (not specifically the M3) was my fave looking BMW of the last 5 years or so, not really liking the 4er at all.
- 87,742
- Rule 12
- GTP_Famine
I drove the 435i coupe at a press event a month back - mentioned it in the premium forum - and found it one of the dullest driving experiences I've ever had...
It's not a bad car (okay, the interior's a bit grim), it's just it's so completely competent at everything that it's almost funless - and there's a level of isolation on everything that keeps you cocooned. The 0-60mph time amazed me because it felt nothing like as fast as 5s - I drove a new Octavia vRS the same day which is much slower but felt just as fast.
It's probably one of the fastest cars down a B-road as a result - never flustered, never fussed, never drops speed (and has 300hp to gain it back if it does) - and a smooth motorway hack, but it never grabbed me and gave me excitement.
It's not a bad car (okay, the interior's a bit grim), it's just it's so completely competent at everything that it's almost funless - and there's a level of isolation on everything that keeps you cocooned. The 0-60mph time amazed me because it felt nothing like as fast as 5s - I drove a new Octavia vRS the same day which is much slower but felt just as fast.
It's probably one of the fastest cars down a B-road as a result - never flustered, never fussed, never drops speed (and has 300hp to gain it back if it does) - and a smooth motorway hack, but it never grabbed me and gave me excitement.
- 24,043
- It/It
- GTP_TheCracker
Sat behind one in traffic on my way into work this morning (white 420d) Took me 10 minutes to figure out it wasn't an E92. I have similar difficulty differentiating an F30 from an E90.
- 27,219
- United Kingdom
I still think the E90 is the more attractive car too - it's improved with age, which happens to all BMWs and particularly those with a hint of Bangle influence.
- 13,298
- GTPlanet
- Street-King-07
- Quattro Saltire
CodeRedR51
Premium
- 55,333
- United States
I hate this whole "Gran Coupe" BS. The car has 4 doors, it's a sedan. (saloon, whatever) "Let's separate the coupes into their own naming category, then add a Gran Coupe so we can still have 4 doors". 
- 17,388
- United Kingdom
In general I think there should be a little more differentiation between 3 and 4 series, but I don't mind a 4 door 4er... my biggest worry is it doesn't appear to look that great at the moment. Best looking front end on a 3/4 at the moment is on the 3GT IMO.
- 12,389
- Betelgeuse
- Beeblebrox_237
I don't mind the 5/6/6 GC business, as the 5 is practical and the 6 is absolutely not, it's very sleek and coupe like. But those spy shots show a car that is very similar to the 3 series, and so it looks pretty stupid to me.
Maybe they could have avoided all of this and kept things tidier if they named the E63 the "Z6" (designed from the beginning to be a convertible after all) and stuck with derivatives of 1/3/5/7 for the main range. They've thrown away the logic in renaming this car.
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