Sometimes being an oddball has its perks.
That's because it doesn't matter whether you are an unthinking conformist or just plain rebellious, most people tend to perceive you as someone who is 'special' and 'cool'.
This can also be said the BMW 440i Gran Coupe.
But it's just another form of 3 Series, no?
Uh uh. It's more than just that. The 4 Series Coupe, when it was first launched in Singapore in 2013, was essentially the three-door version of the 3 Series. It was only a year later when Singapore saw the 4 Series Gran Coupe, with the 435i being the cream of the crop.
Now, the 440i replaces that cream.
Sporting the new B series engine, the car screams 326bhp and 450Nm of torque from the word go - 25 horses and 50 twisting forces more than the 435i, which sports the N series powerplant. The same said B series engine can also be found in the juicy BMW 340i, which we tested in Munich mid last year.
At 4,638mm long, 1,825mm wide and 1,389mm tall, the 440i Gran Coupe is also longer and lower than the 3 Series, which means you do get that sleeker presence on the road. What's similar to the 3 Series is the car's 480 litres of boot space, which can be expanded to a whopping 1,300 litres with the seats knocked down.
Engine sounds like a blast. Is it a hardworking unit?
We can neither say it's a hardworking nor a lethargic unit. This 3.0-litre in-line six cylinder lump is just as industrious as the previous unit, if we may, but you can certainly feel more of its turbo surge once you past the 3,000rpm mark.
If it's that powerful, will it be too much to handle around town?
It's definitely polite and well-behaved if you drive in a gentlemanly manner. Thus, it doesn't really matter if you choose to drive the car around town or on the highways - the Bimmer will be able to dish out whatever you require it to, which makes this car that much more admirable than its peers.
That's because it doesn't matter whether you are an unthinking conformist or just plain rebellious, most people tend to perceive you as someone who is 'special' and 'cool'.
This can also be said the BMW 440i Gran Coupe.
But it's just another form of 3 Series, no?
Uh uh. It's more than just that. The 4 Series Coupe, when it was first launched in Singapore in 2013, was essentially the three-door version of the 3 Series. It was only a year later when Singapore saw the 4 Series Gran Coupe, with the 435i being the cream of the crop.
Now, the 440i replaces that cream.
Sporting the new B series engine, the car screams 326bhp and 450Nm of torque from the word go - 25 horses and 50 twisting forces more than the 435i, which sports the N series powerplant. The same said B series engine can also be found in the juicy BMW 340i, which we tested in Munich mid last year.
At 4,638mm long, 1,825mm wide and 1,389mm tall, the 440i Gran Coupe is also longer and lower than the 3 Series, which means you do get that sleeker presence on the road. What's similar to the 3 Series is the car's 480 litres of boot space, which can be expanded to a whopping 1,300 litres with the seats knocked down.
Engine sounds like a blast. Is it a hardworking unit?
We can neither say it's a hardworking nor a lethargic unit. This 3.0-litre in-line six cylinder lump is just as industrious as the previous unit, if we may, but you can certainly feel more of its turbo surge once you past the 3,000rpm mark.
If it's that powerful, will it be too much to handle around town?
It's definitely polite and well-behaved if you drive in a gentlemanly manner. Thus, it doesn't really matter if you choose to drive the car around town or on the highways - the Bimmer will be able to dish out whatever you require it to, which makes this car that much more admirable than its peers.
What's evidently different, though, is how much more closely packed the gear ratios are now. Gear changes remain to be silky smooth but it feels a lot more urgent than before because shifts soar through all eight gears in a persistently prompt manner.
As a result, the dash from nought to 100km/h feels a lot more hurried than the stated 5.1-second figure.
The downside, however, is to know when to ease off the accelerator as you approach a bend because going in too fast may mean not coming out of the bend at all. Once you get in tuned to it, the 440i Gran Coupe is planted, grippy and certainly a loveable thing.
Should I get this over the 3 Series then?
It really depends on what you are after and what your budget is. At $276,800 (as of 11th October 2016), you'll be getting a lot of car for the money you pay for the 3 Series 340i.
The 4 Series 440i Gran Coupe, on the other hand, will set you back $290,800 (as of 11th October 2016), which isn't too far off a 3er. But you'll be getting something that's certainly more 'special' and 'cool'. The very fact that it's unashamedly niche further enhances its appeal. While the car we drove is a Sport Line variant, buyers are most likely to opt for the more rapacious M-Sport variant, which is linked at the end of the article.
Like we said, sometimes being an oddball has its perks.
As a result, the dash from nought to 100km/h feels a lot more hurried than the stated 5.1-second figure.
The downside, however, is to know when to ease off the accelerator as you approach a bend because going in too fast may mean not coming out of the bend at all. Once you get in tuned to it, the 440i Gran Coupe is planted, grippy and certainly a loveable thing.
Should I get this over the 3 Series then?
It really depends on what you are after and what your budget is. At $276,800 (as of 11th October 2016), you'll be getting a lot of car for the money you pay for the 3 Series 340i.
The 4 Series 440i Gran Coupe, on the other hand, will set you back $290,800 (as of 11th October 2016), which isn't too far off a 3er. But you'll be getting something that's certainly more 'special' and 'cool'. The very fact that it's unashamedly niche further enhances its appeal. While the car we drove is a Sport Line variant, buyers are most likely to opt for the more rapacious M-Sport variant, which is linked at the end of the article.
Like we said, sometimes being an oddball has its perks.
