BMW And Its Gran Plans

The increasing number of BMW variants will start making choosing your preferred model a challenge. By Kannan Chandran

With the BMW 440i Gran Coupe tossed into the mix, you’ll be forced to consider models across three ranges — the 3, 4 and 5. Of course, when the new 5 Series is launched, it will probably pull away from this cluster.

The original 4 Series coupe was intended to replace the 3 Series coupe. Now that the 4 Series has four doors, where does the 3 Series sedan fit in?

Never mind, just know that you’ve got a good array to select from.

Gift Of Space

The 440iGC is endowed with loads of space, even if its design belies this. The sloped back makes for a huge maw when you’re loading stuff in, while delivering an aerodynamic performance with a respectable drag coefficient of 0.27.

Then, there are four doors. Wonderful to have even if the back seats are quite snug for all that car. The front is still where all the action is, and the soft leather seats — though the sporting protrusions do grip a tad enthusiastically — and nice grip of the multi-purpose steering wheel make for a comfortable ambience.

But peer through the rear-view mirror and there’s not much to look at, courtesy of the sloping back. Good thing then, that it comes with a variety of assists that will help you get this largish brute around.

Efficient Six-Pot

The in-line six does fire up energetically, showcasing the effectiveness of the new generation of engines that deliver push courtesy of turbo and pulls back on the thirst for fuel.

With all the connected devices onboard, it’s great in an urban plod, but given a chance to stretch its legs, it does so — 0-100kmh in around five seconds is quite fast — even if you don’t feel like it’s working at it.

Perhaps the only thing to bother you is the fact it’s too quiet. But it’s nice to shut out the city when you can.