BMW PUTS A SLEEK NEW SPIN ON THE ENTIRE FLEET OF ITS GENRE LAUNCHING 4 SERIES, AND FOR ENTHUSIASTS CELEBRATING THE DAWN OF TOP-DOWN SEASON, THE JUICED-UP, PERFORMANCE-FOCUSED M CONVERTIBLE IS HUNGRY FOR THE OPEN ROAD

BY AMANDA McCOY

A HANDFUL OF EXTERIOR STYLING UPDATES include reimagined front fascia and a sleek new headlamp design, plus a black high-gloss surround on the signature twin kidney grilles.

THERE’S A NEW LIGHT SHOW IN TOWN. A cutting-edge contour lighting system is integrated into the trim around the central vents, joining the ambient lights in the foot wells, front storage compartment, and door handles, which can all be adjusted for color and brightness. There’s also a lively welcome and goodbye animation when drivers enter or exit the car

In transportation, the word “coupe” has origins that date back centuries, long before the combustion engine was widespread. (In the early 1800s, it originally referred to a truncated carriage, a horse-drawn coach that only held two passengers). After the birth of the auto industry, the term was adopted to describe a two-door variant with a shorter wheelbase than traditional sedans. But certain marques don’t believe in following conventional guidelines (Ferrari, for instance, intention ally does not use the term SUV to describe its four-door Purosangue), and when BMW announced the launch of a new nameplate in 2013, they rewrote the traditional definition of a coupe. A spinoff of its uber-popular 3 Series, the 4 Series boasted similar dimensions to its sedan cousin, but in a sleek, deliciously sporty two-door ensemble. For drivers who, rationally, needed the extra space afforded by a sedan but didn’t want to let go of their treasured sportscars, the new 4 Series offered a thrilling solution.

Over a decade later, the rebellious rider is cruising into the new year with a fresh ‘do, flaunting a suite of style and performance upgrades in both its fixed roof and sliced-topped variants. Both engine offerings were updated, including the 255-horsepower turbocharged 2L four-banger attached to a 48-volt hybrid system for added oomph off the line. For the M badge-donning performance models, a beefy turbocharged 3L inline-six cranks out 386 ponies and 398 lb-ft. of torque. This powertrain setup also tosses in heavy-duty performance brakes and a corner-hungry M Sport suspension for exhilarating joy rides through twists and town.

A cutting-edge cockpit now offers the latest in driver focused tech. BMW claims it’s been streamlined for easier use, putting more functionality at the driver’s fingertips (pilots can now control the temperature, fan speed, and seat and steering wheel heating by either the display or voice command, for instance). Both the coupe and convertible received the latest version of BMW’s Operating System 8.5, which adds a clever new feature: Augmented View. Part of the car’s navigation system, the high-tech function rolls a live video stream of the driver’s view on the control display, augmenting it with driving tips in nebulous or precarious situations. Busy junctions, for example, are simplified by an animated directional arrow prompting the driver when to launch.

Starting MSRP is $50,700 for the four-cylinder coupe and tops out at $74,250 for the soft-top M440i.

Circle BMW

500 NJ-36, Eatontown

732.820.4053 / circlebmw.com