BMW concept 4 captures the future of coupe driving at the IAA 2019

the IAA 2019 car show in frankfurt sees the launch of the newest BMW concept 4, a future-focused and energetic new coupe. with a redesigned kidney grille, a flowing outline and chiseled volumes, the car hovers low over the road with a dynamic and elegant stance. adrian van hooydonk, senior vice president at BMW group design explains, ‘the BMW concept 4 embodies the aesthetic essence of the BMW brand. it combines perfect proportions with clear and precise design.’

as the new face of the 4 series range, the BMW concept 4 sits low over the road and presents a bold front end. at the forefront of the design lies BMW’s signature kidney grille; the concept 4 includes a ‘confident and classy take on this iconic feature’, says domagoj dukec, head of BMW design. the vertically oriented grille fits seamlessly into the car’s proportions and aesthetics and although a new design, it references legendary models, shining the spotlight on the brand’s successful coupe history.

the kidney grille also features more intricate details, adding to each piece’s impeccable design and craft. the grating itself includes horizontal trim elements with a faceted cut, contrasting against the sporty design of the front end. upon closer inspection, the intricate grating within the kidneys and air intakes consists of a pattern of small number 4s. the kidney grille also complements the slim, focused and slightly angled twin headlights. their striking LED light elements have no glass cover, but are sculpted into the car’s body. the coupe’s bold surfacing frames the kidney grille like in a striking setting.

the BMW concept 4’s stretched bonnet, long wheelbase and flowing roofline materialize the brand’s signature proportions. the shapes form an elegant and dynamic coupe outline, appearing dynamic in the low-slung body even when it’s still. tautly chiseled and extremely precise contours evoke emotion and movement in the car’s geometry. a matching energetic ‘forbidden red’ paint accentuates the surface, producing a rich glossy red under the light, and a dark almost black effect in the shade.

the athletic body encloses a slender glasshouse with a narrow window opening, adding to the side’s fluid aesthetic. the long, sweeping roofline flows smoothly into the boot lid, giving the rear end a high-class and sporty look. the slender part along the front wheels strikes a balance with the bulging, almost muscular, rear wheel arches. the contrasting volumes enhance visual agility and lightness.

sophisticated details are spread throughout the BMW concept 4, revealing a classy machine. minimalist, two-section exterior mirrors emerge elegantly out of the weather strips. the rest of the weather trip extends in polished aluminum, in a flowing movement, and becomes a mirror surface. on the inside of the mirrors is an apparently floating BMW logo, revealing itself upon a more detailed inspection.

the light-alloy wheels of the BMW concept 4 are equally rich in detail. the 21-inch items represent a heavily ‘dished’ take on the sporty five-spoke design, drawing the eye into their center-points. the fronts of the intricate spokes feature a high-polished finish, while the set-back surfaces are finely ground, creating a darker effect and contrasting against the rim.

the rear end of the coupe is clear, eye-catching and completes the model’s dynamic form. the rear hovers low over the road and features a character line that transitions from the flanks into the rear end in a broad, horizontal sweep. the geometries visually reduce the coupe’s height off the ground even further. picking up where the front end left off, generously sized and clear surfaces with only a small number of lines are the dominant theme.

the sporty glasshouse is indented into the powerful body, allowing it to chisel broad and athletic shoulders into the BMW concept 4’s design. the vertical air outlets frame the lower section of the rear and emphasize the car’s broad stance. the LED rear light consist of a single fiber-optic element, lending the familiar BMW L shape a cutting-edge ‘heartbeat’ graphic and dispenses with a glass cover. the striking diffuser integrated int the muscular rear apron sets the seal on the car’s rear-end design.

the car’s vertical fins break up the clean surfaces on its tail, sending a statement of fine sporting, while the hight-gloss black paint finish lends it a metallic and vivid visual impact. the pair of exhaust tailpipes highlight a new and dynamic free-form, a detail of the BMW concept 4’s design that expresses what the car is all about: the modern essence of a coupe exuding aesthetic appeal with every ride.