2021 BMW 4 series coupe drive: a new face in the isle of skye

ever since the concept’s debut in 2019, the BMW 4 series has been a serious style statement. the 2021 generation of the sporty two-door model was conceptualized to accentuate the german brand’s famed driving pleasure in a more dynamic, sharper sense. its all-new aggressive design fashions an appearance to match this performance. the car really does not blend in – and perfectly so – even in its sanremo green paintjob that tries its hardest to camouflage with the greens and greys of the isle of skye, scotland as designboom takes the BMW M440d coupe for a ride.

its prominent vertical kidney grille made its debut as a concept in 2019

the 2021 BMW 4 series’ all-new aggressive design fashions an appearance to match its performance

all images of the 2021 BMW M440d coupe © designboom

there is only one place to start with the BMW 4 series – its distinctive yet divisive vertical kidney grille. the prominent grille grows on you, quickly becoming a favorite feature of the new design as rapidly as it seems to catch up on the car – or caravan, in typical scottish summertime scenes – in front. together with the super slim LED headlights, the striking front end has a sharp character that juxtapositions against the otherwise clean body surfacing. its confident athletic appearance is apparent from every angle with powerful, sculpted shoulders and flowing, coupe-style roofline that drops towards the rear. L-shaped light bars at the back complete its sporting elegance.

the sports leather steering wheel accentuates the interior’s driver-orientated style

the racing seats as well as improved acoustics, thermal and ambient lighting help define a cabin of comfort

the new interior design is equally as focused on accentuating the sporty experience as the exterior. the cockpit is orientated towards the driver, completed with a sports leather steering wheel and 10.25-inch control display that is shaped sharply like the dashboard surfaces and air vents. to counterbalance this aggressive styling, the driver and front passenger sink into racing-style seats suited for grand touring. improved acoustics, thermal and ambient lighting further create a cabin of comfort no matter the length of journey, from the enduring trip up to the isle to the short drives around it. the car also benefits from helpful, spacious luggage compartment with 440 liters of room.

the 2021 BMW 4 series slopes dramatically at the rear of its 4,794 mm-long body

powerful, sculpted shoulders and flowing, coupe-style roofline define a confident athletic appearance

the length of the BMW 4 series (4,794 mm) and the ground clearance (120 mm) is a touch too long and too low in some situations: city centers, tight parking spots and when avoiding the aforementioned caravans. the low center of gravity, ideal width (1,887 mm) and body rigidity makes the model an otherwise perfect companion for winding roads between lochs, munros and glens. the 3-liter inline six diesel engine paired with 8-speed steptronic sport transmission delivers the performance that the driver is promised with its looks. the motor pushes from 0-62 mph in 4.6 s and to a top speed of 155 mph.

L-shaped rear lights complete the design’s sporting elegance

the 3-liter inline six diesel engine pushes the model from 0-62 mph in 4.6 s and to a top speed of 155 mph

at the hands of the driver, there are a wide range of assistance technologies to accentuate BMW’s driving pleasure further. the new head-up display impresses with a 70% larger projection surface, making directions, speeds and adaptive cruise control even easier to manage. an innovative visualization appears in the digital instrument cluster, showing the car and other vehicles moving in the surrounding area. this creates even more awareness along with the standard safety features like the front collision warning, brake input and lane departure warning. the parking assistant plus enhances park, panorama and 3D top views to give more visibility parking with the car’s long length.

as intended, the design of the BMW series 4 standouts. it creates a buzz when passing other drivers and onlookers by, whether the speed factor, clean surface sculpture or just the unmissable grille. it is no wonder there is such a literal buzz for the upcoming all-electric BMW i4.

the aggressive grille juxtapositions against the otherwise clean body surfacing