LONDON: The BMW 4 Series is a stylish sports car with excellent handling and a responsive twin turbo engine. The model tested in the UK is a 4 Series 430i M Sport Coupe which offers blistering performance, sports wheels on low-profile tires and muscular body kit.

It also features best interior trim in its class.
It has the M Sport body kit which gives the car a sportier look.
The BMW 4 Series is the coupe version of the 3 Series.
It used to be called 3 Series Coupe but the company changed the name to get it in line with the 6 Series and 2 Series coupes.
As much as the 3 Series sets the standards in the small sedan segment, this 430i M Sport Coupe is the measure of performance in its class.
It competes with Audi’s A5 and the Mercedes-Benz C Class. All three offer all-wheel drive options named xDrive by BMW, quattro by Audi and 4Matic by Mercedes-Benz.
The 4 Series is a practical car with usable rear seats and a good size boot.
However, those who opt for the 4 Series look for other attributes such as the handling, interior trim quality and overall style — and the 4 Series excel in all these aspects.
There is a large choice of engines for the 4 Series and the car tested has a three-liter straight six twin turbo unit that is more efficient than the larger naturally aspirated V8 unit it replaces.
There are some purists who regret the changeover to turbo power, but they ought to try the new 430i M Sport Coupe before they judge it.
The new turbo-charged engine is 25 percent more efficient that the old V8 and can reach late 30s mpg.
Emissions are also reasonable at 193g/km. It also has a five-star theft protection by insurance companies.
The car has high residual value after three years of use exceeding 50% of its new tag price.
Despite its compact dimensions, the 430i M Sport Coupe gets 425bhp which propels the car from zero to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds and to a top limited speed of 155 mph.

DRIVING EXPERIENCE
This car has blistering performance and is thrilling to drive.
The driver has to have his wits about and that helps it deliver an involving driving experience.
A 7-speeed twin clutch allows the driver to change speeds manually by gear lever or at the steering wheel by paddle shifts.
There is enough room for four adults and the boot capacity is a practical 445 cubic liters.
Seats are electrically adjusted and hug front passengers in place.
The adaptive dampers deliver solid body control but the ride is smooth in comfort and eco modes especially on motorways.
The M template is printed on the steering wheel, tread-plates and the blue-painted brake housing, a reminder of the car’s capabilities. The muscular styling completes the picture of a sleek sports car.
The low-bonnet and flared wheel-arches enhance the car’s stance.
Air dams span the width of the front-end below the BMW kidney grille; they serve a practical function of cooling the engine during operation.
The standard 430i M Sport Coupe gets glossy, carbon-fiber detailing inside, with a widescreen 8.8-inch display for the iDrive system. There’s head-up display on offer with configurable driving modes.
The seats give excellent side support for faster driving. There are the standard digital climate control for two zones, a stop start function and a sunroof.
The handbrake is a standard manual one which could be very useful for maneuvers on the track.
Other equipment includes heated seats, DAB radio and 3D sat-nav with split-screen function and real-time traffic information. Roads are color-coded for traffic congestion, depending on markets.
The much-improved iDrive is easy to use with five shortcut buttons including one for display of the full menu. The refined sound system has six speakers, USB connectivity and 20GB memory and Bluetooth. Upgrades are available at a price.
Other options include connection to the Internet, adding digital TV and wireless charging of mobile phones.
The rear two seats are of good size and can accommodate two adults in comfort. The two doors open wide and the front seats tilt and slide forward to ease access to the rear seats. However, the 430i M Sport Coupe is good for daily use by individuals and couples with occasional family use.
There is plenty of space in front seats and the driver can get comfortable behind the wheel with multiple seat and wheel adjustments.
The driver’s seat can be set very low to give the feel of a roadster close to the road while driving.
Glove compartment is a good size for storage in addition to deep door pockets and cup-holders.
There is also a space for charging phones under the middle armrest.
The 430i M Sport Coupe is also good on safety and reliability, being based on the 3 and 4 Series. Visibility is good all round and there are reverse camera and surround audible sensors.
Brakes are upgraded and very effective and six airbags are standard on all models.
The company offers some service packages, depending on the market and all BMW vehicles are covered by the standard three-year unlimited mileage warranty.