[nicodel]

i've already see the car in a "closed room" presentation for BMW dealer.
In carbonschwartz with oyster leather the car look very nice and different than the 3GT. Lower, sportier..very nice! The rear space is like the 3 sedan.
The car will be available in juni 2014 in Europe.

[aajami]

Huh. Still can't tell with certainty if the rear trunk operates as a hatchback or not.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by nicodel

i've already see the car in a "closed room" presentation for BMW dealer.
In carbonschwartz with oyster leather the car look very nice and different than the 3GT. Lower, sportier..very nice! The rear space is like the 3 sedan.
The car will be available in juni 2014 in Europe.

How does the trunk operate?

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by teaston

Exactly!!

A 4 door version of the 2 door version of the 4 door model! WTF!

Can't wait for the 2 door grancoupe models!!! FTW! Wait, what ... ?

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by aajami

Huh. Still can't tell with certainty if the rear trunk operates as a hatchback or not.

It will be a hatch back. Similar to the Audi A5 sport back. Promise.


.

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by nicodel

i've already see the car in a "closed room" presentation for BMW dealer.
In carbonschwartz with oyster leather the car look very nice and different than the 3GT. Lower, sportier..very nice! The rear space is like the 3 sedan.
The car will be available in juni 2014 in Europe.

Was it a finished real life model, or just a visual presentation? Very promising report nonetheless. And I agree, this will look much more "attractive and sporty" than a 3 GT.

[lawgone]

Originally Posted by teaston

Exactly!!

A 4 door version of the 2 door version of the 4 door model! WTF!

Haha, perfectly said. The price they charge for it (with options) will probably be enormous too.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by lawgone

Haha, perfectly said. The price they charge for it (with options) will probably be enormous too.

I don't think so.

The 428 is a couple grand more than the 328 and if they are smart, adding the doors back to the 4GC will not be more than $2500 unless it includes some MORE standard features. If the 428GC STARTS at $50k, then I think it is silly.

[lasovan]

I like it. Let's see what it's like in the metal.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by ///M235i

It will be a hatch back. Similar to the Audi A5 sport back. Promise.

I believe you, as all the evidence has been pointing in that direction. It's hard to look at that bulky rear end and not see a hatch.

But I want visual proof

Also, if it does have a hatch, then why didn't BMW call this thing the 4-series Gran Turismo instead of the Gran Coupe.

We were so close to making some kind of sense out of your naming convention, BMW. So close.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by aajami

I believe you, as all the evidence has been pointing in that direction. It's hard to look at that bulky rear end and not see a hatch.

But I want visual proof

Also, if it does have a hatch, then why didn't BMW call this thing the 4-series Gran Turismo instead of the Gran Coupe.

We were so close to making some kind of sense out of your naming convention, BMW. So close.

GT=more than just a hatchback, extended wheelbase of the Chinese market car. That is the 5GT and 3GT.

GC=Coupe roofline applied to 4 doors. That is the 4GC and 6GC. BUT, the extending of the greenhouse of the 4, may have made the trunk small where the hatch made better sense, something not an issue for the 6GC.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

BUT, the extending of the greenhouse of the 4, may have made the trunk small where the hatch made better sense, something not an issue for the 6GC.

I don't buy that. I think BMW could have just as easily made a 4GC without resorting to a hatch, in the same vein of the 6GC.

I think the more realistic scenario is that BMW wanted to compete in the Audi A5 Sportback segment, and the 3-series Gran Turismo wasn't sporty enough to do that.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by aajami

I don't buy that. I think BMW could have just as easily made a 4GC without resorting to a hatch, in the same vein of the 6GC.

I think the more realistic scenario is that BMW wanted to compete in the Audi A5 Sportback segment, and the 3-series Gran Turismo wasn't sporty enough to do that.

Look how far set back the C-pillar is, that would make the trunk opening pretty small, the 6GC not so much.

Now I agree with you, if the A5 sportback does well in other markets, the 4GC having the hatch is better positioned to take it on.

I personally love the utility of such a car, a 4dr/5dr lux/euro hatch, hence why I had a Saab 9000.

[puredrive]

4 door version of 4 series?! are you chasing your own tail bmw?

[fijigabe0]

Sorry for the ensuing rant, but I think this is something that needs to be said.

This car is what makes BMW the car company it is. Several of us see the new BMW's being released and think to themselves "BMW has lost its way". Several people here have asked "why build this car?" The answer is simple: this is how BMW survives in the current automotive marketplace.

BMW is a relatively small auto manufacturer, yet consistently has one of, if not the highest profit margins in the auto world. This is a car company that in essence survives on three platforms, across three different brands. In the US, GM has more than three platforms in use in just their Cadillac division! Think of the engineering costs associated with that for a minute.

Costs:

Now, why the 4GC? Think about the actual cost of development. I don't have any direct knowledge on this, but I would estimate that the total cost to develop this car was about 1-2% of the cost to develop the 3-series. Why so little? Simply because most of the cost to develop this car was carried by the 3-series, with almost all of the balance carried by the 4-series. The rest of the cost, whether it be the hatch system or just the lengthening of the doors are where the new costs lie. BMW can sell a car at a premium price compared to other cars on the same platform, for a minimal investment in development. This car practically pays off its development costs within days/weeks of being released.

Market:

I hate to break it to traditionalists, but this car isn't meant for the US or European markets. Notice where the images came from. This car is meant for the Asian (read: Chinese) market. The US and Europe will see this car because it costs BMW next to nothing to bring it here. If a shopper doesn't like it, they won't select it. However, this car does open up the 4-series market to the Chinese, which have been shown to prefer 4-door models over 2-door models. It's a status-symbol to have a 4-door car, and if BMW can make money selling almost the exact same car for a $5,000 premium, why the hell not? The US and European markets are saturated and stagnant. 2-4% growth in these markets is nice, but double-digit growth in China, rated the #1 consumer-driven market in 2013, is where the money is.

BMW can follow one of three paths in the marketplace: lead, follow or get out of the way. When you follow, you become GM/Chrysler - bankrupt of money and ideas. When you lead, you get the results BMW is getting. I, for one, am glad they're making this car. Will I buy it? No. I want an M3 next. However, without 1,000's of 4GC's, and 5GT's and X5's and X3's (read: non-traditional BMW vehicles that have been lambasted by "traditionalists"), there wouldn't be an F80 or F82/83, either because BMW couldn't bring the car to market, or for worse reasons.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled thread.

[bavarian19]

BMW's have become fashion accessories, and eventually, they will fall out of fashion. Who knows what would happen if BMW committed the same resources towards actually making better engineered cars.

Ill guarantee it's more than 1-2% of the f30

[Vervain]

Originally Posted by nicodel

i've already see the car in a "closed room" presentation for BMW dealer.
In carbonschwartz with oyster leather the car look very nice and different than the 3GT. Lower, sportier..very nice! The rear space is like the 3 sedan.
The car will be available in juni 2014 in Europe.

They're bringing Carbon black to the 4GC? Has it always been offered on the 4 series?

[Nordstat]

WHY!!!!

[fijigabe0]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

Ill guarantee it's more than 1-2% of the f30

I would love to see your information. Where else would the costs come from? Suspension design? Doubtful. Engine/chassis/safety? Doubt that as well. Testing? That adds minimally to the bottom line, when looking at the big picture. Where do the costs come from?

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by ///M235i

Can't wait for the 2 door grancoupe models!!! FTW! Wait, what ... ?

I am patiently waiting for BMW to acknowledge that they will indeed make a 2 series gran coupe and eventually an M version. An E36 sized 4 door 2 series " gran coupe" is just what many Bimmerphiles want.. they are just all in a conniption over the gran coupe name.


I Quit worrying about the names and recommend people either buy it or don't.. someone else will buy it if you don't anyway.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

BMW's have become fashion accessories, and eventually, they will fall out of fashion. Who knows what would happen if BMW committed the same resources towards actually making better engineered cars.

Ill guarantee it's more than 1-2% of the f30

generic statement/attempted slam with not a lot of thought behind it... your avatar is very apropros.

[Suave]

To me this is just an entry level 5 series sedan. I feel the same way about the 6 gran coupe against the 7 series. Just struggle to see the need for this car but hey if BMW can sell it to make a profit without eating into 5 series buyers who can argue with results.