4 Flexibility

IT used to be that if a sedan would spawn another variant, it would be a coupe and/or an estate version. But these days, stopping at just two-door and load-lugging alternatives is like using your ice-cream maker to churn out only vanilla and chocolate when you can also create more exotic flavours. BMW doesn't make plain vanilla cars and it has also significantly expanded its model line-up in recent years by anchoring several segments to one basic platform.

An example is the 3 Series Sedan, whose platform has been spun off for models beyond the 3 Series Touring, 4 Series Coupe and Convertible, to include the 3 Series Gran Turismo, the X3 and X4 sport-activity vehicles and now, the 4 Series Gran Coupe. All in the name of addressing different customer needs.

The latest addition, the 4 Series Gran Coupe, follows the same formula as the 6 Series Gran Coupe, with four frameless doors and swoopier styling.