New 2022 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Debuts

By Bennett Oghifo

BMW is proud to announce the new 2nd generation BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. Combining the power, dynamics and agility of the 4 Series with a beautiful long, sleek body, 4-doors and 5-seat comfort and a rear hatch leading to a large trunk compartment, the BMW 4 Series has been a very popular design with BMW enthusiasts. The newest 2022 4 Series Gran Coupe models promise and deliver class-leading design, performance, infotainment, connectivity and advanced driver assist safety systems.

Production of the all-wheel drive 430i xDrive Gran Coupe and rear-wheel drive M440i Gran Coupe models will follow at a later date.

Production of the new 4 Series begins in July with the first cars expected to arrive in August 2021.

Body Construction

The 2022 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is 5.9-inches longer, 1-inch wider and 2.1-inches taller than its predecessor, while the tracks have grown by 1.6-inches in the front and 0.7-inches in the rear. The wheelbase is 1.8-inches longer than before. The new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe body includes optimized aerodynamics to improve both driving dynamics and efficiency. An active air flap control system, air curtains, streamlined light-alloy wheels and an almost completely sealed underbody serve to channel the airflow effectively. The drag coefficient (Cd) for the 430i Gran Coupe is 0.28, a reduction of 0.01 over the previous model.

An intelligent mix of materials helps to reduce vehicle weight while enhancing the body’s rigidity and crash safety. The hot-stamped steels and aluminum alloys used for the safety passenger cell are supplemented by multi-phase steels for extra reinforcement.

The front end includes an engine side member made from extruded aluminum and die-cast aluminum spring struts. Weight reduction over the outgoing model has also been achieved by using aluminum for the hood and front fenders.

Comprehensive passive safety maximizes occupant protection in an extremely wide range of collisions and factors in the requirements of crash testing procedures in markets around the world. Besides the extremely rigid passenger cell and highly resilient load-bearing structures, it also includes integrated safety electronics which deploy the restraint systems in the right sequence, at the optimum moment and with the required effect for the specific collision type and severity.

Exterior Design

The latest-generation BMW 4 Series range stands out with its own distinct character. The greater dynamic prowess and exclusive aura are the result of steps taken to sharpen their profile and clearly distinguish them from the BMW 3 Series Sedan. The new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe proclaims this individual positioning with its stretched silhouette, four doors, distinctive proportions, flowing roofline and the clean-cut, reduced surface design which all combine to exude coupe-style elegance and sporting flair.

Bold lines and surfaces with a three-dimensional structure are the defining elements of the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe’s expressive front end. Dropping deep down at its center is the large and vertically prominent BMW kidney grille. Its air intakes with their mesh design deliver the cooling air required by the powerful engines. The vertical intakes for the air curtains at the outer edges of the front bumper accentuate the car’s width.

Like the lines of the hood, the contours of the slim headlights zero in on the kidney grille. The side-by-side arrangement of the lights creates the focused gaze that has become a signature design cue of the BMW brand. The new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe comes with standard adaptive LED headlights which include two slender, U-shaped fiber-optic light guides that serve as the daytime driving lights. There is also the option of Icon adaptive LED headlights with BMW Laserlight.

Smoothly sculpted surfaces with crisp lines, doors with frameless windows, powerful shoulders in the rear wheel arch area and side window frames stretching deep into the rear end combine to produce a graceful, sporty look for the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. The flush-fitting door handles have a streamlined design, while the roofline terminates in a pronounced rear hatch spoiler.

Horizontal lines accentuating the car’s width are the design elements found at the rear. It is an effect reinforced by both the slim and stylishly darkened full-LED rear lights extending well into the rear quarter panels and the vertical aero elements at the rear bumper’s outer edges.

Specific design features give the BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe eye-catching looks. The front bumper has the signature U-shaped design of BMW M models. The BMW kidney grille frame and the vertical trim around the air curtains come in Cerium Grey, as do the exterior mirror caps, exhaust pipe trim and model badges, while the air breathers, the side sill trim strips and lower rear bumper trim including the side trim elements are painted in high-gloss black. An M-specific spoiler on the rear hatch rounds off the distinctive, performance-oriented appearance.

Interior Design

The interior design of the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe focuses towards providing the driver an involving experience. The high center console and flowing surfaces running from the instrument panel into the door panels generate a cocooning feel for the front compartment. In the BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe and M Sport Package-equipped 430i cars, soft, raised knee pads on the center console further accentuate the car’s engaging driving character.

The engine Start/Stop button is positioned in the center console, which also houses the BMW Controller, the buttons for the Driving Experience Control unit, the electromechanical parking brake and the model-specific gearshift lever. The center armrest pass-though and attachments for securing up to three child seats are part of the 20/40/20 folding three-passenger rear seat.

Sport seats and a Sport multifunction steering wheel and an anthracite headliner are standard while the M440i xDrive Gran Coupe and the 430i Gran Coupe with M Sport Package features an M leather steering wheel, door sill plates bearing the M logo and M Aluminum Tetragon interior trim.

Engine Technology

The new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupes are powered by the latest BMW TwinPower Turbo 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engines with the inline 6-cylinder M440i xDrive Gran Coupe gaining the added benefits of a 48-volt mild hybrid system. Both engines feature a twin-scroll turbocharger, a high precision direct injection system, VALVETRONIC fully variable valve timing and Double-VANOS variable camshaft timing, along with more efficient cooling and oil supply systems.

The inline 6-cylinder engine powering the BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe was developed with the motorsport expertise of BMW M GmbH and comes with weight-optimized pistons and connecting rods as well as a twin-scroll turbocharger with indirect charge air cooling. It generates 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, accelerating the BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The acceleration is accompanied by the distinctive sound produced by the standard M Sport exhaust system.

Upgraded BMW TwinPower Turbo technology has also enhanced the performance characteristics of the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. An exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head results in extremely efficient exhaust cooling for cleaner emissions. This engine powers the 430i Gran Coupe and delivers 255 hp and 295 lb-ft enabling acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds.

The 48-volt mild hybrid technology found in the M440i xDrive Gran Coupe sharpens power delivery and optimizes efficiency. A 48-volt starter-generator acts likes an electric drive unit that assists the engine, allowing it to operate within an efficiency-optimised load range as frequently as possible. It also offers the driver an electric boost effect that can instantly put an extra 11 hp on tap to give the power unit even sharper response when accelerating off the line or putting in a quick burst of speed. The power used for the electric boost drive is recouped almost entirely through Brake Energy Regeneration and stored in a separate battery that also supplies the electric energy for the 12V on-board power supply, enabling exceptionally efficient operation.

8-Speed Sport Steptronic Transmission

All engines in the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe are linked with the 8-speed Sport Steptronic transmission with steering-wheel mounted shift paddles and Launch Control. The latest version of the automatic transmission delivers sharper shift characteristics, improved efficiency, remarkably fast gear changes and very smooth operation. In order to optimize the shift strategy for sporty performance and efficiency, the transmission’s control unit considers data from route topography and the traffic situation supplied by the navigation system and driver assistance systems. This makes it possible, for example, to shift down early when approaching a junction or a vehicle ahead.

The BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe also features a Sprint function for more dramatic bursts of mid-range acceleration. This involves triggering various actions when the driver pulls on the left shift paddle for at least a second. These include automatically dropping into the lowest possible gear and switching all the powertrain and chassis systems to their sportiest setting.

BMW xDrive for Precise Power Transfer and Agility.

BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive takes traction, directional stability and agility to even greater heights in the M440i xDrive Gran Coupe. Drive torque is split between the front and rear wheels as required via an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch in the transfer case interlinked with the powertrain and chassis systems. The latest version of the BMW xDrive system goes about its task of controlling power transmission in an exceptionally efficient manner. The rear-biased set-up produces the driving experience expected of a BMW in extremely dynamic situations.

Chassis Technology

The driving experience in the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is shaped by the car’s agile handling and precise steering on the one hand and its impressive ride comfort in everyday use and over longer trips on the other. The highly rigid body is combined with chassis technology that has been purpose-developed for the new BMW 4 Series to provide the ideal basis for the car’s sporting character. Optimized aerodynamics, wider tracks, near 50:50 weight distribution, a low center of gravity and the integrated application of all powertrain and chassis components do their part to impart the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe with its dynamic performance.

Torsional stiffness at the front end is increased by a shear brace connecting the front shock towers to the bulkhead as well as integral shock tower-to-front end brace. Underfloor bracing increase stiffness in the rear suspension area, resulting in improved straight-line stability and greater poise under high lateral acceleration. The two-joint spring strut front suspension and five-link rear suspension have also been engineered to reduce weight while increasing rigidity. Their design principle is a key factor – alongside the lift-related shocks – in the car’s blend of precisely controllable handling in dynamic driving situations and excellent comfort.

Lift-Related Shock Absorbers

Lift-related shock absorbers fitted to the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe provide extra damping to control body movement when driving over large bumps, as well as preventing excessive body dive. The system reacts to minor imperfections in the road surface with low damping forces that produce high levels of comfort. The extra damping contributes to excellent transient behavior in corners.

At the front, an additional element that drops down into the inner sleeve of the shock absorber cancels out body vibrations. The lift-related control at the rear suspension employs an additional piston and a tapered inner tube to ensure optimum hydraulic damping even when carrying a heavy load. Lift-related damping is an active element of the suspension set-up and can be tuned specifically to optimize the balance between sportiness and comfort. The M Sport suspension found in the M440i xDrive Gran Coupe and as part of the 430i Gran Coupe’s optional M Sport Package includes stiffer settings for the lift-related damping and springs.

Adaptive M Suspension: Wide Spectrum Between Sportiness and Comfort.

The Adaptive M suspension available as an option on both 2022 4 Series Gran Coupe models offers the widest possible range of driving experiences, from sporty to comfortable. This combines the characteristics of M Sport suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers. Continuously adjustable valves allow the damping force to be metered at each wheel individually and as a function of vehicle load. Switching between the various Driving Experience Control modes produces a clearly perceptible variation in the damping characteristics – from the well-balanced long-distance comfort of COMFORT mode to the highly dynamic set-up activated in SPORT.

An extra mode can be selected using the Driving Experience Control switch on models with adaptive M suspension. In the ADAPTIVE setting, the steering, damping and accelerator responses along with the transmission’s shift characteristics are automatically adjusted to suit the driving style. Navigation data can also be used to prepare the car in advance for an upcoming junction or bend.

Variable Sport Steering

The model-specific steering ratio rack found in the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe makes them exceptionally precise. Electric Power Steering including Servotronic speed-sensitive power assistance is standard. Variable sport steering is part of the M Sport Package for the 430i Gran Coupe and is standard on the M440i xDrive Gran Coupe. With its variable ratio, which adjusts to changes in the steering angle, it is equally adept at keeping the car tracking perfectly straight as well as maximizing cornering agility and making turning/maneuvering easier.

M Sport Brakes

Powerful lightweight braking systems play an important part in the car’s precisely controllable performance. The optional M Sport brakes (standard on the new BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe) provide excellent braking performance and intuitive feel, whether negotiating city streets or during spirited driving. They feature a different hydraulic configuration with four-piston fixed front calipers and single-piston floating rear calipers.

The functions provided by the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system include not only anti-lock braking (ABS) and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), but also a variety of stabilizing functions and the drive-off assistant. The Performance Control function gives the car even more agile handling by varying the distribution of drive torque to the rear wheels according to the situation at hand. In order to optimize directional stability during heavy braking on surfaces offering differing levels of grip for the right-hand and left-hand wheels, a steering impulse is applied to help the driver correct the car’s line. The functioning of the electromechanical parking brake is also integrated into the rear brake calipers by means of the DSC system.

M Sport Differential

Traction and directional stability are improved by the M Sport differential, as are agility and cornering dynamics. The electronically controlled, fully variable locking function in the rear differential is standard on the new BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe and is available on the BMW 430i Gran Coupe as part of the Dynamic Handling Package.

The DSC system is used to limit rotational speed equalization between the rear wheels, optimizing the transfer of power to the road. This effectively counters any tendency to understeer when cornering at speed. Power which cannot be transferred to the road by the unloaded wheel on the inside of the corner – as it is liable to slip – is deliberately shifted to the wheel on the outside of the corner, rather than applying the brakes to neutralize its effect. As a result, all the engine’s power can be channelled into providing a sporty driving experience.

The carefully calculated distribution of drive power gives the car greater poise when negotiating a quick succession of bends and optimizes directional stability when changing lanes at the same time as during braking. Another advantage of the M Sport differential is improved traction when pulling away on surfaces with varying grip levels.

Interior Equipment

The larger, versatile space inside the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe creates the ideal environment in which to enjoy sporty driving pleasure on everyday journeys and during longer trips. Five full-size seats and a flexibly expandable cargo compartment underline the functional qualities of the four-door coupe. Premium materials and precision workmanship feed into the modern ambience.

Headroom has increased in the front of the cabin, while passengers in the rear enjoy significantly more legroom and knee room. Isofix attachments situated at the outer edges of the rear seats make it easier to attach child seats.

The new-generation standard sport seats provide optimal support for the driver and front passenger. Heated front and rear seats can be specified, as can active front seat ventilation. Seating in standard perforated Sensatec with contrast stitching is available in Black, Canberra Beige, Cognac or Tacora Red. Vernasca leather is optionally available in Black, Oyster, Mocha, Cognac and Tacora Red. A Sensatec dashboard is optional on both models.

The large, wide-opening hatch plays a major role in the versatility of the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. It comes with standard automatic opening and closing. Practicality in everyday use and on longer journeys is boosted by an array of storage areas, two cup holders under the cover in the front section of the center console, two USB ports and a Bluetooth interface. Also optional is wireless charging for compatible smartphones.

The new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is fitted with standard acoustic glazing for the windshield. The new standard glass slide/tilt moonroof stretches 4-inches further back than in the previous model.

Personalised Light Moods and Audio Experience.

The standard interior LED lighting for the cabin includes reading and interior lights in both the front and rear, as well as lighting for the glove compartment, the storage compartment under the center armrest, the footwells, the mirrors in the sun visors and the boot, plus the courtesy lights in the doors. The optional ambient lighting provides atmospherically rich illumination of the interior with LED fiber-optic light guides for the contour lines in the instrument panel and for the door panelling. The light distribution, brightness and color scheme can be configured via the iDrive menu. This option also includes the exterior Welcome Light Carpet when approaching the vehicle and the Dynamic interior light function, whose pulsating light signals indicate an incoming phone call or an open door when the engine is running.

The standard BMW Live Cockpit Professional in the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe includes a hi-fi audio system with ten speakers and 205 watts of amplifier power. The optional Harman Kardon surround sound system enhances the audio experience with 16 speakers and a digital seven-channel amplifier delivering 464 watts of audio power.

Driver Assistance Systems

The new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe enhances safety and comfort with a significantly expanded selection of driver assistance systems compared with the previous model. Around 40 automated assistance functions – all of which are among the best on the market – are either fitted as standard or are optionally included. They support and relieve stress on the driver in monotonous driving situations, such as in stop and go traffic or during tight parking maneuvers.

The systems in the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe stand out with their wide-ranging functionality via a network of extremely advanced sensors. The driver assistance systems process camera images as well as data gathered by ultrasonic and radar sensors to monitor the vehicle’s surroundings, to warn of potential hazards and to minimize the risk of an accident with corrective braking or steering inputs. Existing functions can be improved or expanded in the future by means of Remote Software Upgrades.

Among the highlights of the assistance functions on hand are the automatic Speed Limit Assist and route monitoring available when using Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go. With automatic Speed Limit Assist, the system can control the car’s speed by both maintaining the desired safety distance to vehicles travelling in front and observing speed restrictions along the route. It considers speed limit signs detected by Speed Limit Assist or by looking ahead along the route using data from the navigation system. If the relevant setting is selected in the BMW iDrive menu, the maximum permitted speed registered in this way is automatically adopted as the new desired speed.

The route monitoring function additionally considers the nature of the route at hand. This function uses the navigation system’s map to look ahead and reduce the car’s speed when approaching a corner, a roundabout, a junction or an exit.

An additional, highly sophisticated function makes Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, included in the Driving Assistant Professional Package, more comfortable to use in urban areas.

Standard Assist and Safety Systems

The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is fitted with standard Frontal-collision warning, City collision mitigation with braking, Lane Departure warning, Active Blind Spot detection, Rear-cross traffic alert and rear collision preparation.

Frontal collision warning with braking can recognize pedestrians and cyclists. Lane Departure warning includes corrective steering. This system now analyzes the road conditions ahead even more precisely. On extremely narrow roads, the course correction assistance is suppressed so that if a vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction, the driver can easily move onto the side of the road. Rear-cross traffic alert reduces the danger of a collision when reversing towards roads which are difficult to see into.

Optional Driving Assistant Professional

This package includes advanced functions such as extended traffic jam assistant for limited access highways, active cruise control with stop & go, active lane keeping assistant with side collision avoidance, evasion aid and front cross-traffic alert and the active driving assistant which combines active cruise control and active lane keeping assistant into one easy to use function.

The Assisted View in the instrument display gives the driver an overview of the activated systems and their functionality. The central area of the cockpit display is reserved for a three-dimensional mock-up of the vehicle and its surroundings. This is where the driver can see an image of the cars, trucks and motorcycles detected by the cameras and sensors in the driver’s current lane, along with those in any adjacent lanes.

Parking Assistance and Drive Recorder

Drivers of the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe benefit from effective assistance when parking thanks to the standard front and rear Park Distance Control (PDC) and a back-up camera, which is integrated into the BMW roundel on the rear hatch. PDC uses visual and acoustic alerts and automatic brake inputs to help avoid collisions with obstacles to the sides and rear of the vehicle.

The latest version of the Parking Assistance Package offers a much wider range of assist functions. It helps the driver to select and use either parallel or perpendicular parking spaces with the inclusion of Back-Up assistant and Surround View with 3D view. It can also be used for pulling out of parallel parking spots. As well as the necessary steering inputs, the Parking Assistant carries out the acceleration, braking and gear changes required for the maneuver.

The Back-Up assistant offers the highly convenient option of automated reversing in confined spaces or situations where the driver does not have a clear view, such as multi-storey car parks or tight driveways, over a distance up to 50 yards. All the driver must do is operate the accelerator and brake pedal and monitor the vehicle’s surroundings.

Surround View with 3D View helps create a 360-degree image of the vehicle and its surroundings, which is shown from various angles in the control display. Meanwhile, the Remote 3D View function gives drivers the ability to call up a three-dimensional live image of their vehicle and its immediate vicinity on their smartphone.

The BMW Drive Recorder, available on cars with Parking Assistant Package, uses the driver assistance systems’ cameras to record video images all around the vehicle, so these can be stored and later either played back on the control display when the vehicle is stationary or exported via the USB interface. It therefore allows the driver to record videos up to 40 seconds in length while driving through spectacular countryside or performing eye-catching driving manoeuvres, for example. In the event of a collision, up to 20 seconds of video taken both before and after the impact (i.e. 40 seconds in total) are stored.

Live Cockpit Professional with iDrive 7

Both driver and passengers benefit from the enhanced and more intuitive operation of and from the innovative digital services offered by the standard BMW iDrive 7. Individually configurable display content and intelligent connectivity underpin seamless interaction between driver and vehicle. Drivers can pick their way of interacting with their BMW: control display touchscreen, proven BMW Controller, multifunction steering wheel buttons, voice control or optional BMW gesture control.

The new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe also gives customers access to a range of highly advanced digital services, including the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, BMW Digital Key, Connected Music and Remote Software Upgrades.

BMW Live Cockpit Professional features a fully digital 12.3-inch high-resolution instrument cluster behind the steering wheel plus a fully digital touch 10.25-inch center control display. The fully digital instrument display provides enough room to accommodate an excerpt from the navigation map, media content, status indicators for the driver assistance systems or Assisted View (3D visualisation of the surrounding area). Information such as lateral acceleration during high-speed cornering can be displayed here as well.

Two USB ports for data transfer, a WiFi interface, a built-in SIM card with 4G LTE connectivity and the standard Connected Package Professional enable the use of digital services such as BMW TeleServices and intelligent emergency call, Real Time Traffic Information including hazard alert and Remote Services via the My BMW App.

BMW Maps: Cloud-Based Navigation

The cloud-based BMW Maps navigation system boasts significantly enhanced performance and excellent accuracy along with a simplified method of destination entry. The new-generation navigation system offers extremely fast route calculation carried out dynamically and based on precise real-time traffic data transmitted at short intervals. The arrival time is calculated using an anticipatory method which factors in the usual traffic levels along the entire route. Drivers can enter any word when searching for their chosen destination. The search results are sorted by relevance with a high level of precision. Alternatively, the destination can be entered simply by saying it. Points of interest (POIs) along the route are described in detail, with reviews, opening times and photos all included.

BMW Maps also uses Connected Parking to assist when searching for a parking space close to the destination. When the driver selects their destination in the navigation system, they receive an indication of the parking situation at the destination for their estimated time of arrival. Shortly before arriving, the driver is given information on the nearest multi-storey car park as well as proposed routes offering a particularly good chance of finding a parking spot close to the destination. The familiar On-Street Parking Information and ParkNow services have been intelligently incorporated into the functionality of BMW Maps.

Smartphone Integration and My BMW App

Standard Apple CarPlay compatibility allows customers to access an array of digital services such as the digital voice-controlled assistant Siri, various map apps, music streaming services like Apple Music and the messaging service WhatsApp. The wireless WiFi connection between the smartphone and vehicle enables the operating system in question to be integrated directly into the car’s display and operating system. All the key information from the app can be viewed both in the control display and – in a cleverly presented way – in the instrument cluster or optional Head-Up Display.

Android Auto™ compatibility provides a simple, safe way to use smartphone functions such as music, media and messaging apps during a journey. Customers can interact with their smartphone with the help of the Google Assistant and the actions carried out are shown on the car’s information display. Highlights of the interplay between Android Auto and BMW include user- friendly and wireless connectivity and the intelligent integration of Google Maps™ navigation instructions in the BMW Head-up Display.

The My BMW App is available for both iOS and Android operating systems and can be downloaded free from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. It acts as a new universal interface to the car, providing information on the vehicle’s status at any time. Depending on the equipment fitted, it also enables remote operation of functions, such as vehicle locating, locking and unlocking the doors or monitoring the car’s immediate vicinity (Remote 3D View). Functions include the ability to send destinations from the smartphone to the vehicle’s navigation system. The My BMW App makes it even easier for customers to log in to any current BMW model with their personal BMW ID. For example, the user information and settings stored in the BMW ID can now also be imported into the vehicle extremely conveniently by scanning a QR code displayed on the central screen.

The deep integration of Amazon Alexa means customers can now use the voice assistant from Amazon in their car in the same way they already do at home. As a result, editing shopping lists, accessing the latest news and playing music are even easier. And users can now also control compatible smart home devices from the car. Amazon Alexa can be installed in the car in just a few steps with the help of the My BMW App.

BMW Digital Key

The BMW Digital Key enables customers to lock and unlock their new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe via Near Field Communication (NFC) with their Apple iPhone, making a conventional car key superfluous. Holding the smartphone up to the door handle opens the car. Once inside, the engine can be started as soon as the phone has been placed in the wireless charging tray. The Digital Key can be set up using the My BMW App. The car owner can share access with up to five other users and has the option of creating a configuration for young drivers which restricts top speed, engine power, maximum radio volume and more.

BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant with Extended Functions.

The latest generation of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant provides a particularly close connection between driver and their BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. Activated by a spoken prompt (for example “Hey BMW”) or at the touch of a button, this digital companion acquires new capabilities all the time. Naturally formulated spoken instructions can now be used to adjust the air conditioning. In addition, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant is also capable of learning routines that increase both convenience and driving pleasure in specific situations. For instance, the driver’s window can be opened automatically when the vehicle reaches a chosen location entered using GPS coordinates, such as the entrance to a garage or multi-storey car park.

When the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant is in use, new graphics appear in the center control display to emphasise the system’s interactive character. The screen graphics now “turn” towards the speaker, thereby visualising how the system is listening attentively to what is being said. The system recognises whether the driver or front passenger is speaking and reacts accordingly by, for example, altering the climate control settings on one side of the interior.