While the automotive industry is rapidly moving towards electrification, and classic coupes are disappearing from model ranges one by one, BMW is demonstrating rare persistence — in a positive sense. In Munich, they make it clear enough: it is too early to bury two-door cars and powerful gasoline engines. This also applies to the iconic V8 engines, which many competitors have already rushed to abandon.
One of the key confirmations of this position will be the new third-generation BMW 4 Series, whose debut is expected in the coming years. This is not about a cosmetic restyling or a targeted modernization. The future model is able to take an important place in the brand's long-term strategy, acting as a link between traditional gasoline models and the upcoming electric era.
Coupes are still important
Market statistics speak for themselves: demand for coupes is declining, buyers are increasingly choosing crossovers and liftbacks, and BMW's competitors are gradually curtailing the production of two-door cars. Audi has already abandoned the A5 Coupe, and Mercedes-Benz has combined the C- and E-Class coupes into a single CLE model, effectively reducing diversity in the segment.
However, BMW seems to perceive this trend not as a threat, but as a window of opportunity. The company emphasizes that the 4 Series remains an important part of the brand's DNA. BMW continues to position itself as a brand with a pronounced sporty character, and it is the coupe, according to Munich residents, that best conveys this philosophy. An additional argument is the reduction in development costs thanks to the widespread use of common platforms and components.
The secret of survival is synergy
The new 4 Series will be as closely connected as possible with the next generation of the BMW 3 Series. This approach allows you to create several models at once on the same technical base, significantly reducing costs and reducing commercial risks. A similar scheme is already successfully applied to pairs of 3-Series and 4-Series, as well as X3 and X4.
It is this high degree of unification that makes the production of coupes economically viable even in a shrinking market. As a result, BMW can afford to keep models in the lineup that other manufacturers prefer to abandon.
Electric cars — yes, but not instead of everything
The future 4 Series is expected to follow a dual path of development. Versions with internal combustion engines will be built on the refined CLAR platform, while electric modifications will receive a new Neue Klasse architecture. It will become the foundation for a whole generation of BMW electric vehicles.
This opens the way not only to the usual gasoline versions, but also to a fully electric coupe — a conditional i4 of the next generation or even iM4, if the company decides to create a truly sporty electric modification.
Big engines remain
BMW's statements about the fate of gasoline engines are especially important for fans of the brand. The company confirms that V8 and even V12 engines meet the requirements of the Euro-7 environmental standard and do not need radical processing.
The famous 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder S58 engine, which is installed on the M3 and M4, will remain in the range, albeit with the support of a mild hybrid system. Moreover, both V8 and V12 remain in service, including the impressive 6.75-liter Rolls-Royce unit.
Against the background of competitors reducing the range, BMW gets a real chance to strengthen its position in a niche where there are fewer and fewer participants.
For buyers, the conclusion looks extremely simple: lovers of coupes and powerful internal combustion engines still have a choice.
BMW is clearly in no hurry to say goodbye to emotions behind the wheel. And if the future really turns out to be electric, in Munich they prefer that this transition takes place without a sharp and final break with the past.