The first ever BMW 3-Series, built from 1973 to 1985 and known by its internal codenamed E21, was offered only as a coupe. Yes, there was a convertible variant available through BMW's dealers but it was made by Baur, so it doesn't really count.
As the years passed by and the 3-Series became more and more successful on a global basis, BMW wanted to bank on that success and so it expanded the lineup to include sedans in both regular, and for China, long-wheelbase versions, three-door hatchbacks (E36 and E46 only), estates, convertibles and the famed M variants.
More recently, the Munich-based carmaker made the decision to add two more body styles to the range of its compact executive model: a taller and more practical five-door liftback and a sportier-looking saloon with a sloping roofline, both of which have been spied in prototype form, but have not yet been revealed to the public.
As you can see for yourself, things were starting to get extremely crowded in the 3-Series range, as the only models missing from the lineup are a pickup truck and a minivan - don't be surprised if BMW tries to conquer the second segment in the near future…
To solve this problem, BMW officials decided to break up the 3-Series lineup into two, with the more family orientated body styles keeping the same nameplate and the sportier vehicles (always in term of styling, not performance) like the coupe, convertible and the Gran Coupe, gaining the 4-Series moniker.
The same will apply to the next generation 1-Series-based coupe and convertible models that will be rebadged the 2-Series.
The move will not only make it simpler to add more body styles in the future as the Bavarian company tries to cover all mainstream categories, but it will likely allow BMW to charge more for cars like the 4-Series Coupe as well.
What we would like to ask you is whether you agree and/or like BMW's new nomenclature for the 3-Series-based models like the Coupe. Have your say in the comments after the break.
POLL: What do you think about BMW's new 4-Series nameplate?
14 Comments:
"If it ain't broke..."
very wrong its just dumb reminds me of Ram is not Dodge.... right lol.
wrong
I think the even numbered modes (two-series, 4-series, and 6-series) all being coupés makes a lot of sense. But then again the 6-series Grand-Coupé comes along.. but it's too sexy to argue it earned a 6-series badge.
I think BMW 4-Series will great improvement design than original 1975 BMW 3-Series coupe .
In ways I hate the name change but I guess this shouldn't hurt, its only a name and all I want them to care about more is how the car drives.
Ima miss that 3series coupe but excited to see how the new m4 will drive.
i find it silly, people refer the M3 as the benchmark of fast 4 seater coupes,
now they have to waste their money just to publish their new name and if people still didnt get the message, its going to be an advertising disaster, why go through all the trouble?
The E21 was everything but a coupe. It was a 2-door sedan.
You do realise that with this name changing, a legend will die! There will not be a coupe M3, only a sedan and the car line coupe that made it a legend will be named M4?? Not cool!
This is nothing but a marketing gimmick designed to charge people more money for the same product. And you know what? They'll get away with it.
If someone is the sort of person who seriously cares as much about the name of his car as it's substance, if not even more, then he is a typical snobby douchebag who thinks that he can buy himself a cool reputation.
In reality, however, it has come to my attention, that apparently, the normal, non-douchebaggy self-aware people who will buy this car moslty for it's abilities have to suffer braking the cock-o-meter in other people's eyes.
I however couldn't give a flying **** about the name, just as long it's as good as we all have come to expect.
I think it makes sense, the 3 series coupe has already outgrown the compact coupe space and price point it once held, might as well call it the 4 series. The 1 series (soon 2 series) coupe is much more a descendant of the original 3 series than the new 3/4 is anyway.
Internet experts prove bmw wrong...
Argument is invalid. Audi A4 has sedan, vert, wagon, S and RS. The cope A5 is a different model all together.
BMW should have kept the 3 series coupe and just made a 4 series a different model/size. The 4 series is the same size as the 3 series. Where a 1 , 3, 5 and 7 series all made sense because they scaled up in size, the 4 series doesn't. Therefore, it makes no sense.
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