Auto show

• Engine: 2.0 liter DOHC Opposed 4
• Electric Motor: Permanent Magnet 3-Phase Synchronous
• Horsepower: 150hp
• Torque: 165 lb.-ft.
• Fuel Consumption: 29 MPG City/39 MPG Highway
• Price as Tested: $26,820
• Star Rating: 9 out of 10 Stars

Hallelujah friends, hallelujah. One of the highest voices in Subarus parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, has just said that the boxer-obsessed automaker will release a second generation of the lovable BRZ.

Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, president of FHI, has summarily shot down assertions made by Tetsuya Tada, the chief engineer for the Toyota GT86. In a recent interview with an Australian publication, Tada claimed that Subaru had not decided whether it would be involved in the followup effort to the rear-drive coupe, and even speculated that the Toyota could team with BMW for a second-gen car, instead.

"If I were to be told that, Id pass out. Its not going to be just one generation," Yoshinaga-san told Automotive News.

Despite this claim, even Yoshinaga confirmed that in order for the BRZ to be viable, his company needs Toyota. Should Toyota make the move to BMW as part of its joint-venture agreement, though, itd cast some major doubts on the likelihood of a second-gen BRZ ever seeing the light of day.

Hope may remain for a convertible version of the Scion FR-S, according to a report from Wards Auto. Youll recall that rumors were swirling about the feasibility of a rear-drive Toyobaru convertible as early as October, and that back in November, Subaru â€" which makes the FR-S, Subaru BRZ and Toyota GT86 â€" essentially nixed the idea of an open-topped variant.

"We make the car, so if we dont make it, it cant happen," brand chief Yasuyuki Yoshinaga told Automotive News, according to Wards, at the Tokyo Motor Show. "Our engineering department told me that losing the entire roof requires a complete redesign of the structure. It would need a big change."

Despite Yoshinaga-sans arguments against a droptop variant, Toyota is apparently still considering the model. Speaking to media at the 2014 North American International Auto Show, Scions US vice president, Doug Murtha, hinted that the rear-drive droptop was in the works.

"Its something were looking at internally from both a manufacturing standpoint - where do we build something thats relatively low-volume, if not at Subaru - and from an engineering standpoint: Where are those resources going to come from to do it?" Murtha said.

For now, it appears as if Toyota is merely doing its homework on the feasibility of a production version of the FT-86 Open Concept from the 2013 Geneva and Tokyo shows (show above). "Everybodys had to pony up their volumes and well see if we can make it happen," Murtha told Wards.

Whether the volumes check out or not, the question of how Toyota will get around the engineering issues - making a convertible safe - and figuring out where to build it, mean that while our hopes for an FR-S Convertible are higher, the car still faces a rather rocky road before reaching production.

Like it or not, when it comes to brass tacks, motorsports is a business. To keep racing, the teams need to make money, and, generally speaking, the winnings from a victory arent going to cover the expenses. The reality is that teams need sponsorship to survive. For decades, much of that funding in the top rungs came from tobacco advertising (like the Winston Cup or Michael Schumachers Marlboro-sponsored Ferrari). But today, thats illegal in most places, and energy drink companies have so far been happy to fill the void. An intriguing editorial on Asphalt and Rubber warns teams not to get too used to this recent stream of funding, though, because the same fate could befall these caffeinated drinks in the future as did cigarettes in the past.

The article focuses specifically on MotoGP. In that series, Red Bull (which also operates two separate Formula 1 teams) and Monster Energy are the title sponsors of 5 of the 18 races, plus several riders and teams. They arent alone, though. Other energy drink companies are providing sponsorship, as well. The issue is that the sugary beverages are facing bans to people under 18 in several European countries and are already prohibited to young folks in Lithuania. If an outright ban actually happens, it might make all of this expensive racing sponsorship far less attractive to the companies because they wouldnt have nearly as many people to advertise to.

While the story pays definite attention to Europe, it does cite the American Medical Association as also lobbying to ban energy drinks for minors in the US. Its an interesting take on a motorsports situation that is rarely considered. If youre a fan of racing, especially on bikes, the editorial is definitely worth a read.

May 13, 2014 5:02pm

ABC News’ Linzie Janis and Eric Noll report:

Ambre and Eddie Maze of Nashville, Tennessee, are drowning in debt and say they’re so worried about their financial situation that Eddie, a lawyer, took a second job as a taxi driver to keep up with the bills.

“We just seem to always be getting in a pinch,” said Eddie, 42.

Related: Tips to avoid paying high bank and credit card fees.

The Mazes owe $112,000 in student loans, $8,000 in car payments, $2,000 on their credit cards, and $500 in medical bills, on top of their home mortgage.

“When we got married, we actually came into the marriage with debt,” Eddie told ABC News. “We were doing well, making a dent, but then we had kids!”

ABC News teamed up with powerhouse finance guru Dave Ramsey to help the Mazes and others learn how to overcome mountains of debt.

Read the following tips:

Tip 1: Get your finances in order using a new, free service called Check and stop the bleeding. According to www.manilla.com, Americans rack up more than $22 billion a year in late fees and penalties.

The Check app tracks bills to determine their due dates and allows users to schedule automatic payments, avoiding late fees.

Check also watches credit cards, bank accounts, investments and bills all at once so users know exactly how much spending money they have each month.

Tip 2:  Stop borrowing by cutting those credit cards.

Ramsey suggested that those in debt perform what he dubs a “plas-ectomy” â€" essentially chopping up their credit cards so they can’t, and won’t, get into more debt.  According to www.creditcards.com, Americans each have an average of two credit cards.

Tip 3: Make a written family budget â€" one in three Americans does this.

Ramsey â€" who preaches a no-nonsense approach to sold-out arenas, his 1 million Facebook and Twitter fans and more than 8 million radio show listeners â€" said a solid family budget could work to help families get out of debt.

“When you agree on your budget, you pinky swear and spit shake, this is a contract between the two of you,” Ramsey told ABC News.

Ramsey also suggested reevaluating these common spending areas for the family budget:

• food
• cell phone plans
• car, home, life insurance
• extra activities likes sports, dance classes, vacations and movies

For those in debt, Ramsey recommended streamlining the budget to get rid of any extraneous expenses. He said that seeing in black and white helped identify trouble spots. In the Mazes’ case, they found by tweaking their cell phone plan and cutting down on restaurants and after school classes could save them $2,100 a year.

Tip 4 (and the Magic Rule): Pay off debt using what Ramsey calls “the snowball method.”

“We’re going to list our debts smallest to largest, pay minimum payments on everything but the little one. Attack that little one with a vengeance,” Ramsey said. “You knock that little one out. When that little one is gone, it gives you some energy because you go, for the first time ever, ‘I’m happening to my money. All the stuff’s not happening to me.’”

If paying off the smallest debt before the most expensive debt sounds unorthodox, that’s because it is.

“It’s counter-intuitive for those of us who are math nerds,” Ramsey said. “I say pay off the smallest first because this is so behavior oriented. … You got to have a light at the end of the tunnel that’s not an oncoming train.”

If the Mazes stick to the plan, Ramsey said they could pay off their $120,000 of debt in 36 months.

“Over the years I’ve learned it’s more about hope and believing you’re going to win so you keep in the game than it is about actual mathematics,” said Ramsey. “You probably won’t see the inside of a restaurant for a while unless you’re working there. You’re probably not going on vacation for a while. You have to clean this mess up, because if you don’t bust into this with tremendous passion, it doesn’t crack open. There’s no middle ground.”

Review of 1995 VW Corrado

1995 VW Corrado Owners Manual

1995 VW Corrado Owners Manual

Ester: Hello Judah! Would you like to introduce yourself for the Billfold readership?

Judah: Hi Billfold, my name is Judah Bloom and I am a new car shopper and, hopefully, owner.

Ester: And you are related to me!

Judah: That, too. I am your youngest brother.

Ester: That makes it sound like I have 15 younger brothers, each cuter and more princely than the last! But I only have you. Luckily, you’re great!

Judah: Well thank you. I am just trying to avoid the “little” brother routine that typically arises.

Ester: Yes, we middle children are notoriously insensitive to the feelings of our younger siblings. ANYWAY. You are not little; you are in fact almost 30, are you not?

Judah Yes I am. I am turning 30 in August and have been working a steady job for the past, almost three years.

Ester: Let the record show: You are a millennial with a strong work ethic. You’re virtually a unicorn! What other markers of traditional adulthood can you offer? Can you cook yourself dinner?

Judah: If ordering online or turning on the microwave count, then yes, absolutely. However, I have been a success at living by myself and going to work every day, which is an achievement.

Ester: In this day and age, that basically warrants you a Nobel prize. Or, as it happens, A NEW CAR! So tell me about your decision to purchase an automobile!

Judah Well, the car I am currently driving is an 11-year-old Acura RSX (two-door hatchback) that I got from my parents. It has taken me cross country three or four times and been with me for as long as I have been able to drive. However, it is reaching old age and becoming untenable/not financially viable to maintain.

Ester: You mean it’s time to put it in a home?

Judah: I was actually going to try to find it a nice farm up north to let it run around with other old cars.

Ester: That would be California, wouldn’t it? Isn’t that where old cars get put out to pasture? They like the dry heat or something.

Judah: That, or Michigan.

Ester: I thought that Michigan is where baby cars came from.

Judah: It’s a whole circle of life thing.

Ester: That’s so good to know. I am very ignorant about cars since I hate driving and live in the city almost entirely to avoid it. You seem to enjoy driving, however. How were those cross-country trips? What was your favorite state, and what was the most expensive one in terms of tickets?

Judah: I do enjoy driving a great deal. The cross-country trips were fun. Two of them, I did with Adam, our older brother, and two of them I did solo, going from Seattle to Virginia for an internship. I am not sure which is my favorite state as they all basically blended together, and without the dotted lines, like on a map, to indicate when one started and ended, I was not really sure at times which state I was in. For tickets … Let’s just say I try to avoid driving through Kansas as much as possible. I even have routes planned that allow me to circumvent the state.

Ester: What’s the matter with Kansas? That’s a rhetorical question. OK, so your trusty car has carried you to and fro and is now on its last wheels. What do you do now?

Judah: Once I realized that I could actually afford a new car, which was something of a shock, I started my search by writing a list of the features I want in the car, to initially narrow down the options.

Ester: Power steering and door locks?

Judah: Power steering is overrated. Without it, I can get a workout and drive to work at the same time.

Ester: I don’t even know what “power steering” means, I just remember hearing it in a thousand car commercials. Also “anti-lock brakes”! And “low APR”! Do you know what APR means?

Judah: Annuatized Price Requirement?

Ester: Sounds good, but I don’t think “annuatized” is a real word.

Judah: It’s from a car commercial; most of their words are made up. You think “triptronic” is going to fly in a Scrabble game?

Ester: Oh hell no. I don’t know cars but I do know Scrabble. Also, what’s that creepy thing where the lady always keeps track of you no matter where you are? OnStar? Did you want that?

Judah: Yes, OnStar but I don’t think it is a singular woman staring at your car on the screen. Though that would be an interesting job.

Ester: OnStar lady job description: Must never blink. Have calming voice and as many arms as an octopus. What does it set you back to have the OnStar lady watching your every movement?

Judah: I still think OnStar was the NSA’s first attempt at monitoring citizens, but that’s beside the point. In my case, the cars I am looking at don’t offer OnStar and I am not interested in it.

Ester: Oh my god, you’re right! Edward Snowden discovered the truth about OnStar … What, you don’t want to be surveilled? Do you have something to hide about your driving habits, besides the fact that you stuff your backseat full of empty pizza boxes and bottles of Coke Zero?

Judah: I am already avoiding one state, I would prefer not to get on anyone else’s radar while driving. Also, you make the pizza boxes and Coke Zero bottles sound like a bad thing. It is a decorative style. Just you watch, it will come into fashion soon enough! Then everyone will have a car decked out like that.

Ester: Speaking of decked out, were any of your priorities related to how the car looked?

Judah: Absolutely. One of my criteria was the body type. I was looking for a four door sedan that wasn’t a hundred miles long. Color is less important as I am looking for a pre-owned vehicle.

Ester: Used car, any color, not a Buick, check. What else?

Judah: After a frightening drive through a blizzard in Montana, I realized I wanted my new car to be AWD (all-wheel drive), unlike my current one which is front-wheel drive and terrifying on a steep, snow-covered mountain.

Ester: Isn’t anything terrifying on a steep, snow-covered mountain?

Judah: True, but with AWD, it would be slightly less terrifying and I would be able to go more than 7 mph.

Ester: As your sister, I’m not comfortable with you going faster than 7 mph during a blizzard anyway. Won’t AWD just give you false confidence and encourage you to be reckless? You know, like wearing a seatbelt.

Judah: I don’t think so. I can already be reckless without the AWD. With it, I just feel more comfortable and a little more sure of myself, which is helpful when driving as I feel if you are too nervous, you are too tense and could make a mistake. And in those situations, a mistake can prove quite problematic.

Ester: Fair enough. What else were you looking for in a ride? Are you brand-loyal?

Judah: I finally won an argument with my sister.

Ester: Don’t get too comfortable. I’ll probably edit it out.

Judah: Touche. I am not brand loyal but there were specific brands I was looking at as they fit best within my criteria. That, and I asked my brother for advice.

Ester: Oh you asked HIM and not me? But I love giving advice! I would have told you lots of smart things, like … Well, whatever Adam said, only smarter. What did Adam say?

Judah: You definitely, definitely do enjoy giving advice. This fact cannot be argued. But Adam said that I have a good enough job that I should look at higher-end vehicles, and I should focus on used models as you can get more bang for your buck.

Ester: What does “higher end” mean? German?

Judah: Not American, unfortunately. In this case, German or Japanese. BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Infiniti, etc.

Ester: It’s still pretty funny to me that the countries we beat in WWII have us so totally beat in the luxury car market. Like, they can’t best our troops, but they sure can build a sedan!

Judah: I always heard that the tank Mercedes built for the Germans were surprisingly roomy and well equipped.

Ester: Power steering and door locks?

Judah: Exactly! And great gas mileage.

Ester: Good for taking over Poland. OK. So, we’ve narrowed your choices down. Adam, our spendy sibling, told you to buy fancy but buy used. (I, the saver sibling, would have told you to just buy a Metrocard.) What did you end up with?

Judah: I am still looking currently but I have successfully decided on the make and model, being an used Audi A4. I test drove a new model yesterday and fell in love. However, a new model is about $40,000. My price point is closer to $29,000-$30,000.

Ester: Are pre-owned Audis available for that amount?

Judah: Audi A4 was a very popular model between 2010-2012 so there are a lot of them out there. The difficult part has been finding them with low miles and with the features I want. However, minutes before we started this, I found near my price range that fits perfectly. I am hoping to test drive it tomorrow and if that goes well, I may drive away with it.

Ester: Amazing! But first you have to hand over some cash, presumably? How much does one have to put down?

Judah: I am in a different boat as I intend to pay for it all at once. I do not wish to get nailed with interest payments or leasing options. Pay it all at once and get it done with.

Ester: Uh. That means you have $25K in cash just sitting around like in Uncle Scrooge’s bank vault? Do you go swimming in it?

Judah: Swimming in it is my current exercise regime. 10 laps every day through the bills and coins REALLY burns those calories. I actually sold a number of shares of stock I own which I had been saving for this reason. The stock netted me about $25K and I have another 10k saved up specifically for a car purchase.

Ester: So mature and fiscally responsible! I think you are the Billfold hero of the day. Well done, sir.

Judah: Well thank you. And I am willing to bet you never thought I could do it, oh sister of mine.

Ester: Well, sure. In my mind you’re still the kid who ran outside without putting on his pants first.

Judah: …Are you ever going to forget about that?

Ester: Definitely not. But congrats on the car! Let us know how it goes after the test drive. We’re all rooting for you.

Judah: Thanks. I will keep you up to date.

ETA: Welcome to the world, baby girl! Judah has acquired himself a 2011 Audi A4, dark blue with a light leather interior, and he is THRILLED.

This post originally appeared on The Billfold.

2015 Acura NSX Specs

Renault is a company accustomed to winning in Formula One. In the past ten years alone, it has claimed an unfathomable six world championships, first with Fernando Alonso two years in a row and then powering Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing to four consecutive titles. But suffice it to say that things havent been going so well this season since the introduction of the new hybrid turbocharged V6s as Mercedes-Benz has stolen its thunder. The teams it supplies arent happy, and neither is the French automaker itself. Which could go a long way towards explaining why its changing the top leadership in its F1 operations.

As of July 3, Renault Sport F1 president Jean-Michel Jalinier is stepping down, exercising "his right to retirement for personal reasons," according to the statement below. In his place, Renault has appointed two successors.

Jérôme Stoll, who has until now served as the companys executive vice president, Chief Performance Officer and director of sales and marketing, is stepping up to serve as the divisions president, all the while maintaining his existing roles. Alongside him Cyril Abiteboul has been named Managing Director of Renault Sport F1, having previously served as its Development Director and Executive Director before taking over the Caterham F1 Team prior to its recent sale and his dismissal.

Well have to wait and see whether the shift in leadership will help Renault get its engines up to speed for next season, because if it cant, it may find its four current customer teams (Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Lotus and Caterham) looking elsewhere for motivation.

There was a rumor back in April that Mercedes-Benz was busy developing a C450 model that would sit in between the current top-shelf C-Class, the C400, and the coming-soon C63 AMG. It appears that is entirely the case, and our spy shooters have the photos to prove it, showing off the newest model with no camouflage (in fetching Touring guise, no less).

Wearing a C450 4Matic badge at the rear and Sport AMG emblems on the front fenders, exact details about the new model still arent confirmed. The 4Matic designation indicates all-wheel drive for this particular vehicle, but rear-wheel drive could be available, as well. Power is rumored to be increased from the current 329 horsepower from the 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V6 in the C400 up to 367 horsepower.

Of course, the C450 doesnt get a full suite of AMG upgrades â€" those are reserved for the C63. However, buyers should still be able to show that they have something special. These spy photos highlight the C450s diamond grille, large wheels and quad tailpipes nestled in a rear diffuser. The car is also rumored to benefit from an improved suspension and brakes.

As these photos show, the model is being tested as a C-Class Touring, but a sedan version is almost a certainty as well. Besides, the wagon isnt even confirmed for the US yet. Our spies claim that the Sport AMG will likely be ready for sale by 2015. That seems hard to debate, because the car seen here looks ready to hit the road today.

If you find yourself in the theater to watch Transformers: Age of Extinction, pay special attention to the scenes set in China between mouthfuls of popcorn because you just might be seeing some of those vehicles on roads in the US in the not-too-distant future. Guangzhou Automobile Group Co Ltd. (GAC) has several of its Trumpchi brand of vehicles in the new action film, and it claims that its trying to bring them to American consumers as soon as next year.

GAC wants its first model here to be the Trumpchi GS5 SUV (pictured above). In China, its offered with either a 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated four-cylinder with 145 horsepower and 138 pound-feet or a 1.8-liter turbocharged four with 174 horsepower and 175 lb-ft. ​Buyers can choose from automatic and manual gearboxes, each with five speeds, and front- or all-wheel drive.

"We want to start exporting to the U.S. as quickly as possible and I am confident that they will find our Trumpchi cars competitive," said Trumpchi boss Wu Song to Automotive News China. The company was chosen to appear in the fourth Transformers movie after director Michael Bay spotted the companys E-Jet plug-in hybrid and wanted to put it in the film, Song said.

While its great to be ambitious, lets be honest. Breaking into the US market isnt an easy task. Just look at the valiant effort that Mahindra put up in its attempt to sell vehicles here. Theres little doubt that a Chinese automaker will eventually sell its cars in the US, but the chances that it happens as early as next year are knife-edge slim.

Its hard to say what a coupe is anymore. Is it merely a car with two doors? Does it have to have an arching roofline? Do frameless windows count for anything? Can a five-door hatchback or even an SUV be a coupe? At some point in the last few years, nearly everything we thought made a coupe a coupe has been challenged by something that calls itself a coupe, but to most people isnt. Our friends at BMW have led most of this line of questioning.

The new 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is one of the latest Bimmers to challenge the moniker (which also challenges the idea of "Gran," for that matter), and unlike some of its other "coupe" variations â€" were looking at you, X6 â€" this one is a pretty one. The 4 Series Gran Coupe is essentially a four-door version of the 4 Series, which is itself a two-door version of the 3 Series. Huh? Wouldnt that simply make it another 3 Series? Of course, but this one is prettier, as it uses the 4s sexier body styling, with its lower nose, wider-looking stance and edgier lighting graphics. It is also technically a five-door hatchback, not a sedan per se, and it utilizes frameless side door glass, which apparently does count for something in BMW coupe-land. Significantly, the 4 Gran Coupes wheelbase is identical to the two-door; if it was longer â€" as is the case with the 3 Series and 5 Series hatchbacks â€" that might make it a "Gran Turismo." Confused yet?

We recently got our first chance to drive the 4 Series Gran Coupe at a press launch in Spain, and while the only version we were given was a rear-drive 428i Gran Coupe with the M Sport contents, the harrowing roads around Bilbao gave us a good idea of what this car is all about from a driving dynamics standpoint. Heres some of what we found:

Driving Notes

• The Gran Coupe will be available in base 428i, all-wheel-drive 428i xDrive, and 435i forms, starting at $41,225, $43,225, and 446,725, respectively, including $925 for destination. A Luxury Line package with elegant trimmings can be added for another $1,700 on the 428i models and $1,400 for the 435i, while a Sport Line brings larger wheels (18-inchers vs. 17s), sport seats, and various other sport-flavored bits for $2,100 on the 428 models or $1,700 for the 435i. And of course, an M Sport model builds on the Sport Lines stuff with an aero kit, a sport steering wheel, and some blue trim pieces while adding $3,500 to the bottom line of the 428 models, or $3,100 to the 435. Of course, there are a many more a la carte options, and a suite of technology and convenience packages ready to bloat the final out-the-door price up over $60k if youre really feeling spendy.
• The 4 Series Gran Coupe looks longer than the two-door version, but in actuality, its identical in length and width. The roof is a half an inch taller, and the roofline stretches nearly all the way to the back of the car. It has an aggressive stance and excellent proportions. Incidentally, the 3 Series is also about the same length, about a half an inch narrower, and another inch and a half taller. The Gran Coupe may be the best-looking of the lot.
• Alas, there is a catch, which comes in the form of more than 200 pounds of added weight due to structural reinforcement, including the weight of the standard power tailgate. Happily, BMW tuned the Gran Coupe to mimic the sporty feeling of the two-door 4 Series, changing only what it had to under the skin in order to accommodate the added mass and accompanying change in the center of gravity. To a large extent, it succeeded in keeping it quite the capable performance sedan. Or coupe. Or whatever it is.
• Inside, the occupants sit a little lower in the 4 than in the 3, giving you a feeling of intimacy not found in any of the Threes. The black headliner also contributes to this sensation. We also expected to get more of a "sitting in a bathtub" feeling than we actually experienced. The M Sports seats are absolutely fantastic, as is the perfectly contoured steering wheel.
• The 4 Series Gran Coupe is pure 3 Series inside, albeit with a one-inch lower seating position for both rows of seats. This makes the lower roofline less impactful on rear-seat headroom than youd expect; indeed, this models longer roofline allows adults to ride back there more comfortably than in the regular 4 Series (non-Gran) coupe.
• The lower seat height also helps the rear seat not feel as cramped as one might expect, with six-footers able to squeeze back there better than in the two-door. Legroom is also about the same as in the 3 and the two-door 4, which is to say decent. Its not the limousine that the 3 Series GT is, but its pretty good by "coupe" standards.
• The Gran Coupes hatchback body makes for a wide and deep cargo area, and the rear seats now fold 40/20/40 style. A power liftgate with programmable opening height is standard, and can be opened by waving your foot beneath the bumper. The drawback? Seeing out through the sliver-like rear window is a real challenge when youre on the road.
• The rear doors open quite wide, making it easy to load people and things back there despite their short length. You wont bump your head on the roof as you get in, either, since the roofline doesnt slope down until aft of the door.
• The turbo four-cylinder is sufficiently powerful and sounds pretty awesome, though the Gran Coupes extra 100 kilos or so makes itself known. Speed demons are going to want to spring for the 435i, which we are looking forward to driving ourselves in the States soon.
• The eight-speed automatic â€" the only available transmission â€" is as magical as ever in this installation, and the paddle shifters operate with a satisfyingly snickety action and are easy to find even with some lock dialed in.
• High-speed stability is and always has been a 3 and 4 Series forte, and it is no less so in this case. We only wish we could select Sport mode on the Driving Dynamics Control-which adjusts shift points, throttle response, and steering effort-to get its better-weighted steering along with the top two gears on the highway, but unfortunately, Sport mode locks them out.
• Grip levels are high during aggressive cornering, though as weve noticed in other 3s and 4s, the steering response is a little delayed at initial turn-in, resulting in a tendency toward understeer and early intervention of stability control. The lack of feedback through the wheel doesnt help matters, but the car does go where you point it. We just wish it told us what was going on in the meantime.
• BMW has long been a master of shock absorption, and as with so many other Bimmers, the 4 Series Gran Coupe takes the edge off bumps without floating over them. The 4 Series Gran Coupe we drove, with the M Sport equipment, is heavenly in this regard. The only demerit: tire noise on the highway can get loud, especially on grainy pavement.
• The M Sport line is available with upgraded brakes that offer excellent pedal feel and crisp response; we would recommend the $500 upgrade (on top of the $3,500 youll pay for the M Sport pack) if you like to drive like we do, especially if hills happen to be part of your everyday commuting.
• Given their similar interiors as well as the added practicality of the 4 Series Gran Coupes hatchback body, we cant help but wonder why anyone would choose a 3 Series, which comes in about $3k less, similarly equipped. That would make a big difference if the MSRP was under $20k, but at this price point, the upgrade to something that looks and feels more special than a workaday 3er seems more than worth it.