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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.

The 2015 BMW 7 Series (G11) is a true high-tech luxury liner, which is still significantly At length this in terms of driving dynamics. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class seems to have actually found her conqueror. Even lighter than the BMW 5 Series and the top model an even more powerful V12 engine, head of the 7 Series a new era for BMW. Will premiere the new BMW 7 Series Sedan at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2015.

BMW 7 series 2015 Sporty and elegant Design

Undoubtedly put the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class at its launch in 2013, new standards - and far and wide, there was no competitor who could surpass the high-tech package. Behind the scenes, however, BMW already working hard on the new 7-series with the ultimate goal to outperform the S-Class.

Typical BMW proportions, like a long wheelbase, a short front overhang, an elongated bonnet and the set-back passenger compartment with coupé roof curve, shape the silhouette. The customers have the choice between the design of the 2015 BMW 7 Series Pure Design Excellence and the BMW 7 Series M-Sport - the aligned optically elegant, the other sports.

The front view of modified BMW only cautiously. Thus, the sharp lines of the headlamps now extend right up to the more voluminous chrome frame of the BMW kidney. Optionally, there is laser beam. The lower portion of the modified front bumper BMW drew far more dynamic, integrated LED daytime running lights even more striking.

This high-tech features will get the new BMW 7 Series

Outdoor rather a design evolution, the new BMW 7 Series, however, shall inner values over backward. The significantly higher quality interior should radiate true luxury - after all, it is necessary to successfully compete against the S-Class. But not enough: As with smartphones and tablets to operate the infotainment system is based primarily on the touch screen - the iDrive controller still remains once obtained. Even the gesture control is possible, so that, for example, the navigation can be called with swipe of a finger in the air.

Not only the driver, the passenger even has its own touch screen. Standing in the drivers driving-relevant information in the foreground, the passenger can also take advantage among other online entertainment such as Internet-based video and music streaming. The passenger is able even to the driver by wiping motion to convey information.

In stop-and-go traffic, the driver can relax, because the new BMW 7 to 60 km / h automatically brakes and gas are. Once home, get out of the occupant and the BMW 7 Series parked autonomously in the garage. In addition an armada of modern assistance systems.

Weight: Lighter than the current BMW 5 Series

Another goal of BMW presented the significant weight reduction. The new BMW 7 Series will be up to 170 kilograms lighter. Example: The EC curb weight of the current 730d Sedan (F01), ergo, 90 percent tank, 68 kg for the driver and 7 kg for luggage is 1915 kg. Less of 170 kilogram weighs only 1745 kg. For comparison, the current BMW 530d Sedan (F10) comes to 1785 kg.

The weight reduction achieved by the BMW extensive use of carbon fiber, magnesium and high-strength steels. Result: The 2015 BMW 7 Series is much more dynamic and also required by this fact less fuel. These couples BMW route data from the navigation system to the automatic transmission, the forward-looking sets the circuit, inter alia, curves, ascents and descents.

BMW 760i with a powerful V12 engine from Rolls-Royce

So far, the V12 engine of the BMW 760i had less power than the models of sister company Rolls-Royce. The current BMW 760i comes "only" 544 hp. This is now over: the new BMW 760i gets the 6.6-liter V12 engine with twin turbochargers, which already makes 632 hp Rolls-Royce Wraith. For use modified again in the new 7 Series, the V12 engine will also be more economical.

The Seeing BMW chassis can do even more than in the S-Class

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class was the first car in the world recognize bumps in advance. There, the system "Road Surface Scan" notes such irregularities using the stereo camera and adjusts the suspension to quickly, so that the occupants unevenness hardly notice.

Now comes the attack of BMW to the best discipline from Mercedes-Benz: The "seeing suspension" is also in the new BMW 7 Series - and can do even more. Mercedes-Benz continues to scan the road over a stereo camera, so that the system works only in daylight. The BMW 7 Series uses various sensors and radar, so that the system in the BMW also works at night.

Photo Credit: © BMW