The Best-Selling BMW 4 Series 'Coupe' Is Actually A Sedan...

When is a coupe not a coupe? When it’s a BMW Gran Coupe. Contrary to BMW’s nomenclature that intends to reserve even-numbered series for two-door cars, Gran Coupe models have four doors and a liftback-style trunk out back. So the 4 Series Gran Coupe, for example, is really just a functional sedan. And in fact, it’s out-selling the two-door coupe on which it’s based.

During a product briefing for the updated 4 Series model range, BMW shared some rather interesting sales statistics. Despite arriving after the traditional Coupe and Convertible models, the 4 Series Gran Coupe is now outselling both… combined. On a global scale, the Gran Coupe accounts for 54 percent of all 4 Series sales, while the coupe and convertible together account for the remaining 46 percent.
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MDarringer - 4/28/2017 5:18:30 PM

-1 Boost

If a 4 door can be a coupe, the the Miata is a crossover.

jeffy210 - 4/28/2017 9:12:24 PM

+6 Boost

Basically because it was what the 3-series should have been. It's much sportier looking.

MDarringer - 4/29/2017 10:22:41 AM

-2 Boost

BMW should bring the FWD 1 Series to the USA in sedan form. They should rename the 4 series the 3 series and price it like a 3 series. Then they can leave the conventional 3 series in Europe. In a market with declining sales of sedans, THAT would be be the strategy to maintain sales volume. Follow that with a price drop for the entry level 5 series and you're done.

222max - 5/1/2017 11:27:08 AM

+1 Boost

Yes. I'd certainly spring for the 4 over the current 3.

vortical - 4/30/2017 1:26:19 AM

+2 Boost

There’s more head and shoulder room in the 3-series than the 4GC, otherwise precious little difference between them, as in the 4GC doesn’t look sporty enough to justify a different body. The fifth passenger space should justify the 3-series; the 4GC could look sportier by compromising that.

cidflekken - 4/30/2017 4:35:33 AM

+2 Boost

The 3 Series is still selling very well in the US, possbily more than any other sedan in its class. The C-Class' number look strong, but don't forget that Mercedes rolls up the sedan, coupe and convertible into one sales number whereas BMW separates the 3 and 4 Series now. So if you combine the 3/4 Series sales numbers and put them up against the C-Class total sales, BMW is leading Mercedes by 2k units YTD.
Everyone wants to sound the death knell for the 3 Series sedan and ring in the 4 Series GC, but the reality is, based on the percentages in this article, the 3 Series is still selling 3x's as much as the 4 GC. The fact remains that the rear seat space in the 4GC can't compare to the 3 Series accommodations.
And even though the 4 Series is priced a bit higher than the 3, after wheeling and dealing, it's all essentially a wash at the end of the day. So I would doubt that the price difference plays a significant role in a buyer's decision between the two.

Suggesting that the 3 Series should be replaced by the 4GC is just a bit shortsighted. If BMW were to do that, buyers who need the additional space would go to Audi or Mercedes.

MDarringer - 4/30/2017 9:25:57 AM

+2 Boost

Or more likely to an X3/4/5.

GermanNut - 5/1/2017 9:55:25 AM

+2 Boost

BMW will never get rid of the 3-Series. It's been the company's best-selling model for decades. However, as the 3-Series has gradually lost its Ultimate Driving Machine driving experience, it has left an opening for other brands, namely Mercedes-Benz and Audi to steal marketshare.

Mercedes-Benz went the traditional luxury and baby S-Class route while Audi went the technology and clean and modern interior route.

Chip - 5/1/2017 2:11:50 PM

+1 Boost

I still don't like that BMW ditched the 3-series coupe and convertible nameplates. They were icons and didn't need changing. Yes the M3 lives on in sedan form, but everything about the 4 series name just sounds wrong, especially M4. Gran Coupe is a stupid tacked on name, in my opinion.

I also think BMW made a huge huge mistake in only offering the 2 series in coupe and convertible form. They had successfully relaunched the 1 series in North America during 2008-2013, not to mention the 1M. Again, why change? The M140i hatchback and a small BMW sedan would be doing killer business right now competing with the Audi A3/S3, VW Golf GTI/R and Mercedes CLA/GLA. The 2 series coupe and M2's success and positive reviews prove they could of gone much further with the platform. It's the only positively received BMW for sale at the moment.

Really poor planning on BMW's part. I say this as a former fan of the brand. I think the 4 is ugly with its plastic fender vents that look like boomerangs.