Background
BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé (F36) was introduced in 2014 as an entirely new body style within the recently created 4 Series family. It combined the low and sporting lines of the 4 Series Coupé with four doors, five seats and the practicality of a large tailgate. BMW positioned the Gran Coupé between a traditional saloon and a two-door coupé, offering an alternative for customers who wanted a more sporting appearance without sacrificing everyday usability.
A four-door coupé
The F36 shared its basic engineering with the 4 Series Coupé but added a longer roofline and two additional doors. Frameless side windows, a low silhouette and a strongly sloping rear section retained the appearance of a coupé, while the large upward-opening tailgate provided much easier access to the luggage compartment. Folding rear seat backrests also made the Gran Coupé surprisingly practical when carrying larger items.
A wide range of engines
BMW offered the F36 Gran Coupé with a broad selection of four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. At launch, the most powerful petrol version was the 435i Gran Coupé, whose 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six produced 306 hp. It was later replaced by the 440i with the newer B58-generation straight-six producing 326 hp. Both rear-wheel-drive and BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive versions were available.
Sporting character with everyday practicality
The Gran Coupé was intended to offer more than simply four doors in a 4 Series body. BMW retained the sporting character of the Coupé while improving access to the rear seats and everyday practicality. Despite its additional doors and longer roofline, the car remained low and coupé-like, while its driver-focused cockpit, chassis tuning and rear-wheel-drive-based layout preserved the character traditionally associated with BMW.
The 2017 update
The first-generation 4 Series family received a model update in 2017. The Gran Coupé gained redesigned LED headlights and LED rear lights, revised exterior details and updated interior trim. BMW also improved its infotainment and connectivity systems and revised the chassis settings to further refine the balance between handling and ride comfort.
Built in Dingolfing
The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé F36 was produced at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing in Germany. The first-generation Gran Coupé remained in the model range until 2021 and proved successful enough for BMW to continue the concept with the second-generation G26. The next generation also formed the basis for the fully electric BMW i4.
Historical significance
The F36 was significant because it introduced a four-door coupé body to BMW’s midsize 4 Series range for the first time. By combining the sporting appearance of a coupé with the practicality of a large tailgate and four doors, it established the Gran Coupé as a permanent part of the 4 Series identity. Its success demonstrated that there was a distinct market between the traditional sports coupé and the conventional saloon.
Model in the collection
The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé (F36) in my collection was produced by Kyosho.
Technical data in brief
Production period: 2014–2021
Production location: BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, Germany
Body style: four-door five-seat Gran Coupé with a large tailgate
Engines: four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines
Power: depending on version, up to 326 hp
435i Gran Coupé: 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six, 306 hp
Transmission: 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic, depending on version
Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive
Production: BMW has not published a separate total production figure for the F36 Gran Coupé in its public model information
Special feature: first-generation BMW 4 Series four-door coupé combining a low roofline with a large tailgate