2021 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe spied

The new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe will once again seek to woo those who want 3 Series sedan-like practicality but with a pinch of sporty styling thrown in.

Like the current model, the 4 Series Gran Coupe has styling shared with the coupe and convertible versions but with a more commodious five-door fastback-style body.

Compared to similarly-sized 3 Series sedan, the Gran Coupe has a longer and curvier roof line, an extra rear quarter window, and frameless doors. It also sports flush-fitting lift-up door handles.

The Gran Coupe will be like other 4 Series models and have a tall double kidney grille paying homage to the classic BMW 328, but which has drawn sharp criticism from many quarters.

Under the bonnet, the 4 Series Gran Coupe will be offered with most of the four- and six-cylinder engine options already seen in the 3 Series range.

Given the need for automakers to hit a fleet-wide CO2 emissions target of 95g/km in Europe, it’s likely the Gran Coupe will also be available with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain option.

Our spy photography agency managed to snap photos of the Gran Coupe in both 430i and M440i xDrive trims.

The more potent M440i has a 285kW/500Nm 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder in place of the 430i’s 190kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo.

It also features a more aggressively styled front bumper with large intakes, M4-style wing mirrors, rhomboid exhaust tip finishers, larger alloy wheels, lower profile tyres, and more ground-hugging suspension.

The Gran Coupe will also serve as the basis for the pure-electric i4. Visual differences between the two cars may be limited to bumpers, grille, wheels and lighting graphics.