BUSAN ― BMW appeared determined to help spur the Busan International Motor show, having almost doubled its exhibition space from 2012 by showcasing all the cars it had been planning to launch in the latter half of this year.

Among the plethora of models, the 4 Series Gran Coupe seemed to best embody the German luxury carmaker’s knack for creating niches that just don’t seem possible. 

BMW was long famed for its 3 Series sedans, wagons, coupes, convertibles and M cars, but it has rebranded the two-door compact coupe and the convertible as the 4 Series.

Appearance-wise, the 4 Series Gran Coupe is similar to the two-door compact coupe, but has four doors. It also was given a deeper sloping roof that adds a sportier yet more luxurious look to the vehicle. The roof, meanwhile, was raised about 1.3 centimeters compared to the coupe version, which the carmaker says contributes to more headroom and spaciousness.

The first model to arrive in Korea is the 420d xDrive Gran Coupe, equipped with a 184-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo engine. It accelerates from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour within 7.5 seconds.

BMW also unveiled high-performance M versions of the regular 3 Series sedan and 4 Series coupe, which are replacing the models introduced in 2008.

These models are some 80 kilograms lighter than their predecessors thanks to increased use of aluminum and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic for components, including the roof.

The weight reduction has improved the car’s fuel efficiency by 25 percent.

The previous 4-liter, 414 horsepower V-8 has been replaced by a twin-turbocharged 3-liter in-line 6 cylinder that churns out 431 horsepower. It takes only 4.1 seconds to reach a speed of 100 kilometers per hour.

BMW displayed a total of 17 models, including the Mini and Motorrad, at the Busan fair. Its two-floor exhibition booth was shaped like a miniature version of its brand museum, which, along with a race track, will open as the BMW Driving Center on Yeongjongdo Island near Incheon International Airport in July. 

By Lee Ji-yoon, Korea Herald correspondent
(jylee@heraldcorp.com)