BUSAN -- BMW Korea, the local unit of the German luxury carmaker, unveiled Friday an upgraded version of its 4-series, adding variety to its popular series.

The new lines introduced were the 4-Series coupe, convertible and gran coupe, as well as the high-performance models M4 coupe and M4 convertible.

“The new 4-series cars have bodies that are 40 millimeters lower than 3-series cars. Enhanced suspension and a new control system have been installed to heighten the driving experience,” said Yang Sung-hoon, a manager of BMW’s product and price management, at the unveiling event that took place at Hilton Hotel in Busan.

BMW’s even-numbered series of cars consists of coupes and convertibles designed to offer a more dynamic driving experience than sedans in its odd-numbered series, the company said.

In 2013, BMW introduced the 4-series midsize coupe. It has since expanded the series to include four-door coupes for the first time among midsize sedans.

Over 400,000 units of the 4-series have been sold worldwide since its debut, the company said.

The facelifted models feature a newly designed air intake, rear apron, light-emitting diode headlights and rear lights in order to achieve a sophisticated and sleek look.

They also boast improved driving performance, with strengthened suspension to offer dynamic driving and accurate steering, the company said.

The 420i coupe and gran coupe are powered by 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engines with a maximum horsepower of 184 and 27.6 kilogram-force meter of torque. The competition package has been applied to the high-performance models M4 coupe and M4 convertible competition to differentiate them from other M models, boasting a maximum horsepower of 450.

After the launch event, members of the media test-drove the 420i gran coupe from Hilton Hotel to Ganjeolgot cape in Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province.

One notable aspect of the gran coupe was its low wind noise at speeds of over 100 kilometers per hour. It was much quieter than its rival Kia Motors’ high-performance model Stinger.

Due to its low car body, the gran coupe also delivered a stable driving experience for both the driver and passengers at high speeds of some 150 kph.

Compared to Kia’s Stinger, the 420i speeds up from zero to 100 kilometers in 7.5 seconds, which is 2.6 seconds slower than Stinger’s 4.9 seconds.

Motorists who enjoy dynamic driving with unique exhaust sounds at high speeds said the new 4-series gran coupe would not be their most preferred car.

As for the price range of the new 4-series models, the coupe is priced between 58 million won ($51,602) and 66.9 million won; the gran coupe between 58 million won and 84.5 million won; and the new 4-series convertible at 77.3 million won. The M4 Coupe Competition is priced at 117.8 million won.

By Kim Bo-gyung (lisakim425@heraldcorp.com)