Images of BMW’s 4 Series Gran Coupe hit the web. Yes, it’s just a 3 Series with a shorter roof

By Nick Jaynes Published January 31, 2014

I knew it was coming, the 4 Series Gran Coupe, and yet I am still a bit flabbergasted by its existence. I mean, sure, it’s cool looking. But does it really need to exist? I’m not convinced.

For those of you who’re scratching your heads, the 4 Series Gran Coupe is, as the pictures from autofilou show, the 4 Series Coupe but with four doors. Let me cut you off at the pass; yes, it is the 3 Series with a less headroom.

And I’m not just being pedantic. The 4 Series Gran Coupe really is the 3 Series underneath. They have the same engines and transmission … and the same grille and wheels.

This isn’t the first time Bimmer has offered a more expensive, shorter version of one of its sedans, though. It first released the 6 Series Gran Coupe for 2013, which is the 5 Series with a short roof … or a 6 Series with two extra doors, depending how you look at it.

In my first drive video – posted below – I asked why anyone would buy the 6 Series Gran Coupe over the 5 Series, which is bigger, cheaper, and more fuel-efficient.

I answered my own question thusly, “six is one more than five.”

This logic still stands, if you ask me. Why get the 4 Series Gran Coupe when you can get the 3 Series for less money? Because 4 is one more than 3.

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Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

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