Premium German carmakers have been obsessed in recent years with plugging every conceivable micro-niche in the market. There’s now seemingly a Teutonic prestige vehicle that caters to every imaginable whim, and the latest example is BMW’s all-new 4 Series Gran Coupe.
BMW first rolled out the 4 Series Gran Coupe in 2014, and it was essentially the result of morphing the 4 Series Coupe and 3 Series sedan. The sales pitch was as follows: “So, you’d like the svelte looks of a coupe, along with the four-door practicality of a sedan? Step right this way, sir.”
The recipe worked a treat – it’s been outselling the two-door 4 Series by two to one in Europe – which is why we now have the second-gen 4 Series Gran Coupe. The newcomer has just landed in UAE showrooms, but we had the opportunity to sample the car in October at its international launch in Munich.
The latest Gran Coupe shares its core architecture with the current 3 Series, but it stands clearly apart via a distinctly more rakish profile and a face that’s fronted by the same XXL twin-nostril grille as the latest 4 Series Coupe.
The newbie is 143 millimetres longer, 27mm wider and 53mm taller than its predecessor, and the dimensional stretch has liberated more cabin space. In addition, the front and rear tracks have been widened (by 50mm and 29mm respectively), which bring dynamic gains as well as endowing the car with a more hunkered-down stance.
Although the Gran Coupe’s roofline is far more tapered than that of the 3 Series, you still get five seats (the centre-rear pew is a bit cramped), a large tailgate and a load compartment that’s extendable from 470 to 1290 litres by folding down the rear seats.
The straight-six engine emits a pleasing howl when you give it the beans, yet recedes into the background when you’re in cruise mode
As per its two-door 4 Series sibling, the Gran Coupe is offered with a choice of four- and six-cylinder engines. The 420i is propelled by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo motor that ekes out 184 horsepower and 300Nm.
Next in the hierarchy is the 430i, which gets an uprated version of the same engine, pushing out 245hp and 400Nm. The range-topper is the M440i xDrive, which gets a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo unit that thumps out 374hp and 500Nm. All models are equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Pricing in the UAE starts at Dh259,000 ($70,524) for the 420i Gran Coupe, rising to Dh350,000 for the M440i xDrive.
We sampled the flagship M440i xDrive at the launch, and this variant serves up acceleration befitting a sports sedan, dispatching the 0-100 kilometres per hour sprint in 4.7 seconds and running up to its electronically governed top speed of 250kph with effortless ease.
The straight-six engine emits a pleasing howl when you give it the beans, yet recedes into the background when you’re in cruise mode. The eight-speed auto is slick and intuitive, so there’s little to fault in the drivetrain.
As with most BMWs with a sporting bent, the M440i’s steering wheel rim is thicker than ideal, but get past that and you’ll find that the chassis beneath you is taut and well sorted. The 4 Series has slightly different suspension geometry to the 3 Series sedan and its overall setup is stiffer – especially in the M440i. The BeeEm’s most direct rivals are the Mercedes-AMG C43 and Audi S5 Sportback, but the M440i is arguably the most driver-focused of the trio as it’s marginally crisper in its responses. Ride quality is a bit harsh over rough surfaces, but that wouldn’t be such an issue on the UAE’s predominantly smooth roads.
The cockpit layout is clean and uncluttered, with a virtual instrument cluster being the main focal point. The rev counter needle sweeps anti-clockwise, which can be irritating, but that’s my only beef with what is otherwise a clear and efficient driver interface.
All in all, there’s plenty to like about the M440i Gran Coupe. You could think of it as a junior M4 – with the added practicality of four doors and five seats.
The specs - M440i Gran Coupe
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 4.7sec
Top speed 250kph
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh350,000
Results
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: RB Kings Bay, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: AF Ensito, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: AF Sourouh, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
8.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Baaher, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
9pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Mootahady, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
9.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Dubai Canal, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
10pm: Al Ain Cup – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Harrab, Bernardo Pinheiro, Majed Al Jahouri
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Scorebox
Sharjah Wanderers 20-25 Dubai Tigers (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries Gormley, Penalty
Cons Flaherty
Pens Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons Caldwell 2
Pens Caldwell, Cross
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Punchy appearance
Roars of support buoyed Mr Johnson in an extremely confident and combative appearance
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
1st Test July 26-30 in Galle
2nd Test August 3-7 in Colombo
3rd Test August 12-16 in Pallekele
Europe's top EV producers
- Norway (63% of cars registered in 2021)
- Iceland (33%)
- Netherlands (20%)
- Sweden (19%)
- Austria (14%)
- Germany (14%)
- Denmark (13%)
- Switzerland (13%)
- United Kingdom (12%)
- Luxembourg (10%)
Source: VCOe
The biog
Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives.
The hardest dive in the UAE is the German U-boat 110m down off the Fujairah coast.
As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau
He also led a team that discovered the long-lost portion of the Ines oil tanker.
If you are interested in diving, he runs the XR Hub Dive Centre in Fujairah
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Price: From Dh529,000
Engine: 5-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 520hp
Torque: 625Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.8L/100km
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Wednesday and the pair embraced but he failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset was due to a personal matter.
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
The Uefa Awards winners
Uefa Men's Player of the Year: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Uefa Women's Player of the Year: Lucy Bronze (Lyon)
Best players of the 2018/19 Uefa Champions League
Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)
Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)
Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Uefa President's Award: Eric Cantona
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
WWE Evolution results
- Trish Stratus and Lita beat Alicia Fox and Mickie James in a tag match
- Nia Jax won a battle royal, eliminating Ember Moon last to win
- Toni Storm beat Io Shirai to win the Mae Young Classic
- Natalya, Sasha Banks and Bayley beat The Riott Squad in a six-woman tag match
- Shayna Baszler won the NXT Women’s title by defeating Kairi Sane
- Becky Lynch retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match
- Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women’s title by beating Nikki Bella
