The BMW 4 Series Isn't Going Anywhere. And It Should Keep Its Gas Engine

BMW says the 4 Series will remain in the lineup, possibly with gas and electric powertrain options.

BMW 4 Series

Photo by: BMW

By: Stefan Wagner

Translated by: Jeff Perez

Jan 16, at 4:30pm ET

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the breakdown

BMW says the 4 Series is a 'very important car for us.'
The company confirmed that a new version will debut alongside the next 3 Series.
It should have both gas and electric powertrain options.

For years, there’s been talk that the BMW 4 Series might be living on borrowed time. But based on new information, that doesn’t seem to be the case at all. While some competitors are scaling back their two-door offerings—or dropping them entirely—BMW is making it clear that the 4 Series isn’t going anywhere.

BMW’s team in Munich is already working on the next-generation 4 Series, which will sit alongside the upcoming "Neue Klasse" 3 Series as a sportier, more design-focused alternative. And here’s the good news for enthusiasts: a new M4 is definitely happening.

About a year ago, we reported that the next M4 could go fully electric. There's still a slim chance it could, but now it sounds more likely that gas power will remain in the mix.

A Gas & Electric 4 Series?

BMW Neue Klasse EV Concept

BMW Neue Klasse EV Concept

The 4 Series launched as its own model in 2013, splitting off from the 3 Series, and entered its second generation in 2020. It also served as the foundation for the all-electric i4. Overall, it’s been a solid success for BMW. Still, with the 3 Series moving toward the electric-first Neue Klasse platform, the future of a gas-powered 4 Series coupe was starting to look uncertain.

Those questions have now been answered by BMW’s head of R&D, Joachim Post. Speaking with Autocar, Post confirmed that there’s still a place for a sleek two-door model in BMW’s future lineup:

'The 4 Series is an important car for us. It’s sportier, and BMW is a sporty brand with a clear performance heritage. It will continue to play an important role going forward.'

This is the first official confirmation that a third-generation 4 Series is coming. While we haven’t seen any prototypes yet, the move makes a lot of sense. Audi has dropped the A5 Coupe (and reused the name for what used to be the A4), and Mercedes-Benz has combined its C-Class and E-Class coupes into the new CLE. BMW clearly sees an opening here.

Even though coupes and convertibles don’t sell in the same numbers as sedans, BMW says the math still works thanks to shared development. "It’s not as expensive as developing a completely new car," Post explained. “Whenever we do a 3 Series or X3, we also think about the 4 Series or X4. That way, we can create synergies and build derivatives more easily."

That comment also quietly confirms the future of BMW’s SUV coupes. A new X4 is on the way and will share its powertrains with the X3 and iX3, while the larger X6 is expected to follow a similar approach.

The Next M4

2025 BMW M4 CS Edition VR46

2025 BMW M4 CS Edition VR46

Photo by: BMW

Because the next 4 Series is expected to ride on Neue Klasse architecture, it should support a wide range of powertrains. A next-generation i4—closely related to the upcoming electric i3—is likely, along with highly efficient gas-powered versions.

According to rumors, the electric model could use a battery as large as 108.0 kWh and offer more than 497 miles of range on the WLTP cycle. But for most enthusiasts, the bigger headline is what this means for the M4. As Post put it, “These derivatives are very often the basis for the sports cars,” clearly hinting at BMW M.

BMW has already suggested that the next M3 will take a dual-path approach: one version as a brutally powerful EV with four motors and torque vectoring, and another sticking with internal combustion via an updated S58 inline-six. The next M4 would likely follow the same formula.

What do you think?

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Post also pointed out that BMW has a key advantage here—its next-generation gas engines are already designed to meet upcoming Euro 7 emissions rules, giving the brand more flexibility than some of its rivals.

Motor1's Take: With so many luxury coupes disappearing, it's nice to see that BMW is still committed to the 4 Series. Better yet, a new gas engine could keep the M4 a popular choice for enthusiasts.

The Latest From BMW

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Source: Autocar

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