BMW facelifts the 4-Series and the electric i4

BMW has completed its planned update of the 4-Series for this year. The production will take place in Munich, with the first liftbacks set to go on sale in July.

Starting with the exterior, all cars now have improved headlights with vertical LED sections (matrix LEDs are optional). The taillights can be optioned with Laserlight LEDs like on the latest M4 CSL. The radiator grille has been reworked, too, and buyers can choose from new 19- and 20-inch wheel sets, as well as two new exterior finishes – Cape York and Fire Red. The M Performance and M Sport lineups additionally get a redesigned rear diffuser in gloss black and larger exhaust tips.

The interior has fewer physical buttons than ever. On the plus side, the BMW iDrive infotainment system now runs on OS version 8.5 and offers a new menu called QuickSelect, which you can use to access most in-car functions quickly. The steering wheel has two spokes in the standard version and three in the M Sport version. Sport seats are now included in all trim levels, and trimming materials have been revised across the entire trim range.

The all-wheel-drive i4 xDrive40 spec that went on sale in the United States last year is finally available in Europe as well. Its two motors join efforts for 401 PS (396 hp / 295 kW) and 600 Nm (443 lb-ft) of torque. The car sprints 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 5.1 seconds and has 444–548 km (276–340 miles) of driving range depending on the conditions. The remaining three i4 powertrains stay the same.

As for the gas-powered Gran Coupe, it still ships with the same assortment of four- and six-cylinder engines rated from 184 to 374 PS (181–369 hp; 135–275 kW, respectively). No matter which one you choose, the transmission will be a Steptronic Sport eight-speed AT.