BMW has finally launched the next-gen, 2021 BMW 4 Series, and with it comes BMW’s new (and massively large) kidney grilles, a new sporty yet muscular appearance, and a revised interior that pushes the 4 Series into the next level of evolution. But, is that new, muscular and sporty look justified by what’s going on under the hood? Well, BMW has revealed almost the entire coupe lineup, save for the full-on M4, so let’s take a closer look at your engine and performance choices.

2021 BMW 4 Series Coupe In a Nutshell

2021 BMW 420i – The Entry Level Coupe

If you’re reading from the U.S., you might just want to skip to the next section, as the 320i wasn’t offered for the last-generation, and there’s a good chance you won’t see it this time around either. And, you probably wouldn’t want it anyway. It’s powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder (the same engine found in the base-model 3 Series), and it’s good for a meager 184 horsepower and roughly 221 pound-feet of torque. Like every model that has been revealed for 2021 as of the time of this writing, shifting duties are handled by an eight-speed automatic transmission. BMW claims that this model can make the run to 62 mph in a respectable 7.5 seconds and will top out at 149 mph.

BMW 420i Coupe specifications

2021 BMW 430i – The Entry-Level U.S. Coupe

For 2021 it’s powered by the very same 2.0-liter four-banger than we mentioned before, but it’s tuned to deliver 258 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Compared to the current model, that represents an improvement of 10 horsepower and, impressively, 37 pound-feet of torque.

Shifting duties are handled by the same eight-speed Steptronic transmission, but the real treat is the 5.8-second sprint to 62 mph and the standard 155 mph top speed. This is also where things really differ as the 430i that you can buy right now was available with a six-speed manual, so you might want to think twice about trading off if you’re a fan of three pedals. And, in comparison to the outgoing 430i, you won’t really experience any improvement in sprint times or top speed. The current 430i can make the run to 62 mph in the same 5.8 seconds (according to BMW Germany), so despite the extra horsepower and torque, not a lot changes on the performance front.

2021 BMW 430i Coupe specifications

2021 BMW M440i – The Next Best Thing To the M4

If you’re itching to get in on the next-gen 4 Series, but don’t want to wait for the M4, you could opt for the M440i – the current range-topper for now. It’s all shunted through that same eight-speed automatic (That’s right; no six-speed is available for this model, either). These figures represent an improvement of 54 horsepower and 38 pound-feet of torque over the current 440i coupe.

In terms of straight-line performance, the new M440i is a huge step forward. Where the current model made the sprint to 62 mph in 5.1 seconds, the new M440i will get you there in 4.5 seconds. Of course, it still tops out at 155 mph, but this is BMW we’re talking about; what else did you expect?

2021 BMW M440i Coupé specifications

BMW 420d – The Very European, Entry-Level Diesel

BMW doesn’t offer too many vehicles with a diesel engine here in the U.S., and that’s not going to change for 2021, but those of you in Europe will have a couple of good options to choose from. Is that much of an improvement? No, not really. In fact, these figures represent just three extra ponies and no improvement in the torque department.

But what about performance? The 2021 BMW 420d might not come with an impressive boost in power output, but it will get you to 62 mph (110 km/h) in 7.1 seconds – an improvement of 0.2-seconds compared to the outgoing model. Top speed remains at 240 km/h or 149 mph, and you’ll also have to deal with the eight-speed automatic as the only transmission option, at least for now, anyway.

2021 BMW 420d specifications

Will BMW Offer the 2021 4 Series With a Manual Transmission?

We’re genuinely hoping that it comes at a later time, as it should be able to carry over from the outgoing model practically unchanged, but the industry, as a whole, is shifting (no pun intended) away from three pedals. If you’re hoping to hold out for a manual transmission, I wouldn’t expect to see one until at least late-2022, if at all.

When does the 2021 BMW 4 Series Go on Sale and How Much Does it Cost?

The 2021 BMW 4 Series is scheduled to arrive in showrooms by October 2019. As for pricing, BMW has remained silent, at least for now. We’re expecting to hear how models will be priced in all markets sometime closer to early-Fall, just a month or so before the 4 Series officially goes on sale.