[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

2014 BMW 4 Series a Finalist in 2014 Motor Trend Car of the Year Award Competition

75
COMMENTS

Tweet

The 2014 Cadillac CTS was just named Motor Trend Car of the Year 2014, but the 4 Series Coupe made the group of 8 finalists vying for for the award (also see how the 2014 M5 fared).

Here is how Motor Trend had to say about the 4 Series Coupe. Be sure to check out their list of criteria used, as well as the full list of contenders and finalists at the link above.


Finalist: BMW 4 Series
By: Frank Markus

We Like: Baby 6 Series style, buttoned-down suspenders, smoother start/stop.

We Don't Like: Filene's Basement frills at Prada prices, clunky connectivity.

"It's a two-door 3 Series, a variant with a very light refresh," declared Evans during Saturday morning's welcome walk-around by way of questioning the 4 Series' legitimacy as a contender. But by Sunday night, the 428i and 435i had proven themselves to be much more. Theodore proclaimed the 4 "the first BMW I'd consider buying in a long time," citing its smoother, better-balanced handling and greatly improved interior relative to the 3 Series. Lieberman lauded upgrades to the 3's "bouncy suspension and paint-shaker start/stop system." And of the widened, lowered bodywork, design guru Gale said, "If I had to pick the top two or three cars, this car would be one of them. It's that good."

On the winding track, the downshift paddle often provided just enough retardation to instigate a lovely neutral drift through the tighter sweepers, though our testing crew reported more difficulty managing the transition from incipient oversteer to terminal understeer on the figure-eight course. Theodore declared, "The ride/handling balance is the best in the industry," while noting that "both models could use a little more grip and roll control." MacKenzie spoke for the group: "The 428i feels the sweeter of the two. You're aware of the extra weight of the six-cylinder engine over the front wheels. The 435i pushes more at the limit, and the steering feels a tad heavier." The 4 Series nails our performance-of-intended-function criteria better than any other car here. It ranks relatively strong in most other criteria, with the exception of value. Neither coupe had navigation, parking sensors, or even a rearview camera, and the 428i had vinyl seats! The telematics and Bluetooth integration felt about 10 years old, recognizing no apps and refusing to stream song info from smartphone audio apps. Niggles, to be sure, but sufficient to cost BMW the calipers in an exceptionally strong field.

[300hp]

So much info here, thanks Jason. I am now sifting through 22 pages of internet car porn

Summary for those not interested in reading everything:

IS250 & 350 suck, there really is no other way to put it

"But we don't think Lexus went far enough in the fun department."
"Driving dynamics are everything the Q50 is not. Predictable, not boring, but not super-thrilling, either."
"If luxury is out, and sportiness is in, then the IS isn't top of the class."
"The little V-6 is underpowered and outdated, and provides no advantage compared with a turbocharged I-4," said Lieberman
Though most editors dug the new LFA-inspired cabin, the IS' exterior styling was a different story. "Man, what a mug," opined Evans. "Predator grille and front end are super-crazy weirdo," added Floyd. MacKenzie: "The front end is a mess. The grille is massive, ugly, and overwhelming, while the detailing around the headlights is overwrought." Gale summed it up quite well: "Overall, the design would have been far stronger if there had been restraint with the details."
Pretty much the worst figure 8 numbers in the segment


435i numbers:
seems the 335i rwd is still quicker and just as fast as the 435i
435i has an advantage over the 335i on the figure 8, the 335i needs PPK to compete with the numbers the 435i put down on the figure 8. 435i with PPK should be able to get to the low 25s.


S Class
Oddly MT found nothing wrong with it

[ORIGIN M.]

Caddy isn't that good.

I wonder who's sleeping with who...

[lve2xlr8]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

Caddy isn't that good.

I wonder who's sleeping with who...

Have you driven it? Here we go with all the journalist payroll nonsense since bmw didn't win

[04cobra]

MT always LOVE LOVE LOVES the caddies

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by lve2xlr8

Have you driven it? Here we go with all the journalist payroll nonsense since bmw didn't win

Yes I have. It rides like a rock.

[btbossman]

Wack! I definitely thought the vette had it...I have yet to see one ats on the road.

[bmrm396]

did he really just say "and greatly improved interior relative to the 3 Series"? is this idiot blind? Lieberman is a tool

[Powaup]

so they skipped leather and the tech package with the awesome HUD and then complain that there was no navi or park sensors

I agree with them when they say that the car is too expensive tho but this review seems unfair to me

[300hp]

After putting the Lexus IS in its rightful place, I take no issue with this award. After I personally test drove that POS I am at peace with anyone that provides a review that tallies with my test drive.

You live by the sword and you die by the sword so...

Go Cadillac CTS, yeah

[ZEEM3R]

Originally Posted by 300hp

So much info here, thanks Jason. I am now sifting through 22 pages of internet car porn

Summary for those not interested in reading everything:

IS250 & 350 suck, there really is no other way to put it

"But we don't think Lexus went far enough in the fun department."
"Driving dynamics are everything the Q50 is not. Predictable, not boring, but not super-thrilling, either."
"If luxury is out, and sportiness is in, then the IS isn't top of the class."
"The little V-6 is underpowered and outdated, and provides no advantage compared with a turbocharged I-4," said Lieberman
Though most editors dug the new LFA-inspired cabin, the IS' exterior styling was a different story. "Man, what a mug," opined Evans. "Predator grille and front end are super-crazy weirdo," added Floyd. MacKenzie: "The front end is a mess. The grille is massive, ugly, and overwhelming, while the detailing around the headlights is overwrought." Gale summed it up quite well: "Overall, the design would have been far stronger if there had been restraint with the details."
Pretty much the worst figure 8 numbers in the segment


435i numbers:
seems the 335i rwd is still quicker and just as fast as the 435i
435i has an advantage over the 335i on the figure 8, the 335i needs PPK to compete with the numbers the 435i put down on the figure 8. 435i with PPK should be able to get to the low 25s.


S Class
Oddly MT found nothing wrong with it

iv seen the new S class in person. its beyond sexy. in my opinion, the 7 series is nothing compared to it. and I hate almost every Mercedes too lol

[turk23]

cool quick read. thanx for the share!!

[300hp]

Originally Posted by ZEEM3R

iv seen the new S class in person. its beyond sexy. in my opinion, the 7 series is nothing compared to it. and I hate almost every Mercedes too lol

I am no Merc guy either but I agree with you. Nothing in the segment comes close to the S Class. For that kind of money it makes the right statement.

[pinemind]

Originally Posted by bmrm396

did he really just say "and greatly improved interior relative to the 3 Series"? is this idiot blind? Lieberman is a tool

+1. It's the same ... damn ... thing.

[wilstave]

Liebermann is the most biased, shit for brains and obnoxious car journalist since, well, ever...

[Maddict3]

I got the chance to drive a 435i yesterday and wow very impressed!

[StealYourFace]

"Neither coupe had navigation, parking sensors, or even a rearview camera"

Well god effin forbid. On what planet are any of those three things a requirement, especially the latter two in a mid sized car. And for somebody (like me) who has klived in the same city for 34 years, why the hell is navigation a necessity? Really?!

[Benstuck]

Have to admit, that is the first nice shot I have seen of a 435. They never looked good in any photos I saw, but in that photo, it looks like a proper bmw IMO

[samer670]

The 4 looks great in that pic. It gives me hope the M4 will look awesome once all the camo is dropped.

[Marley71]

Really impressed by the four cylinders numbers, makes me even more optimistic about what to expect of it in the 2 series. Who needs the power or weight of a six cylinder, not to mention the expense.

[marvin100]

Yeah, pretty remarkable what they're squeezing out of a 4-banger these days. Unthinkable a few years ago, no joke.

[mxa121]

I'm sure he's referring back to the 3 coupe when talking of the interior.