The Garage: Your daily dose of automotive news, reviews and motorsports coverage
Never one to miss out on an opportunity to have some fun, I decided to take advantage of the recent ice storm in Ontario to do a bit of top down motoring in the 2018 Mazda MX-5 RF. I mean, after I consistently give my colleagues a hard time about driving convertibles with the top up, so I didn’t really have a choice. What I found was that Winter is no match for Mazda’s all season sportster.
Once upon a time, the six cylinder versions of muscle cars were sort of the red headed step-child of real muscle cars. Those days are gone and the V6 version of the sixth generation Camaro is a real contender.
What is in a name? Apparently a whole lot as Audi and BMW have taught us.
When Audi launched their two door coupe based on the A4 sedan’s underpinnings, they named it the A5 and charged more money for it. Mind you the A5 did look (and still looks) stunning and was significant different enough than the A4 to warrant its price premium.
And so BMW has taken a page out of its rival’s book and re-launched its new 3-series coupe as the 4-series (internally code named the F32).
In BMW-speak, usually the higher the model number, the higher the amount the customers are willing to pay and the greater the bragging rights. After 5 generations spanning across 38 years, the 3-series coupe is no more.
What this also does is bring the naming scheme in-line with the rest of BMW’s models. Even numbers for the coupes (2, 4, 6, 8-series), and odd numbers for the sedans (3, 5, 7-series).
But the changes between the 3 and 4-series are more than name badge deep. Indeed they’re more than skin-deep too.
My tester was a Black Sapphire Metallic 435i xDrive coupe. In Canada, all 435s come with the M Sport Line package as standard equipment. This includes 19” M sport alloy wheels, the M Aero package with unique front and rear bumpers, high-gloss shadowline trim (replacing all the chrome with gloss black trim), and M badging on the front fenders.
The end result is a real stunner of a car. Wanting to cast a unique shadow and differentiate the coupe from the sedan in the line-up, BMW lengthened the wheelbase, widened the hips and chopped the top to give the 4-series coupe its own sense of identity.
The 4-series not only sits lower than the 3-series sedan but is also 81mm wider. In case you’re wondering, with its stretched and lowered silhouette, yes it is visibly larger in width and wheelbase than the outgoing 3-series coupe.
This, together with the BMW-typical short overhangs, long hood and set-back passenger compartment, gives the 4-series a good visual balance. Muscular wheel arches and the wide track give an aggressive stance, with its prominent horizontal lines accentuating the side profile of the body.
The car’s striking front end with its characteristic BMW design features, such as the double-kidney grille, four round headlights and a large air intake in the lower front bumper, still reminds us about its family ties with the 3-series. This is certainly good company to associate with.
My 435i tester came with BMW’s Active LED headlamps as part of the $4,900 Premium package. This is a feature that is currently unavailable on the 3-series. They worked as well as advertised although I found that the Acura RLX’s multi-projector LED headlamps casted a wider beam than BMW’s reflector-based system.
As with all new BMWs, the new fender mounted “Air Breathers” are present on the 4-series. BMW claims that they are positioned just slightly rearwards of the front wheel arches to reduce drag.
Anyone familiar with BMW’s latest 3-series will be right at home in the 4-series. Aside for the seatbelt presenters, a brilliant idea borrowed from Mercedes-Benz coupes, the 4-series’ interior is a copy and paste job from its sedan sibling.
This means that buyers will find an interior that is well laid out and relatively logical. It’s high quality, understated, and business-like, especially when trimmed in black plastic/leather/vinyl. It’s certainly an interior that befits the 4-series’ demeanor as a gentleman’s coupe.
Personally, I found the black on black a tad boring and would’ve opted for the Coral Red Dakota leather instead.
BMW fans will be extra enamored with the M sport package as it also includes a different steering wheel design (aptly named the “Heritage” wheel) which recalls the old steering wheel designs from 3-series coupes of yesteryear.
This being my 4th BMW press car now, I found the iDrive system easy-to-use and logical once you get hang of the various icons. Fortunately, BMW includes tool tip bubbles that pop-up to remind you what the various icons represent.
My car was equipped with the optional 600 watt harmon kardon Logic 7 surround sound system; something that I’ve been longing to test with my own ears.
In short, get it if you’re an audiophile. It’s worth it. Switching between a hk-equipped vehicle versus one without is like switching between high-def TV and normal definition TV. Once you have it you won’t want to go back.
To my delight, my car also was equipped with BMW’s 6-speed manual gearbox. With its sumptuous soft top grain leather, the gearshift knob not only felt expensive but the shaft was also positioned at just the right height.
Slip into the front seats and you’ll find that they’re 9mm lower than in the 3-series. And in fact, the 4-series gets the crown for having the lowest centre of gravity in the current BMW vehicle lineup.
I found the 8-way adjustable sports seats with lumbar support more comfortable than the regular seats in the 320i and 328d that I had previously driven.
The rear seats are acceptable for average-sized adults and are actually pretty decent for a coupe. A small tray in the middle of the rear seats means that rear seating is strictly for two only.
Fold down the backseats and you’ll find that the 4-series has surprisingly good cargo capacity. The opening in the bulkhead separating the cabin from the trunk is even large enough to accommodate a flatscreen TV’s box.
I’ll be honest. If you’re looking for a BMW coupe that has the edginess of previous BMWs, you might be a bit disappointed. Look to BMW’s upcoming M4 or the M235i perhaps if you’re looking for something more raw.
Earlier, I used the words “gentleman’s coupe” to describe the 435i and I meant that as a compliment. Despite the ultra efficient electric power steering sapping away much of the road feel, handling is precise, capable, and responsive without being jarring.
The body is relatively flat even in hard cornering and xDrive proactively sorts out the traction at each corner to ensure that the vehicle holds to its intended line as much as possible.
Despite being on run-flat winter tires and 18” wheels, the 435i impressed me with how it gobbled up the undulating pavement on Highway 1 while still staying settled and secure.
The 3.0L 300hp twin turbo inline-6 cylinder engine is creamy smooth regardless of what gear you’re in. Thanks to a combination of clever throttle pedal logic and engine management, there is virtually no turbo lag and every nudge of the throttle greets you with forward thrust that is sure to add a smile to your face.
This is one coupe that you can drive from Vancouver to PEI and back without so much as breaking a sweat.
BMW Canada rates the 435i xDrive’s fuel consumption as 10.5L/100 kms in the city, and 7L/100 kms on the highway. Using a mix of EcoPro, Normal, and Sport mode and mostly city driving, I averaged 11.4L/100 kms. Much better than expected.
Despite not having the M performance exhaust, if you listen really carefully (with the windows down), you can hear the exhaust pop and crackle upon throttle lift in 1st and 2nd gear. I can only imagine how much more intoxicating the exhaust note would sound with the aforementioned dealer-installed system.
As for the 6-speed manual, it is easy to row and the gear ratios seem perfect. Throws are short and the clutch engagement point was shockingly easy to judge. I was expecting a heavy German clutch pedal but what I received was a manual transmission that was easier to get used to than that in a 2014 Toyota Corolla S!
Thanks to the 3.0L I-6 engine’s wide torque band (300 ft-lbs from 1300-5000 rpms), the car has plenty of get up and go even if you’re in too low of a gear.
Amusingly, BMW has also found a way to transform the 4-series’ start-stop system as a driver aid. If you happen to stall the car, the start-stop system will immediately restart the engine again (provided the clutch pedal is depressed). The system works so imperceptibly that I had to purposely stall the car to confirm that it actually performed I suspected!
BMW promised something special when it came time to replace their popular 3-series coupe and they didn’t disappoint. The 435i xDrive M Sport was an exceedingly easy car for me to like.
It looks head-turning great, has tremendous acceleration, handles well but yet is comfortable enough to drive on a day-to-day basis.
With the safety and security of BMW’s latest xDrive all-wheel-drive system and well-calibrated stability and traction control systems, gone are the days where owners had to store their BMW coupes in their garages till the groundhog said so.
This is truly a coupe that you can drive all year round in Canada without difficulty and surely one that will appeal equally to driving enthusiasts, BMW fans, or those simply in the market for a sport luxury coupe.
Whether you choose the 6 speed manual (as tested) or the excellent 8-speed automatic gearbox, the 435i is a car that shines beyond its nomenclature and bragging rights.
Personally, I can’t wait to see what the M4 brings to the table as it certainly has big shoes to fill. In the meantime, the 435i will do. It will do just fine!
Who better to do the World’s Fastest Car Review of a crusty old British car, than a crusty old Brit with a fag in his hand? Allow me to introduce you to Kevin Corrigan, known primarily as Crash. The subject of today’s review is the official Painkillerz battle wagon.
One of the most anticipated new model launches in what seems like decades is the coupe created as a collaboration between Toyota and Subaru. Here in North America, the Toyota version will fall under the Scion umbrella, with the moniker FR-S. There have been few secrets about this car since its original reveal close to two years ago. During the final stages of development, we began hearing about tuner parts that were already being developed and then seeing videos of the car in action. As the car became available in Japan, we even got a glimpse of an inept journo behind the wheel of one. Toyota promised an affordable package, so the only real question has been: How affordable?
A few weeks back, we reported that U.S. pricing had been set to begin at a super reasonable $24,200. Here in Canada we hoped that pricing would be equally affordable. We were not to be disappointed. The “base” model, with a six speed manual (is there any other way to order it?) will come to market for $25,990. Opt for the paddle shift auto box and the price of entry increases slightly to $27,170.
Let’s see now, a rear wheel drive, manual transmission coupe with 200 horsepower and a standard equipment limited slip differential, all together for under 26 grand. Potential buyers had best put in their orders soon, as they aren’t going to build enough of these to keep them in the showrooms!
Head past the jump for the official press release and watch a video from DSport Magazine as they drive some early models.
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When Hyundai debuted the Veloster at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, there were more than a few journos on the show floor that were scratching their heads a bit. I have to admit that I was among them. While the little runner was certainly cool looking to my eyes, the third door was a little gimmicky and the back seat it allowed access to offered headroom for a 10 year old and not much more. With only 138 ponies under the hood, the Veloster wasn’t even remotely about performance either.
To be fair, auto manufacturers were locked in a battle to outdo each other in the fuel economy wars at the time. Hyundai promised to be the first manufacturer to offer a full line of 30 mpg plus machines, while the high mileage variants from their competitors required consumers to spend extra money up front. The Veloster was positioned as a fun and funky car for around town, not a performance car. Then, at Chicago, they confused the message by showing off the purpose built racer that Rhys Millen would campaign in the US Rallycross series.
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It is not uncommon for the boys at my daughter’s high school to gather around when I show up in an interesting new ride each week. Usually, the girls barely notice the cars and you can almost taste the disdain when the boys’ attention is diverted away from them. With the pearl white 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe, there was a different response. There were girls screaming out to each other to check out the cool car. I felt like I was one of The Beatles. Ok, not really, but you get the idea.
For those of you who were around to experience the Caddy’s of the Seventies and Eighties: Did you ever think you would see teenage girls screaming with glee at the sight of a Cadillac? Maybe a scream while they ran away!
Over the past decade or so, the folks at Cadillac have been hard at work revising the brand and positioning their product in front of a different demographic. The popular CTS sedan was key to bringing more youthful buyers into showrooms, while the Hip Hop crowd took a shining (quite literally) to the Escalade. The interesting thing is that while high school age dreamers want a Cadillac, the oldsters are still digging the Caddy brand. Talk about a broad market!
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It goes without saying that most auto writers drive a lot of different cars on a week to week basis. As a result, many tend to get a bit jaded when it comes to driving something new. It also means that a car has to be pretty special in some way to elevate it to a position on the personal wish list. My own list to date has consisted of 2 very different sports coupes, one from Japan and one from North America.
When I say different, I’m not kidding around. The Nissan 370Z has killer looks and the driving experience is everything one might want of the street or the track while the Mustang GT offers killer V8 grunt and growl yet adds in a touch of practicality. For a Dad with a flock of kids, the Mustang’s usable rear seats and decent sized trunk are most welcome. Both are 2 door coupes with in excess of 300 horsepower reaching the road through the rear wheels. The 135i follows the same pattern. Like the Mustang, it offers the functionality of a real back seat.
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