The 4 Series Gran Coupe is a bit of an odd duck. Not quite small enough to be a hatchback, but with a design distinct enough to set it apart from regular sedans (and too many doors to really be considered a traditional coupe), it carves out its own strange niche in the luxury sedan segment. It has been a staple in the BMW lineup for over a decade. However, recent rumors suggest that the current generation may be coming to an end a little sooner than expected.
Production changes to the BMW G26 4 Series Gran Coupe
The latest rumor pushes the BMW G26 4 Series Gran Coupe production schedule towards an earlier finish. Previously, the G26 4-Series was expected to remain in production until June 2028; The new rumor shortens its lifespan by about a year and a half. Production is now scheduled to end in February 2027. That sounds far away, but it means there’s only one full model year of production left for the 4 Series Gran Coupe if the rumor is to be believed. This is done through a generally applicable poster on bimmerpost that has a track record of more wins than losses. Therefore, we tend to believe that there are at least some scheduling changes.
If the rumor is true, the biggest loss by far is the all-electric i4. Since production of the i3 Neue Klasse EV has already begun, buyers naturally have alternatives available. But there’s something to be said about the i4’s fancy liftback. Even his style – although it is certainly polarizing – has a special charm. The same probably applies to the regular petrol versions of the car. While we have pretty high confidence in BMW’s ability to make the electric 3 Series an excellent driving car, there’s still a fear of the unknown. After all, the i4 is perhaps the most fun-to-drive electric vehicle on the market, perhaps even ahead of the much more expensive Porsche Taycan. But as Adrian astutely points out, the i3 range could make the i4 Gran Coupe largely obsolete. It seems BMW might agree.
Other 4-series models are not included
According to the same source, the traditional 4 Series models, the coupes and convertibles, exist separately from the G26. The G22 and G23 could remain in place until June 2029 – almost half a decade away! This also includes the G82 and G83 M4 Coupé and Cabrio models. So again: enough time to get an impression of the usual performance cars.
If the G26 4 Series Gran Coupe has indeed lost a year and a half of its expected lifespan, that’s not the best news we’ve heard all day, but it’s also not such a big surprise or drastic change that we expect too many people to be shaken up by it. It’s also haunting as the model was killed early on in Australia. As mentioned, there will be plenty of good new-class electric models to choose from when the car leaves us. And if you really need a Gran Coupe repair after 2027, your only choice right now seems to be the tiny 2 Series Gran Coupe. With no 8 Series Gran Coupe in sight, the Gran Coupe body style may be all but extinct. But we’ll have to wait and see.
Source: Bimmerpost
