This is it, ladies and gents. It was only a matter of time before we come across BMW’s infamous grille on our roads. SMC Asia Car Distributors (SMCACDC), the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines, has officially launched the all-new 4-Series. Let’s take a look.
Of course, there’s nowhere better to start than with the face. That awfully controversial face. This is the first Bimmer in our market to sport BMW’s new massive kidney grille. Much has been commented about it already, so we’ll just say that whether you like it or not is really up to you.
Looking past the face, you still get a sporty-looking sedan with a macho overall physique. The only two variants available locally get pretty much the same exterior styling, only the higher trim gets a more aggressive-looking front clip with larger air intakes. It also wears 19-inch M light alloy wheels—a tad bit larger than the base variant’s 18-inchers—as well as a rear spoiler for improved aero.
Inside, the new 4-Series is pretty much the premium sedan everybody expects it to be. A plethora of soft-touch materials is available in the cabin. The top-spec variant is fitted with Vernasca leather seats, while its stablemate gets Sensatec upholstery.
The 4-Series also comes with a lot of toys as standard. There’s an 8.8-inch infotainment system that supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with BMW’s Live Cockpit Plus, and a HiFi loudspeaker system is available across the range. Standard safety and driver-assist tech include an automatic tailgate, cruise control, and BMW’s Parking Assistant that provides automated assistance for perpendicular and parallel parking.
Only one engine option is available here: BMW’s 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-banger that generates 184hp and 300Nm of torque. This is mated to an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission, with paddle shifters on the top-of-the-line variant. No M Performance figures here yet, but these are still impressive numbers nonetheless.
Specifically, the two variants we’re getting at launch are the base 420i Model Advantage and the more premium 420i M Sport. The former is priced at P3,990,000, while the latter commands a P4,590,000 asking price. Both cars come with BMW Philippines’ five-year/200,000km warranty upon purchase.
Your thoughts on the new 4-Series, readers? Would you want SMCACDC to launch its M4 sibling here, too?
