TESTED: BMW 440i Coupe reinvented, improved over ever-fresh 435i

It was already back in May 2016 that the BMW 4 Series range was given a refreshed engine range, and with the new updated 4 Series range being able from May this year, we now only finally got to actually drive a 440i Coupe.

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I am not sure exactly what it is, but it would seem that media road test cars fall into some black hole that starts in the Western Cape area, and then somehow battle to make their way back to the Reef while their newsworthiness is still current.

I guess the smoke and mirrors of the actual meaningful sales value of social media, bloggers and influencers will also continue until somebody can actually come up with a real world way of measuring this aspect of the business, while we as good old ABC audited and measured print media, that ironically also uses website, Twitter, Facebook, etc as value add components, continue to chase the latest news regardless of ad money spent.

So it’s with this positive and professional frame of mind that I still jumped at the chance to drive the soon to be replaced 440i Coupe.

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The flagship 440i, non M engine, has been reinvented and improved over the ever-fresh 435i to once again create a new six-cylinder in-line unit of 3.0-litre capacity running a single turbo with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology on board.

This means that you now get a maximum output of 240kW of power, an increase of 15kW, from the previous generation and a full 450Nm of twist from as low as 1 380rpm when you opt to have the 440i badge on the boot.

The car channels its power through a fast and smooth shifting eight-speed Sports auto transmission to the rear wheels. Being the Sports auto means that the car has a version of launch control, I say version because it is not quite the DCT double clutch stuff you might be used to where the car dials in a set rpm and waits for you to release it.

The 440i here uses the old fashioned method of running the car against the transmission by left foot braking it and hitting the accelerator till you see the launch flag.

Either way, the car jumps off the line with quite a lot of wheelspin and runs to a 0-100km/h of just over 5.45 seconds, while the quarter mile is done in 13.59 seconds, and the 1km mark covered in a fast 228.75km/h.

These numbers are all better than any 35i version of Coupe I have tested, while the top speed comes up quickly around the usual electronically limited mark of 250km/h with 258km/h showing on the speedo.

What might also be of importance, this improved 3.0-litre turbocharged urge does not come at expense of fuel consumption.

BMW claim fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are both reduced by up to 12 percent and the 440i Coupe should get 6.6 litres per 100km. But we all know you would need to be living in a dream world to believe that this is possible on an actual road on planet earth.

I averaged 9.1 litres per 100km for the week I had the car, and this includes the flat out testing, and I think this is excellent for such a powerful car.

Driving on the open road and with some restraint, you could easily get down into the 7s and 8s.

The handling of course is typically BMW, in that it is slightly firm but very engaging.

The 440i Coupe fills the sweet spot between the mighty M4 and the more budget friendly models lower down in the 4 Series range.

In saying that, this Coupe does not come for free, it retails for R843 300 as a base Sportline 440i, and test car topped out at over R940 000 thanks to a host of options fitted.

Road Test Data
BMW 440i Coupe Sportline

• Gearbox: 8 Speed Sports Automatic Transmission
• Engine: 3.0 litre Straight Six Turbocharged
• Power: 240 kW @ 5 500 rpm
• Torque: 450 Nm @ 1 380-5 000 rpm
• Licensing Mass: 1 515 kg
• Power to Weight: 209.241 kW /Ton
• Power to Capacity: 106.412 kW/Litre
• 0-100 km/h: 5.45 Seconds
• ¼ Mile: 13.59 Seconds @ 175.38km/h
• 1 Km: 24.08 Seconds @ 228.75km/h
• 60-100 km/h: 2.97 Seconds (in 3rd) / 3.90 Seconds (in 4th)
• 80-120 km/h: 3.73 Seconds (in 4th) / 5.08 Seconds (in 5th)
• 100-200 km/h: 11.45 Seconds (from 3rd)
• True Top Speed: Limited to 250.35 km/h @ 5 950 rpm in 6th
  (Clock 258 km/h)
• Fuel Consumption: 6.6 litres / 100 km Claimed
  (9.2 litres Test Average)
• Fuel Tank Size: 60 litres
• Fuel Range: 909 km claimed (652 km on Test)
• CO2 Emissions: 154 g/km
• Vehicle Odometer: 13 244 Km
• Test Temperature: 16 Degrees
• Tyres Size: 225/40 R19 (Front) 255/35 R19 (Rear)
• Tyres Make: Bridgestone Potenza S001
• Service/Maint Plan: 5 Years /100 000km maintenance plan
• Warranty: 2 Years/unlimited km
• Test Date: March 29
• Priced From: R843 300