BMW’s 4 Series two-door coupe get bigger in every way, including the ubiquitous kidney grille. This is the second generation of the car that we first saw launch in 2014. The 2021 BMW M440i xDrive is the top of the line, and gets even faster.
Expect to see the 2021 BMW M440i xDrive hit dealer lots in October of 2020. Base MSRP will be $58,500, plus a $995 destination charge.
Bigger BMW 4 Series
The BMW 4 Series Coupe grows 5.2-inches longer, 1-inch wider, and .4-inches taller. The growth doesn’t stop there, as it also gets a 1.6-inch longer wheelbase, 1.4-inch wider front track, and a 1.2-inch wider rear track. Somehow even with growing in size in every dimension, BMW engineers were able to improve the car’s aerodynamic efficiency.
2021 BMW M440i xDrive Coupe Styling
Complex and sharp-looking LED headlights and taillights help define the new M4’s presence. Clean muscular lines, a long hood, and frameless windows define the silhouette of the new 4 Series. You can’t talk about the new car without talking about the even larger BMW kidney grille. The massive new kidney grille is angled forward and extends all the way to the bottom of the front bumper. BMW states that the grille size increase is primary for “adequate cooling for the more powerful engines.”
The 2021 BMW M440i xDrive gets some key styling signatures that set it apart from the rest of the 4 Series. On top of the M Sport Package’s unique front and rear bumpers, the M440i also gets a rear trunk spoiler. The grille, front air intake trim, exterior mirror caps, and exhaust tip trim are also finished in Cerium Grey. These touches help give the car a distinctly sporty feel while remaining classy.
Inside the M440i gets a new center console, center display that flows into the main instrument cluster, and lots of the leather and luxury you’d expect. You also get an M Sport steering wheel, M logo door sill plates, and soft knee paddling on the sides of the center console.
2021 M440i xDrive Offers More Performance
Performance gains start with big power bumps, up 62 hp and 39 ft.-lbs. of torque. A 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder turbocharged engine is under the hood. It makes 382 hp and 369 ft.-lbs. of torque.
The 2021 M440i xDrive sprints to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.3 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to either 155 mph or 130 mph, depending on the selected wheel and tire package.
The xDrive AWD system allows for all the power to go to the rear wheels when traction is not an issue, or all of them when more traction is needed. All 2021 BMW 4 Series will come with an 8-speed automatic transmission with launch control. Who doesn’t want launch control?!?! An M Sport rear differential is standard, which improves rear tire traction and unwanted understeer.
An upgraded suspension system offers lighter unsprung weight and more active components. A better ride over rough surfaces and higher performance in the twisties is the result. The M440i xDrive also “features firmer spring settings, stiffer bushings and mounts, firmer anti-roll bars and a greater negative wheel camber” than the rest of the BMW 4 Series and 3 Series cars. Adaptive M Suspension is also an option, offering, even more, ride comfort control and performance.
The Wheels Go Round, But Must Stop
There are a wide range of wheel and tire options on offer from the BMW for the 2021 4 Series. The base option is an 18 x 7.5-inch wheel with all-season run-flat tires. The top-spec performance option on the M440i xDrive Coupe is a 19 x 8.5-inch alloy wheel with 255/35R19 performance run-flat tires.
Massive vented M Sport vented disk brakes come standard on the 2021 BMW M440i. These brakes offer short pedal travel and stylish blue-painted calipers. Optional red-painted calipers are on offer as well.
BMW Mild-Hybrid Power
A new 48-volt mild-hybrid system comes standard on the 2021 BMW M440i XDrive Coupe. This system uses a 48-volt starter/generator unit and 48-volt battery to recuperate, store, and use energy while driving. This system improves performance under hard acceleration. It also improves overall fuel efficiency by reducing the load on the engine and increasing the time the engine start/stop feature is used.
