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Ride & Drive: 2015 BMW 428i Gran Coupe Comment By Neal White More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Neal White More Content Now Posted May. 8, 2015 at 8:07 AM Updated May 8, 2015 at 8:08 AM By Neal White More Content Now Posted May. 8, 2015 at 8:07 AM Updated May 8, 2015 at 8:08 AM » Social News Nearly 30 years ago when I first began my career as an automotive journalist, I was attending a product launch and made the mistake of mispronouncing the word “coupe.” Having been raised in the South, I pronounced it like the building where chickens roost. Not meaning any disrespect, I was promptly corrected by a sage, crusty auto writer who was more than willing to take me under his wing and point out the error of my ways. In addition to teaching me the proper pronunciation for the word (the “e” is not silent and it is pronounced as a long “a”), he also made sure that me (and everyone within ear shot) knew that a coupe is a motorcar with two doors. If it has four doors, it’s a sedan. I never forgot the lesson. I mention that because this week, I had the opportunity to evaluate the new BMW 428i Gran Coupe. Great car. Handles like a dream and has lots of power. It also has four doors. Which begs the question, can a coupe be a sedan? I checked with BMW and they said: “The new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe adds a fresh dimension to one of the company’s newest model ranges. It combines the sleek look and sporty character of the 4 Series Coupe with the functionality provided by four-doors and a spacious, flexible luggage compartment.” With respect to the automotive traditionalists, it just goes to show that all is fair in love and marketing. The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe (sedan) actually shares the same length, width, wheelbase and track as the two-door version. In addition to two extra doors (making it much easier to access the rear seats), the roofline is 4.4-inches longer and slopes gently to the rear of the vehicle, providing added headroom for rear seat passengers. The five-passenger Gran Coupe is available in 428i or 435i models. The 428i models are powered by a 240 horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 engine. The 435i models are powered by a 300 horsepower twin turbocharged I-6 engine. Both models are available in rear-wheel or with BMW’s intelligent all-wheel drive system. With a base price starting around $41,000, the 4-Series Gran Coupe is also available in Luxury Line, M Sport and Sport Line trim packages. I thoroughly enjoyed driving this week’s 428i test vehicle. As I mentioned earlier, the handling is exceptional and the turbo I-4 produced exceptional torque for acceleration. In fact, it has a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds (4.9 seconds for the 435i). The Gran Coupe is worthy of a test drive. It’s still a sedan, though. Neal White has been covering the automotive industry for more than 20 years and is affiliated with the Texas Auto Writers Association. THE NUTS AND BOLTS MODEL: 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 5-seat sedan Rear-, or all-wheel drive Trim packages: 428i, 435i; (Luxury Line, M Sport and Sport Line trim levels) PRICE RANGE: $41,000-$58,000 ENGINE: 2.0L turbo I4 (240 hp/255 torque) 3.0L twin turbo I6 (300 hp/300 torque) TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic EPA: 23/21 mpg city, 34/32 mpg highway (2.0/3.0 RWD) FUEL: Premium unleaded STABILITY CONTROL: Dynamic stability control BRAKES: ABS LENGTH: 182.6 inches WHEELBASE: 110.6 inches WIDTH: 71.9 inches HEIGHT: 54.7 inches WEIGHT: 3,610-3,750 pounds TRACK: 60.8/62.8 (front/rear) FUEL TANK: 15.8 gallons TIRES: 17- or 18-inch CARGO: 17 cubic feet. By Neal White More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Neal White More Content Now Posted May. 8, 2015 at 8:07 AM Updated May 8, 2015 at 8:08 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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