Due to increased competition in the Thai premium mid-size coupe and convertible segments, BMW Thailand has given the facelifted 4 Series Coupe and Convertible aggressive pricing.
To be officially launched next week, the two 4 Series models come in 430i forms boasting 252hp 2.0-litre petrol-turbo engine. The 420i Coupe, for one, goes from 0-100kph in 5.8sec and is priced at 3.499 million baht in Luxury spec. The M Sport trim, mainly distinguished with sportier appointments and M-like steering wheel, asks for an additional 300k.
The 430i enjoys the same 30% excise tax (emitting no more than 150g/km of CO2) as the 420i, which uses a 190hp version of the same 2.0-litre block and is slower from 0-100kph by 1.7sec. Hence, the 420i isn’t available anymore.
Sales of the pre-facelift diesel-powered 420d have also been discontinued. Two possible reasons could be its higher production costs and Thai preference for petrol power in two-door sports cars.
How does its competition fare?
The two most direct rivals in terms of performance are the Audi A5 Coupe 45 TFSI Quattro and Lexus RC200t F-Sport.
Although the A5 Coupe 45 TFSI boasts the same power and engine size of the 430i Coupe, it is slower from 0-100kph, at 6.3sec. The Audi’s price of 4.299 million baht is also way higher. Even the 190hp 40 TFSI is jaded by the 430i due to its price kicking out at 3.699 million baht.
The RC200t is in an even more crippling state. It has 245hp from a similar displacing petrol-turbo motor yet is slowest with 7.5sec time. Worse, it asks for 5.49 million baht.
The Mercedes-Benz C250 Coupe, meanwhile, comes with lesser 211hp 2.0-litre petrol-turbo unit and costs 3.24 million baht for Sport and 3.59 million baht for AMG Dynamic. This kind of means less performance (0-100kph in 6.8sec) for less money.
What about the open-top 430i?
The only opponent for the 252hp 430i Convertible is the 245hp C300 Cabriolet. The 430i Convertible Luxury goes for 3.999 million baht and an extra 300k for M Sport. The C300 Cabriolet AMG Dynamic is priced at 4.24 million baht – 59k less than the spec-on-spec M Sport.