2013 BMW Concept 4 Series Coupe 

BMW does the two-door 3 Series one better.

Nigel Tufnel's amplifiers went to "11," and the BMW 3 Series coupe has also gone one more as it transitions to the F30 platform. BMW wants to capitalize on the willingness of coupe buyers to pay for exclusivity and aspirational design, hence the Concept 4 Series Coupe. Calling it a concept for now is just BMW being coy; this car will change very little, if at all, before arriving in dealerships.

Before that happens, the 4 Series Coupe will make its debut on the show stage. All signs are pointing to a 2013 Detroit Auto Show debut, and BMW prattles on with enough words to cover every inch of the sheetmetal they describe as more dynamic, sporty, and striking than merely a two-door 3 Series. When you see it, though, you'll still probably think that it's a great-looking, two-door 3 Series.

Arriving Next Fall

In terms of a retail timeline, BMW told us the current 3 Series coupe and convertible will be in production well into the middle of 2013. That squares with a 4 Series on-sale date sometime in the third quarter of the year after capitalizing the 2013 auto show season to build interest.

No Surprises Under This Handsome Hood

Turbocharged four- and six-cylinder powertrains will surprise no one, and when asked if we'll ever see an ActiveHybrid or diesel engine in the 4 Series, BMW suggested it would be "an aggressive assumption" to expect the 4 Series powertrain strategy to diverge from the 3 Series. Translation: no, at least not for now.

Compared to the 3 Series coupe it replaces, the 4 Series wheelbase is up two inches, and 45 mm have been added to the front track. The rear track gets nearly twice as much additional width, up 80 mm. In fact, the widest point of the 4 Series Coupe are the rear wheel arches. The roof is 16mm lower, too, all of which adds up to a car with classic coupe proportions and more visual muscle than before.

Classic Design Elements, Updated

The trademark twin kidney grille is now blocked off from behind, serving only as a showpiece between hexagonal LED headlamps that update the BMW twin round tradition. BMW Individual contributed to the interior habadashery of the 4 Series Coupe, which features more premium materials and handsome, driver-centric design. There's even specially hand-braided leather trim that extends all the way to the cup holders.

The Bottom Line

Until BMW finalizes its powertrain and pricing plans for the 4 Series Coupe, the only hook they're going to be riffing on is the styling, and that's really what's different from the F30 sedan.