BMW's Fleet Special

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

A vast number of new cars sold in the United Kingdom end up going to fleet buyers, with strict guidelines dictating what can and cannot be purchased for a company fleet. One of the main stipulations is “no coupes”. But BMW seems to have found a way around that.

The 3-Series is already a popular “executive car”, especially as a company car for upper management. BMW UK claims that 60 percent of 3-Series buyers are from corporate fleets. But the new 4-Series coupe will obviously fail to pass muster. But with the 4-door 4-Series Gran Coupe (aka fastback), BMW is betting big that it will emulate the 3-Series’ success.

Just-Auto reports that the Gran Coupe will get an exclusive 418d trim level targeted at fleets. The 418d will make 143 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque, but also emit 121 grams of CO2 per km (just shy of the magic 100 gram mark), enabling better fuel consumption and more favorable road taxes.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

More by Derek Kreindler

Comments
Join the conversation
8 of 56 comments
  • LuciferV8 LuciferV8 on Jun 24, 2014

    It's like Starbucks' sizing policy, in which we get a newspeak menu of three synonyms for large. I'm just waiting for BMW to go full retard and make the 7 series into some sort of 4-door "coupe".

  • Madanthony Madanthony on Jun 24, 2014

    So does the UK have tax laws or something that make company cars more of a thing in the US? I'm sure there are plenty of executive company cars in the US, but I can't imagine it's enough to make it worth a company here making a model just targeted at that market.

    • See 3 previous
    • Spreadsheet monkey Spreadsheet monkey on Jun 25, 2014

      "So does the UK have tax laws or something that make company cars more of a thing in the US?" It's by far the biggest "thing" impacting our new car market. The tax difference between running a 418d or a 435i as a company car would be hundreds, if not thousands of pounds per year. CO2 emission based taxation laws have massively driven the popularity of diesel cars in the UK in the last 5-10 years. That and $10 petrol (gas), of course. There are a lot of reluctant diesel drivers here who would prefer a petrol engine given the choice, but grudgingly put up with a diesel for the tax saving.

  • Romanjetfighter Romanjetfighter on Jun 24, 2014

    That's a very long hood. I love the proportions.

  • TonyJZX TonyJZX on Jun 25, 2014

    the power is a bit weak but the torque is fine (320Nm+) and the weight is ok (3,300lb) 9.2 sec 0-60 isnt great but i bet rolling acceleration is fine

Next