BMW's new 4 Series Coupe is remarkably familiar

The mid-sized 4 Series -- revealed earlier this week and driven next month by Carsguide ahead of its local debut in the fourth quarter  -- replaces the six-year-old E92 3 Series coupe.

The still handsome looking and sharp driving two door remains arguably BMW's strongest model line-up so the pressure on the 4 Series --  the two door take on F30 sedan -- is considerable.

There are two carry-over engines in the all-turbo three model line-up announced this week -- the four cylinder diesel 420d and inline petrol six of the initially range-topping 435i.

As is true of the four door, the smart buy will be the 428i with its turbo petrol four with 180kW/350Nm that gets it to 100km/h from standing in less than six seconds and can return some 6.6L/100km.

All models run BMW's class-leading eight-speed automatic, a transmission that can approach the rapid shifting of ever more common twin-clutch transmisisons while retaining a torque converter box's smoothness.

With the outgoing coupe starting at around 70 grand, the newcomer is unlikely to exceed that --given the latest 3 Series sedan now starts under $55K for the first time since the early 1990s.

So a price premium of some $7,000 on the four door appears likely. The convertible range arrives in 2014 around the time of the also newly designated 2 Series Coupe.

Equipment packages should largely mirror those of the sedan, with the Sport Line and M Sport kit certain starters. Those would be in keeping with the sportier stance of the new coupe which is lighter and sits lower than the outgoing car.

BMW spokesman Scott Croaker confirmed that the hallowed M3 name will continue, but only in four door form as the range-topping sedan. Its coupe and convertible counterparts will be the first M4s.

It's auf wiedersehen also to the current M3's naturally aspirated V8, which lasted one generation. Both the M3 and M4 will run a triple turbo inline petrol six.