BMW says production of its new 4 Series coupé has officially kicked off at the Dingolfing plant. Updated versions of the 5 Series sedan, including the M5 and the Touring model, began rolling off the production line at the same time.

Revealed at the start of June 2020, the 4 Series range for South Africa will include the 420i, 420d and M440i xDrive variants at launch in the final quarter of 2020. All variants will ship standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Christoph Schröder, head of BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, said the launch production of a number of models at the same time required “precise planning and intense concentration across the entire plant”.

“Despite the temporary suspension of production and one-shift restart under coronavirus conditions, we have managed to release the new BMW 4 Series coupé, BMW 5 Series and BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo on schedule, with the highest level of quality. This is a tremendous achievement by the team in Dingolfing and the entire process chain that has earned my utmost respect,” Schröder said.

BMW says the G22-generation 4 Series boasts a centre of gravity some 21 mm lower than that of the related 3 Series sedan, while its rear-axle track is 23 mm wider. Measuring 4 768 mm nose to tail, the new 4 Series is 128 mm longer than the original, and 27 mm wider, too. Its wheelbase, meanwhile, has grown 41 mm to 2 851 mm. BMW claims a luggage capacity of 440 litres, an increase of around 30 litres.

Original article from Car