At the recent launch of the 4 Series Coupé in Portugal, BMW exhibited an example of a range-topping 435i fitted with a plethora of items from the manufacturer’s M Performance accessories program. In an apparent bid to provide a range of products ex-factory for customers who’d usually turn to tuning firms to beef up the styling and performance of their vehicles, model-specific BMW M Performance accessories are also offered for the M models, One, Three, Five and Six Series. In this particular iteration, the 435i shows off a number of cosmetic cues that might be seen on the upcoming M4 model – save for an M-car specific quad-exhaust treatment, of course.
Conceived in close collaboration with BMW M GmbH, the retrofit exterior components include black slats for the kidney grille, a diffuser insert for the rear apron, beefed-up side sills with M Performance inscription, BMW M Performance stripes and a front splitter and rear spoiler hewn from carbonfibre. As for the cabin, the Alcantara-clad M Performance sports steering wheel has a Race Display (indicates the rise and fall of engine revolutions in a series of LEDs), as well as a carbon finish to the dashboard and centre console, including the gear selector and handbrake handle. In addition, interior strips in carbon and Alcantara, high-grade steel pedals, a specially designed driver footrest and BMW M Performance floor mats are available.
Under the bonnet, an M Performance Power Kit boosts the 435i’s outputs by 25 kW and 50 N.m respectively. The 3,0-litre turbocharged straight six is mated with a M Performance silencer system that comprises tailpipe embellishers finished in carbon (for the 435i) and the powertrain is uprated with a limited-slip differential. Futhermore, BMW has fitted a stiffer M Performance sports suspension, an uprated braking system with red, yellow or orange calipers and the Munich-based firm will also avail two variants of forged 20-inch alloy wheels.
The M Performance accessories range for the 4 Series will make its world debut at the Frankfurt Show and following the brand’s local launch of the compact executive coupé range in October, become available in 2014.
