BMW has announced a new special edition based on the 4 Series coupe which offers interior, exterior and under-the-hood upgrades and will be limited to just 100 examples when the order books open in July for US buyers.

At the moment, premium German carmakers seem obsessed with creating 'special editions' that have varying degrees of being 'special.'

On Monday, Porsche announced new special ‘Black Editions' of its Boxster and 911 models. However, a close look at the specifications reveals that all of the special features are cosmetic.

The same is true of the 'Mille Miglia 417' Mercedes SL, the first examples of which were delivered to their owners this week. Its engine and performance figures do not differ in any way from the stock version of the two-seat sports convertible.

All of which is why the new BMW 435i ZHP Coupe Edition deserves special attention -- it is actually offering something genuinely different in terms of styling, features and performance from the norm.

Aimed solely at US clients who want something quick, nimble and truly exciting to drive but also something that is easy to live with on those occasions when the car's dynamics take second place to the passengers or the scenery, the new edition takes some of the best elements of one of BMW's fire breathing ‘M' models yet preserves the standard 4 Series' appeal as an executive car.

So it has a track-handling package which includes bigger wheels and brakes plus adaptive suspension; a limited slip differential; and the engine has been tweaked to produce 335hp -- 35 more than the standard 435i. That means that the car is 2 seconds quicker from 0-100km/h than the standard car and can use more of its extra power more of the time thanks to the chassis and differential set up.

Inside, the cabin gets aluminum and high gloss black accents while the exterior is noticeably ‘sportier' thanks to front and rear carbon fiber spoilers and a special larger front grille. However, unlike the range-topping M4, the car looks capable, rather than aggressive. This comparative subtlety is also helped by the fact that when the car goes on sale in July it will only be offered in Alpine White or Black Sapphire Metallic paint.
Source: AFP