The new BMW 4 Series doesn’t pull any punches. At least not stylistically. Yet if you’re one of the few people who’ve seen the launch pictures and thought ‘hmm, bit too demure’ then, well, we’d suggest lockdown hasn’t been good to you.

Before pointing you to the car above. This is a new 4 Series – the quick, M440i model specifically – having had an options catalogue metaphorically flung at it. Thus everything’s been made either carbon or black.

Wheels, vents, fins, weird side skirt things, spoiler, dashboard trim… they’ve all enjoyed a newly extravagant and aesthetically punchy lease of life. The steering wheel’s been freshly Alcantara-ed, too, though we shan’t mock, because BMW’s put it on the bits of the wheel you’ll actually hold. Phew.

If you don’t like the thought of ticking loads of option boxes, and only possess the energy to click one, then you’ll want ‘M Sport package Pro’. It adds bigger brakes to 420i and 420d level Fours – plus a gimmicky-sounding ‘Sprint’ boost mode and a ’sporty engine soundtrack’ to their powertrain – as well as M-striped seatbelts, a posher stereo and some of the exterior glitz you see here.

Just one question, really. Does a darker grill and some extra aggression make sense of the latest 4 Series’ design clout? Or is it more of an assault on unsuspecting eyes?

STORY Stephen Dobie

Here are 9 things you need to know about the new BMW 4 Series