2026 BMW M440i Redesign, Pictures, Engine

2026 BMW M440i Redesign, Pictures, Engine   –   When we were growing up, my mom would occasionally accuse my brother and me – half jokingly, of course – of suffering from selective hearing. How was it, she’d sarcastically wonder, we’d hear her loud and clear when dinner was ready, yet her calls to do our chores would conveniently go unanswered. (I’m no audiologist, though I’d hazard a guess that my brother, now a proud parent of three, might have some sympathy all these years later.)

It seems the same could be true of the decision-makers at BMW, who have a habit of picking and choosing what they hear and what they don’t. Take the rumours the brand was planning to move away from the manual transmission like rivals Mercedes-Benz and Audi had already done years earlier. As quickly as word spread of this potential faux pas, the automaker assured us it would do no such disservice to its most popular M performance models.

2026 BMW M440i Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior and Interior

Those seats are thickly padded and supremely supportive, while adjustable bolsters ensure even oversized occupants like me can settle in for the kinds of long-distance drives this car was built. But the build-and-price tool on BMW Canada’s website did reveal a shocking – and shameful – detail: front-seat ventilation (a $900 upgrade) can only be optioned with black or brown leather. Sadly, that means saying goodbye to the sultry red that’s a BMW signature. Three-stage heat, however, is standard regardless of upholstery hue, while a heated steering wheel can be added through the options list.

This tester was also fitted with optional adaptive dampers that transform the M440i into a genuine grand tourer. While there’s an underlying firmness to the ride quality it’s far from uncomfortable, and the adjustable suspension is simply spectacular for its ability to absorb road imperfections while preserving the kind of poise that makes this coupe plenty playful when the road starts to wind.

2026 BMW M440i Specs

The M440i has a decent selection of standard features for its starting price – $67,430 with freight but before tax – though to transform this into a proper dual-purpose GT car takes some considerable upgrades. On the performance side, the so-called M Enhanced Track pack adds adaptive suspension, upgraded wheels and tires (not seen here because of the smaller winter setup), bigger brakes and an oil cooler, and some black and carbon-fibre exterior bits ($4,950). Then there’s all the good stuff that comes with the Premium Enhanced package like “Laserlight” headlights, a head-up display, interior ambient lighting, an upgraded stereo, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charger, and built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, among others ($9,095).

Engine and Performance

When pushed to its limits, the M440i’s engine compartment unleashes a deluge of character and power. Its giddy-up comes from the same 3.0L displacement and smooth straight-six engine found in the M4, which along with a single turbocharger, produces 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. A keen eye will note that those numbers are up substantially compared to the previous iteration of this car, while that torque count is a helluva lot higher than the last time the full-blown M version of this car – still called the M3 back in 2013 – was motivated by a monstrous V8 engine.

Of course, any battle of brute strength would surely be won by that full-fledged M car, but this inline-six is a spectacular engine in its own right, with outstanding smoothness and barely a whisper of turbo lag as all that torque comes online at just 1,800 rpm. That’s the stuff that helps this version of the 4 Series hustle to 100 km/h in a claimed 4.5 seconds – a figure that there’s no denying based upon the way it slings occupants into their seatbacks with the throttle pedal pinned and the all-wheel drive system clawing forward. 2026 BMW M440i Redesign

Much like the BMW-built Toyota Supra that shares this engine, the transmission is an eight-speed automatic that’s lightning-quick in its responsiveness. Merely think about adding more momentum at cruising speed and it drops a cog to spike the revs, while it’s happy to let the engine wind itself end all the way to redline before snapping off yet another speedy gear change. The M440i also employs a 48-volt mild hybrid system that BMW says chips in when accelerating aggressively, while also smoothing the auto stop/start system that shuts the engine off when stopped rather than idling needlessly. The system can also power the car’s electronic systems with its standalone battery, thus reducing the load on the powertrain.

2026 BMW M440i Fuel Economy

How much any of that directly impacts fuel consumption is tough to determine since this version of the 4 Series can’t be had without the hybrid stuff, though it’s impressively efficient nonetheless. Setting out on a 250-km test loop that features a nearly equal spread of city, rural, and highway stretches, it was only when the tarmac got twisty that I drove with zeal; otherwise, serenity was the name of the game (this is a GT car, after all). Yet I managed to match its official highway rating of 7.7 L/100 km.

The rest of the week-long test skewed closer to its official combined rating of 9.2 L/100 km, which is still impressive given the full day of filming in the cold, and the winter tires this tester was shod in. Officially, the final tally was 9.3 L/100 km over the course of 620 km. For a bit of perspective, that’s still better than what I managed during a summertime test of the Volkswagen Golf GTI, not to mention the Supra that put back premium-grade gas at a rate of 11.0 L/100 km during testing. 2026 BMW M440i Redesign

2026 BMW M440i Safety Features

That premium package also adds to the already robust advanced safety suite that’s standard in every 4 Series. Stuff like forward collision warning and automatic braking, lane-departure warning and keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is supplemented by a driving assistance suite that adds automatic lane-change functionality to the adaptive cruise control.

Although it’s only a gimmick, the function really works rather effectively, allowing the driver to effortlessly move into the next available highway lane as soon as the turn signal is turned on, provided that the lane is clear of other vehicles. While even the narrowest of the four preset gaps the adaptive cruise keeps from preceding vehicles is perhaps a little too wide, allowing other motorists to squeeze in without invitation, the system applies both throttle and brakes smoothly and integrates itself seamlessly with the flow of traffic.

Other fancy features include a self-parking system that works with both perpendicular and parallel spots, and a so-called back-up assistant that records the last 50 metres of low-speed driving (below 35 km/h, according to BMW) and can automatically have the car reverse down the same path. BMW claims it’s handy for navigating narrow driveways, though it seems like one more piece of tech to show off to friends.  2026 BMW M440i Redesign

2026 BMW M440i Price and Release Date

Next to its two most obvious competitors, the coupe versions of the Mercedes-AMG C 43 and Audi S5, the BMW M440i is priced well and delivers lots to like for the money. And while it’s easy for the pre-tax total to climb with the options seen here, even the $81,475 asking price for this fully loaded version seems reasonable next to both of those rivals with similar equipment, not to mention others on the market like the Infiniti Q60. 2026 BMW M440i Redesign

It’s not just its newness that makes the 2026 BMW M440i feel like it’s worth the price of admission – though that certainly doesn’t hurt. No, it’s the way it combines more than enough performance prowess with outstanding cruising comfort and all kinds of luxury amenities that makes this such a fantastic GT car all around.

The longer I spent behind the wheel the more I enjoyed it, with this version of the 4 Series supplanting some six-figure sports cars on its way to finding a special place in my heart. Except there’s just no way I could ever park something so aesthetically offensive in my driveway. Nice car, but it’s a damn shame about that face.