AOL Autos Test Drive: 2014 BMW 428i

I have to admit that I have a hard time keeping some vehicle names straight, especially with luxury cars. With different, often seemingly random combinations of letters and numbers, it can be very difficult to remember which model is which.

BMW has decided to make things even trickier by adding a few new numbers to its line. Basically, going forward, any BMW that starts with an even number is a coupe orconvertible and anything that starts with an odd number is a sedan or wagon. This rule, though, does not apply to the German automaker's SUVs or performance cars, which start with letters. Got it?

The 4 Series is a new model for BMW that has emerged out of this new naming convention. At first glance, it's easy to write it off as simply a renamed 3 Series coupe. And it is, in a way, considering both the 3 Series and 4 Series use the same engines, employ similar styling and are almost identical in size. But BMW has made some tweaks inside and out that give the new 4 Series more refinement and sportiness, setting it further apart from the sedan. 

I recently spent a week with the new 428i, and in spite of my initial cynicism that this new car is nothing more than marketing ploy, I'm convinced that it's much more than just a renaming effort aimed at cheaply revitalizing the BMW brand. It's a distinct, immensely sporty luxury coupe worthy of carrying its own nameplate as well as the BMW badge.