BMW has announced a new version of its mid-size SAC (‘Sports Activity Coupe’), the X4, and, well, the styling is still pretty bold.
Not that that was such a problem for the outgoing model, launched in 2014. BMW has sold 200,000 X4s over the past four years, meaning that the medium-sized SUV coupe niche was certainly worth filling.
The new one, then, builds on a lot of the same styling cues. There’s still a sloping roof with a straight drop at the rear end, and there’s still an aggressive front end – with many sporting lines and swollen wheel arches between the two.
We reckon that, if you aren’t a fan of the X6 – the X4’s bigger brother – and the outgoing X4, you won’t really be convinced by the looks of the new one.
But if this sort of car does appeal to you, the new X4 is a pretty solid upgrade. It’s 81 mm longer and 37 mm wider than its predecessor, and it’s lighter and features a lower centre of gravity. All good news if you’re looking for a more engaging drive.
Two versions will be available at launch – the X4 xDrive20i and the X4 xDrive30i. Both come with four-wheel-drive and a 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. But the xDrive30i produces 252 bhp compared to the 20i’s 184 bhp. So, while the xDrive20i will do the 0-100 km/h dash in a fairly respectable 8.3 seconds, the xDrive30i will do it in a hot-hatch-fast 6.3 seconds.
And, later on, there’ll be an even hotter version in the X4 M40i, which will be available from August. That comes with a 3.0-litre flat-six developing 360 bhp, and will do 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and go on to a top speed of 250 km/h.
We’ve driven the X3 M40i and, if the X4 version is anything like that, it’ll be a stunner.
Inside, the new X4 gets a new 12-inch instrument cluster and an optional, full-colour head-up display. There’s a new interface on the 10.25-inch touch display on the centre console, which also comes with gesture control – just like you get on the 7 Series. Otherwise, there are more advanced cruise control, park assist and lane departure functions as well.
So, what do you think? Is the new X4 something you’d be interested? And does it convince you of the SUV-coupe concept?
