BMW X4 concept headed for Detroit reveal

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Crossover, BMW, Luxury

If there's a niche in the automotive market, BMW simply must fill it. And such is the case with the forthcoming X4 - a new crossover reportedly set to rival the Porsche Macan in terms of style, packaging and performance. The production X4 will reportedly launch in the United States in early 2014, and according to Autoweek, it will first be shown in concept form at the Detroit Auto Show next January.

The X4 will share its platform and underpinnings with the second-generation X3 (pictured above), and powertrains are rumored to be the same, as well. The X3 is currently offered with BMW's 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four and larger 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six.

To differentiate the X4 from the X3, it will utilize completely different styling and packaging. The front end will be more aggressive and pronounced, and the roofline will have a more rakish (read: coupe-like) slope. Think of the X4/X3 relationship as a smaller version of what BMW has done with the X6/X5.

But, as if the X4 niche itself weren't narrow enough, Autoweek states that BMW will also be bringing a higher-performance X4 M to market, despite the fact that there has never been a production X3 M. The X4 M will likely use a specially tuned version of the new turbocharged six-cylinder engine that's expected to debut in the next M3. A diesel version of the X4 M - using the 3.0-liter tri-turbo six found in other European M cars - is also reportedly in the works, though it won't likely be offered in North America. BMW will build the X4 alongside the X3 CUV at its facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

BMW X4 concept headed for Detroit reveal originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: BMW not ruling out X4M

Zach Bowman — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Hatchback, BMW, Land Rover, Rumormill, Luxury

The automotive landscape must be stacked to the sky with kindling right now. It seems like it takes little more than a spark of interest in one odd duckling of a model to create a wildfire of a new segment. From the monsoon of crossovers currently drowning our fair nation's freeways to weird hatch/crossover/sedan creations like the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo and Honda Accord Crosstour, market segmentation is all the rage right now, and it doesn't look like it'll be slowing up anytime soon.

According to Autocar, Land Rover may have started something with its ~~LRX~~ Evoque. The site claims that BMW may be looking to broaden its X lineup with the addition of an X4 - which would predictably fall just above the X3 and below the X5 - to do battle with the new low-riding Land Rover. Odds are that where Land Rover and BMW trod, others soon will follow. Autocar even goes on to say that an X4 would make it easy for the company to roll out an X4 M, complete with a 350-horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbo I6 borrowed from the upcoming 1 Series M Coupe. Yes, it would probably sell like hotcakes, even if we can see no reason to blast the X stable into ever finer divisions.

[Source: Autocar]
Photo by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Report: BMW not ruling out X4M originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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