BMW X4: Coupe version of X3

Competition has forced BMW to bridge the gap between the X3 and the X5 as the German luxury carmaker launches the suave X4 in Europe.Based on the BMW X3 platform, the new sports activity vehicle is virtually a mirror image of the X6 as it has imposing air intakes at the front end and a sloping roof that gives it sharper dynamics. The effect is further enhanced by the fog lamps sited below the signature twin headlights.

With a coupé-like roofline which dips low, BMW has ensured that passengers head room is not compromised by lowering the driver and front passenger seats by 20mm lower and the rear passengers by 28mm compared to the X3. The X4 comes standard with 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats, which provides a luggage capacity range between 500 and 1,400 litres.

The new X4 comes with a host of goodies as standard equipment like automatically opening tailgate, Variable Sport Steering, 18-inch light-alloy wheels, front and rear Park Distance Control, Performance Control and Xenon headlights. The features offered in the X4 is more than the X3.

The X4 comes with 2-litre and 3-litre diesel powerplants. The former is a newly developed an all-aluminum unit which develops 190hp at 4,000rpm with a peak torque of 400Nm. The X4 xDrive20d sprints from zero to 100kph in 8 seconds. The 4-cylinder X4 comes standard with a six-speed manual gearbox but there is an option to opt for the eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line engine is paired with the standard eight-speed Sport automatic transmission and comes in two variants. XDrive30d has an output of 258hp at 4,000rpm with a peak torque of 560Nm from as low as 1,500rpm, while it accelerates from zero to 100kph in 5.8 seconds. The top-of-the-line model, the xDrive35d, pumps out 313hp and puts a peak torque of 630Nm on tap from between 1,500 and 2,500rpm. With its standard-fitted Launch Control, the X4 xDrive35d launches from zero to 100kph in a mere 5.2 seconds and has a top speed of 246 kph.