BMW has been twiddling around with the BMW X4 since 2008 when the idea of a sportier version of the X3 was looking like a profitable venture. Back then, the German automaker was calling it a Sport Activity Sedan (SAS) and had thought they might be able to crank it out in 2010. Obviously that didn’t pan out, but plans for the X6’s smaller brother are still in the works, with a possible debut in 2012.
As you can see from the rendering provided above, the BMW X4 will get many of its exterior and interior components from the X3, including the use of the X3’s platform. Rumors suggest that the future vehicle will be produced at the company’s Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, which would be fitting considering the passion we, as Americans, have for SUVs.
Do we need another sporty off-roader to cram into our parking spaces and guzzle up more gas? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean that the future BMW X4 won’t zoom right out of dealerships when it finally goes on sale.
UPDATE 09/21/2011: In a recent interview with German magazine Auto motor Und Sport, BMW CEO, Norbert Reithofer, has confirmed that the company has started working on the X4 and that we shall see it in the next few months. The new model will be built under the internal codename F26 and will share its platform with the X3 SUV. The new X4 will be built at BMW’s Spartanburg plant in South Carolina. (BMW Blog)
UPDATE 11/29/2011: Check out our new rendering of the upcoming BMW X4!
UPDATE 01/12/2012: BMW has officially confirmed today plans to expand its X-model family with a new X4 that will be produced at the Spartanburg plant. "I am delighted to announce today, over the next three years, we plan to invest nearly $900 Million U.S. dollars. With this investment, we will be able to produce 350,000 units here in the mid-term," said Arndt. "This is one reaction to the rising global demand for our BMW X Models."
Hit the jump to get details for the BMW X4.
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The first rumors of a BMW X4 started back in 2008, but this year the rumors have gotten even stronger. Now we get an almost official confirmation: BMW officials in Hamburg said that a smaller, more affordable X4 model has apparently been on the drawing board in Munich for some time now. The car will be built as BMW’s response to the new Range Rover Evoque.
The next BMW X4 will be built on the same platform as the second-generation X3 and will be powered by the same engines as the X3, but with a few power improvements. There will be a 2-liter diesel engine that will deliver 177 hp, a 3-liter diesel that will deliver 231 hp, and the turbo version that will deliver 300 hp. The petrol engine will start from a 2-liter four-cylinder engine that will deliver 163 hp and will go up to a 3-liter turbo engine that will deliver 306 hp.
Another version, most likely for an X4 M model is the engine from the upcoming 1-series M Coupe: a 350bhp twin-turbo 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder mated to an eight speed automatic.
This isn’t the first time we have presented an article on the possibility of a BMW X4 crossover. Here at Top Speed, we made a preview of the car a long time ago, but this is the first time we can confirm that BMW is seriously considering a smaller brother for the very successful BMW X6 on the market.
In an interview with AutoCar, a source said: "We haven’t made any firm decision, however, the X6’s success shows there is a continued demand for sporty off-roaders."
It’s possible that the next X4 will share the platform with the X3 with a design inspired from both the 2001 X Coupe concept and the X6.
Under the hood, the X4 will feature the same engines as the X3, but with a few power improvements. There will be a 2-liter diesel engine that will deliver 177 hp, a 3-liter diesel that will deliver 231 hp, and the turbo version that will deliver 300 hp. The petrol engine will start from a 2-liter four-cylinders engine that will deliver 163 hp and will go up to a 3-liter turbo engine that will deliver 306 hp.
2010 BMW X4
BMW just loves molding its sedans into funny shapes, and so in the future, we will likely see more derivatives of BMW’s 3- and 5-series platforms. In fact BMW announced that future vehicle will include a new mid-sized SUV (yes, BMW calls it a SAV - Sport Activity Vehicle - but we’re not playing that game.) It will be called X4 and is set to be revealed sometime next year.
Based off the 3-Series, the X4 will be to the X3 like what the X6 is to the X5. It will borrow styling themes introduced on the X6, meaning it will be a tall, five-door fastback. Like its other X-Series siblings (except the X1), all-wheel drive will likely be the only drivetrain available. Also like the other BMW SUVs, it should be produced at the Spartanburg, South Carolina plant.
Even in uncertain fuel pricing times, BMW seems to be banking its future on SUVs. The X1 will go on sale in Europe next year and in USA in 2010. A redesigned X3 is scheduled for 2010 and a diesel version of the X5, with the complicated name X5 xDrive35d debuts this year. The X6 will get a freshening in 2012.
It seems that BMW is very pleased with the newly launched X6 as they decided to built a smaller version called X4. The future Sports Activity Sedan (SAS) will share the same platform as the future X3, and as its big brother will not have the interior space or the sportiveness of a SUV, but will attract buyers that are looking for originality.
The guys at Auto Zeitung came up with a photoshop of what the BMW X4 might look like: a combination between the X3 and X6.
For now the X4 is just a rumor, but we might see it in the future!
