BMW->ke178 has become the king of pointless niche-market cars in recent years and it doesn’t look like the Bavarians have any plans of stopping. No they haven’t announced a new 3 Series coupe, but we do have spy shots of the upcoming X4 soft-roader doing a bit of cold-weather romping through the snow.
The X4 is a swoopier version of the X3->ke255 much the same way that the X6->ke2396 was a swoopier version of the X5->ke326. This new, and very pointless, coupe-like SUV->ke145 is designed to attract young and enthusiastic individuals who want the practicality that comes with an SUV without all that pesky ugliness that comes with having a truly utilitarian vehicle.
In these latest shots, we can see that the car has lost even more of its camo, and we have a nice solid look at the front end. It is pretty clear that the production X4 will look very similar to its concept version, not exactly a surprise.
I think the X4 is a pretty stupid idea, but the Range Rover Evoque->ke3666 has proved that there is a market for small, mostly useless SUVs. Of course the Evoque is supermodel attractive, and the X4 looks like the lump on Quasimodo’s back, so that may make a difference in when it goes on sale.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 BMW X4.
Spy Shots
We expect engine options to be the exact same as those offered in the X3. That means expect and xDrive 28i version with a 2.0-liter turbo making about 240 horsepower and an xDrive 35i model with a 300 horsepower straight six.
The newest BMW is expected to make a showing in New York come April, so we should have all the details on pricing, powertrains and exterior design very soon.
In 2013, BMW unveiled the X4 Concept, giving us a peek at what to expect from the X4. Given the rumors are essentially saying this is an X3 wrapped up in an X6 costume, we think the concept may be spot on.
The X4 concept features the same coupe-like profile we are going to see on the production version, but stylized elements, like the chrome insertions on the signature kidney grille, the special headlights and the aggressive front apron, will likely not make it to production.
Initially, we thought that the 21-inch bi-color alloy wheels were specially designed for the concept, but you can see that the model we caught testing is, in fact, riding on these exact wheels.