05:05AM - 27.05.'14
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News Source: autoblog.com
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BMW has been in the line-blurring business of late, with the original X5 "Sports Activity Vehicle" muddling the line between SUVs and sport sedans in 1999, the 5 Series Gran Turismo challenging what our definition of "Gran Turismo" means in 2009, and pretty, low-roofed four-doors like the 6 Series Gran Coupe and the fresh new 4 Series Gran Coupe broadening the meaning of the word "coupe." In the midst of all of this, BMW blurred the lines around both the SUV and coupe genres with its big, heavy, and in many ways ridiculous X5-based "Sports Activity Coupe" (cue collective eye-roll), dubbed X6. Auto wags scoffed at its lack of utility, compromised outward visibility and added cost, but a more emotional public was apparently smitten enough by its aggressive looks to avail itself of some 250,000 of them worldwide in six model years on sale. Enter the all-new 2015 X4 crossover – err, "Sports Activity Coupe" – which BMW hopes will perform as well in the compact category as the X6 has on the next rung up the ladder. Like the X6, the X4 is a tough sell on paper: it's more expensive and less practical than the X3 on which it's based; it's heavier, despite the loss of interior space; and it doesn't even hold as much stuff in the back as the 3 Series wagon. As with the X6, the X4 is essentially a high-riding style statement that, like proper coupes (the two-door kind), says to the world, "You fools can take your need for practicality and shove it. I just want to look good." Whether or not one actually looks good in the X4 is up to the beholder, of course. One thing is for sure: no one will be indifferent toward it. The front fascia is unique and busy, with oversized air intakes and high-set foglights, though everything else in front, including the huge kidney grille intakes, scowling quad-element headlamps and the hood are shared with the X3. The beltline rises dramatically to meet the fastback roofline at the ducktail tush, while the swage line that runs the length of the body at door handle height is cut into two segments, giving added definition to the rear fender. The side window graphic is cut into four decreasing glass sections that culminate in a small quarter window interpretation of the Hoffmeister kink. The rear end itself is flat and tall, despite BMW's valiant attempts to visually widen it with lots of horizontal elements in the taillamps and bumper. In person as in pictures, the X4 looks short, stubby, and almost Napoleonic. If the X4 took human form, we'd see him as a five-foot, four-inch gym rat with sleeve tattoos. And he'd probably read a lot of car magazines. As with the X3, the X4 will be available in the US with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 240 horsepower between 5,000 and 6500 rpm, and 258 pound-feet of torque from 1,450 to 4,800 rpm, as well as BMW's wonderful 3.0-liter N55 inline-six, producing 300 hp from 5,800 to 6,000 rpm and 300 lb-ft of torque from 1,200 to 5,000 rpm. Both come mated to BMW's fabulous eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive with brake-based torque vectoring. At the X4's official media launch in Spain, BMW led with its strong foot, bringing only X4 xDrive35i models equipped with the $1,900 M Sport line for us to drive. The testers were also equipped with the $1,900 lighting package, the $3,150 Technology package, $1,000 Dynamic Damper Control, and a host of other goodies that bloated the price from $48,000 to $61,275 delivered. While we won't issue our final judgment about the X4 until we get a chance to drive the X4 28i (which starts at $45,625), we have to say that the loaded-to-the-gills X4 xDrive35i made a great first impression from behind the wheel. Not surprisingly, the X4 drives a lot like an X3. To account for its lower center of gravity and offset the slight weight gain (38 pounds for the inline-six models and 62 pounds for the four-cylinder model), BMW has recalibrated the X3's powertrain and chassis settings and managed to sportify the driving experience in the process. Launches are fun: with some throttle braking and the Dynamic Drive Control system in its Sport setting, the X4 35i catapults forward with startling force and absolutely zero wheel chirp. BMW claims to have shaved a few tenths from the sprint from 0 to 60 mph, which takes the 28i model 6.0 seconds and 35i model just 5.2 seconds (0.6 and 0.3 seconds quicker than their respective X3 counterparts), but we wouldn't be surprised to see those numbers prove to be a bit conservative. Thanks to its long, flat torque curve, the 35i model we drove was never without thrust for passing. Some credit must go to the paddle-shifted ZF eight-speed automatic, which is as delightful here as it is everywhere else it's found in BMW's family, serving up rev-matched downshifts, snappy gear changes, and when left in its sport setting, full manual control. We spent a fair amount of time at triple-digit speeds on northern Spain's smooth motorways, and alas, found that despite the wide 245-series front and 275-series rear tires, the X4 is no 4 Series in the high-speed stability department. Strong crosswinds occasionally pushed the X4 around in its lane, while wind noise emanating from the mirrors bordered on furious. |
