After a successful sales time with the BMW X6, the coupé-styled SUV, launching a smaller version of the same car seems to be uppermost in the minds of the Munich based carmaker. The new car is likely to have the X4 badge which will be the successor of the X6 that has been a hugely successful model from BMW.
BMW has also paved the way for the release of a new comer which is said to be based on the concept of the newly revealed X3. Going by the initial reports made available by a reliable source from within the company, the new car which is codenamed the X-style has similar looks as the X6 which has a stylish coupe like roofline and a muscular body. But not with the same concepts of the X6, where it has its conventional tailgate, the new car will showcase a twin hatch system which was also seen in the 5-Series Gran Turismo. This newly designed car gives the driver an edge with other models as the drivers has the option to open either the entire tailgate or only the saloon-style boot.
This muscular car comes with the seating capacity of four people with two individual seats at the rear giving the X4 the required boost into the X range. However the car has not seen any change in the powerhouse and transmission which continues to be the same as in the X3. This suggests the car would derive its power from the highly efficient 2.0-liter turbo diesel unit capable of churning out 181 HP for the xDrive20d which helps the car to reach speeds of 60 mph from standing still in just 8 seconds. This while setting benchmarks on the fuel economy and emission stakes, being able to do 50 miles on a single gallon of juice while emitting out only 150 grams of CO2 every kilometer.
Apart from this, there will also be on offer a top of the line xDrive35i petrol version equipped with a 3.0 liter turbocharged six cylinder engine with a power rating of 300 bhp. With that much of power on tap, performance sure is bound to get a boost and how!. For thanks to the enhanced power, the car zooms pasts the 60 mph mark from standing still in just 5 seconds with the top speed too going up to 150 mph. Due to the small hiccup of the financial crisis coming to mar proceedings, the launch date of the X4 that has been in the making for quite some time now has been pushed back. But for now the car is expected to make its debut as a concept in some of the major motor shows by 2011. And if the market reacts positively to the car, BMW will waste no time in making the car head towards production lines with sales likely to commence by 2012.
Source: 4wheelsnews
