Part-SUV, part-coupe. The idea isn’t new anymore but the X4 is possibly the best of its kind so far
When BMW started its SUV story with the X5, the factory in Spartanburg, Greenville, was the first outside of Germany to be commissioned. Thanks to its success, there has been no turning back. So, unsurprisingly, when it was time to unveil the latest product for this segment, we were brought in despite the erratic rainfall.
The X4, like its older sibling the X6, made most cringe with the way it looked. The first-gen coupe, which broke cover only four years ago, was based on an X3 platform and looked like a stunted version of the X6, which back then wasn’t known for its design flair itself. Over the years, the proportions have been chiselled and the face given a nip and tuck. These new-age SUV coupes are actually quite well-accepted now which has prompted even other car makers to follow suit. Surprisingly, although the X4 didn’t do too badly, BMW thankfully, figured that it had to do something about the car’s looks. So, in pretty quick time, this bigger, second-gen version has arrived equipped with sharper features, new interiors and a new topspec M version too which is what we drove around BMW’s SUV base.
This story is from the August 2018 edition of BBC TopGear India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2018 edition of BBC TopGear India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Porsche Ice Experience
It's a game best played on ice with the Porsche 911 Dakar
Mercedes-Benz EQS 580
WHY IT'S HERE To prove that Mercedes-Benz is the luxe king, irrespective of what's plonked under the hood or below the cabin.
F.A.T. CAMP
Take one Goodwood Festival of Speed, shrink it down, add skis and thermal underwear... you've got a recipe for an unforgettable day
ALL Stree DOWNHILL FROM HERE
The Challenger is dead, for now. Will the muscle car survive? We couldn't leave California without a 1,300bhp grudge match
A HIGHER POWER
They're the gnarliest, toughest Porsche 911s of modern times - and they're called Doris and Edith. Altitude does funny things to your brain...
VILLAGE OF THE DAMO
What do you get when you cross an R5 Turbo with a Suzuki Jimny? This is the company that decided to find out
CINQ OR SWIM?
The reborn Renault 5 concept promised much - does the full production version live up to the hype? Say bonjour to the EV supermini with proper Gallic flair
THE TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE FT. CITROEN C3 AIRCROSS
The Peppy 7-seater that Helped Me Break the Ice and Make New Friends
FUEL THRIFT
Experiments On The Atal Setu
BEYOND THE "BADGE
A Symphony of Engineering