BMW X4 goes M40i
Sporty SUV beats Jaguar and Porsche equivalents in performance terms
This X4 isn’t a full-fledged M car, right?
That’s right. What you see here in official pictures ahead of its world debut in Los Angeles next month is the X4 M40i coming from BMW’s M Performance rather than M Automobiles unit.
The M40i is the next faster version after the 35i in the X4 model range. The M40i uses a 360 hp 3.0-litre inline-six petrol-turbo engine, which is based on that of the 35i but utilises some components from the M3 and M4, thus BMW billing it as a new motor.
BMW hasn’t simply plumped a bigger heart into the M40i. They have also beefed up the brakes and suspension. Power is channelled to a rear-biased 4x4 system via eight-speed automatic transmission.
Apart from small details, the most notable exterior differentiators are the 20-inch wheels and sporty exhaust pipes, which BMW says also makes an evocative sound rather than just looking cool.
Cool. How fast is it?
BMW says the X4 M40i goes from 0-100kph in 4.9 sec. The Jaguar F-Pace, equipped with 380hp 3.0-litre supercharged V6, does 5.5 sec. The Porsche Macan S, hooked up with 340hp 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, is also slower at 5.4sec.
One reason why the X4 is a good half-a-second quicker is the presence of Launch Control made standard. Even so, Porsche’s Sport Chrono package only helps cut the acceleration time of the Macan S by 0.2 sec.
But the Macan Turbo is still the one to beat.
Uh-huh, since the Macan Turbo’s 400hp 3.6-litre twin-turbo V6 helps propel the car from 0-100kph in 4.8sec (4.6sec when equipped with Sport Chrono).
If BMW finds it really necessary to rectify this deficit, they could deploy the X4 in full-blooded M form (like how did they with the X5 M and X6 M). But that hasn’t happened as of yet.
BMW is also keen to point out that the X4 M40i offers plenty of relevance for the real-world. Maximum torque of 465Nm, for one, is available between 1,350-5,250 rpm, while the 11.6kpl average economy is superior to the Macan S’s 11.1kpl rating.
Expect the X4 M40i to cost around 8-9 million baht if brought over to Thailand.