New BMW X4 looks a winner: Geneva Motor Show

The new BMW X4 – the X3 with fancy clothes from the X6 – has been officially revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. Price from £36,590.

The new BMW X4 (pictured) revealed at Geneva

The arrival of the new BMW X4 at the Geneva Motor Show isn’t exactly a surprise, and nor is the fact that it’s very much the same as the X4 Concept we saw at the Shanghai Motor Show last year.

What is perhaps a bit of a surprise is a price list that appears to price the new X4 about 15 per cent more than the comparable X3; the X4 xDrive 35d M Sport costing £48,990 compared to the X3 xDrive 35d M Sport at £42,900. Still, style comes at a price.

Under the skin and in the cabin is pretty much X3, but the body is pure – reduced in size – X6 with a deeper front bumper, contoured bonnet, new grill, big back haunches, deep back bumper and, of course, the dramatically slopping roof line. Where the X4 does differ from the X6 is down the flanks where extra swage lines add more dimension and aggression.

Inside will be very familiar to X3 owners, although the seats are mounted a little lower, the headroom in the back is less and that dramatic roofline eats in to luggage space.

Part of the big price hike over the X3 is explained by increased levels of standard equipment for the X4 with automatic tailgate, Variable Sports Steering, 18″ alloys, Park Distance Control, Xenon headlights, heated front seats and BMW Business Media all standard.

Lux Line trim (an extra £1500) adds different 18″ alloys, Satin Aluminium Exterior trim, Dark Copper Interior trim, Sports Seats and xLine Leather and M Sport trim (an extra £3000) boasts M bodykit, High Gloss Shadow Line exterior trim, 19″ M Sport alloys, M Suspension and Aluminium Hexagon interior trim.

Under the skin, the X4 gets an uprated version of the X3’s suspension with firmer springs and dampers, standard variable rate electro-mechanical steering, electronic torque vectoring and four wheel drive.

Engine options in the UK are diesel only, with the X4 xDrive20d (from £35,590 for the SE) getting 187bhp and 52.3mpg, the X4 xDrive30d (from £44,890 for the xLine) getting 254bhp and 47.9mpg and the most powerful X4 xDrive35d M Sport getting 307bhp and 47.1mpg, all fitted as standard with BMW 80-speed auto ‘box.

The new BMW X4 will go on sale in the UK in Summer 2014.