SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Even before you slip into the driver’s seat of the second-generation BMW X4, the compact crossover reveals its soul: more spirited coupe than grocery store runner.
The 2019 BMW X4, which goes on sale in Canada this summer, has sportier proportions than the first generation, with wider tracks, the latest-generation suspension settings, a lower centre of gravity and improved aerodynamics. A sloping roofline makes its profile look more coupe than SUV.
The design cues are meant to deliver a message of sportiness and athleticism, BMW X4 project head Joachim Dunkel told Automotive News during a driving event here.
“When you see the car the first time, you see the muscle and sportiness, and when you see the inside of the car and drive this car, you can feel it,” Dunkel said.
Development of the 2019 X4 began in parallel with the current-generation X3, which was introduced last fall. More than 200,000 units of the first-generation X4 have been sold worldwide and 19,712 in the United States, since the outgoing model was launched in 2014. Canadians have purchased 4,385.
The X4 comes in two variants. The xDrive30i is powered by a turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that generates 248 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque, propelling the vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in six seconds. The BMW M Performance model — BMW X4 M40i — is powered by a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine that delivers 355 hp and 365 pound-feet of torque. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds.