Bucket Seat: BMW X4 2.0i

When BMW send press cars for reviews, I always want it to have lots of options, end of the day I am reviewing the car for the public, so what better way for you to find out about these extras than from someone like me right? Fair enough some of these extras are pretty pricey, but once you learn the purpose you can deduce whether it would be something you would need in a car, hence I don't understand some other people in the industry who loathe BMW when they send them a car which has enough extras that costs the same as a small car. The product given is for people with a certain spending power and if Richard who's a CA in one of the top 4 accounting firms wants car that can park itself, then damn right he should get it! Anyway, enough with the mini rant here, it's time to tell you about my time in the new BMW X4, which by the way came packed with extras!

DESIGN

When it comes to these coupe styled SUV's, there is honestly no-one that does it better than BMW. While others may try, their models just look like a giant bubble on the road. The X4's design is primarily based on the X3 and its very evident from the front of the car but as you go down towards the back the profile changes drastically. The car gets wider and the roof slopes to create this fast back kind of rear end. BMW have in my opinion created an extremely sexy rear end for the new generation X4, the previous model didn't have that that booty that made you have a second look. This one however will have you making 3rd looks at it! The rear lights are a major talking point and conforms to the new design language from BMW and I can see why it's ruffling a few feathers, simply because it's new and most in the motoring world aren't used to change but it grows on them over time. I spoke about the X4 growing wider as you get to the back and that's to give it that sporty nature. Even the rear tyres are wider than those up front and this isn't purely for aesthetic purposes only. The interior design is carbon copy of that in the X3 with head room slightly compromised for the rear passengers. Overall the design of the X4 hits the mark on what it needs to be and many echoed the same sentiments as me when they saw it in the metal.

PERFORMANCE

On the launch I got to drive two out of the three engine derivatives that are being offered in the X4 line up, which was the M40i and the 20d, I knew the Durban press fleet wasn't going to get the beast of the M40i hence I jumped on the opportunity to drive it then, and with good reason to as it was a menace on the roads. This time however I got to get acquainted to the 20i which funny enough wasn't one of the two I drove on launch so it all worked out well in the end. BMW's 2 litre petrol engine is one of the most sold across the range of models in their offering and having driven in it in various cars I can see what it's so popular, it produces 125kw and 290Nm of torque . Apart from being so versatile, BMW also makes sure the car it's in doesn't put added pressure on the engine and with the X4 being a big vehicle, the engine seems more than adequate to get you around. Even though the diesel engine might have a higher torque rating, the 20i seems quicker off the pace and there's minimal lag if you have to compare it to the 20d. The car is well balanced and sits on the road like a big SUV should but is as nimble as a sports coupe thanks to the xDrive system.

COMFORT

When it comes to comfort, BMW's X range never disappoint, there's always plenty of cabin space for the drive and his occupants, not to mention the huge luggage space. Now with the X4 you'd think some of this would be compromised but you're wrong, yes with the slanted roof there is a slight reduction in head room for the rear passengers but there is still ample space there for two or three adults. The seat's in the X4 are awesome and comfy with a range of colours and designs available for you to choose from when specc'ing your car. The car I had came with Black Vernasca with decorative stitching which looked superb, changing up the game from just plain old boring seats. The car came with multizone climate control, seat warmers for the front passengers, surprisingly no seat coolers, maybe BMW don't see a need for that one yet. The panoramic sunroof is brilliant, allowing lots of natural light to come in and letting in some fresh air as well. The trunk space was decent with me being able to get two bags of golf clubs as well as the kit bags in there with no sweat. 

TECHNOLOGY

As mentioned, this particular model came packed with extras, most notable was multi-function instrument display which is basically a digital instrument cluster which changes colour depending on which driving mode you're in and it also gives you other various information. Adaptive LED headlights, which for me personally is the best thing you can add to your car, the way it works at night still has me spellbound. The car came with BMW's display key, which is basically like a cellphone, it has a small touch screen where you can access various information about your car, like how much fuel it has, if everything is okay with the car, set the airconditioner to come on at specific times, and of course, open and close the car. It's cool, I won't lie but the battery needs to be charged regularly, thankfully there is a wireless charging mat in the center consol of the X4 which does this for you. Now BMW also has a connected drive app which you can download to your mobile device and will practically do the same things as the display key will do so not sure if it warrants paying R3,650 extra for the key. Electric seats, for me is another must have especially with these new seats that do way more than just go back and front. Heads up display is almost becoming a norm with most BMW models and its pretty handy to have all the info displayed in front of you while driving. 

VERDICT

What's not to like about the X4? Was the question I found myself asking, nothing really. It's a great vehicle packaged in an attractive way, its stance wins you over. The engine line-up on offering is great with an even more meatier diesel engine on the way soon as well the range topping X4M Competition destined for SA towards the latter part of the year. It's pairs well with the modern driver, someone that wants the appeal of an SUV but also doesn't mind having a sporty type of drive. The bonus with the X4 is that it can be practical as well. While the option list on the X4 might be long, the standard equipment you get is also quite impressive. I really loved my time with the X4 and was sad to see it go, I guess having a raised coupe sort of was something that suited me quite well, and not face the battles of a regular coupe especially when getting in and out of the car. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	20i Twin-Power Turbo
Gear Box	8 Speed Automatic
Power	125kW
Torque	290Nm
0-100	8.3 seconds
Economy	7.1L/100km
Price	R 843,000.00

Bucket Seat: BMW X4 - First Impressions

There's a comforting feeling when you get invited to a day launch in your home town. I'm not quite sure what it is about local launches that have me so relaxed, it could be that the roads we're about to travel on are familiar to me, that I know where to push the cars limits and where to be-careful, or it could be the fact that I don't have to travel on the dreaded "red eye" flight to the launch destination. Whatever it was, I was at ease last Friday when I was invited, along with a host of other motoring journalists to sample BMW's all new X4.

Now for many, the X4 would be an odd car, and I can see where they might be coming from. It's based on the X3 which is a family SUV but made in a sports coupe design, which see's the roof slanted and given a sport back rear end. With the ever growing trend of the market demanding for more crossover options, manufacturers can only head the call of the buyer I suppose and with that you have to salute BMW in it's efforts as global trendsetters, if I may call them that, for developing this once unique but very appealing segment of the "SAC" (Sport Activity Coupe). We've seen many others follow the trend of the BMW X4 since it's introduction to the market in 2014 which sold approximately 200,000 units worldwide, and while BMW may welcome competition, they have to stay ahead of the game and that is exactly what I came to find out during this launch.

The setting for the morning, Durban's iconic Oyster Box, while sipping my cappuccino and enjoying my savoury croissant, watching the waves break on the shoreline, I was wondering if my day would be as predictable as the tide that morning but rest assured it was anything but. See, having the launch in my back yard gave me an advantage over the journo's from outside Durban. While they were thinking about all the sleep they missed out on, to get to the airport on time for their flight, I got in a bit early to get a get a jump on what models were present for the launch. Being a very sporty orientated vehicle, the X4 is being launch in just 3 engine variants for now. A 2 litre petrol, 2 litre diesel and the range topping M40i (3 litre Twin-Power Turbo) engine of which there were two present. Obviously I threw my stuff in the back of one of the M40i's and took the keys before anyone could see, which made me feel a bit smug. Well in my defense, the chances of seeing the M40i in the Durban press fleet next year are slim to none so I had to get a sample of it at the launch.

After a brief presentation on the X4, highlighting the significant changes and differences to the new models, as well as giving us some basic statistics on the market, it was time to hit the road. Don't worry, the presentation wasn't boring but I'll fill you in on the important bits as we go along. Now for those who have never been on a launch, you normally pair up with another journalist and your journey to your lunch time stop is split in half. I opted to drive the latter half seeing that it had a more challenging route on what I thought would be quieter roads to navigate this behemoth. My driving experience started in Eston, where I was greeted with wide open fields making it's way into the hills and forests of the  KZN Midlands. The peace and tranquility which is synonymous with the area was harshly disturbed by the violent gurgling and crackling of the twin exhausts from the mighty X4 M40i. The engine is quite raucous as well, but in a good way, it makes all the right sounds that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand when you put it in Sport mode.

There's no other word to describe the X4 M40i other than a beast, and while I drove the X3 with the very same engine, the X4's lower body, wider rear and longer rear axel give it so much more life. It literally eats up the tar in front of it and with its solid stance, it attacks corners with force and almost feels like it bends the road to suit its path. With BMW's xDrive system, the car picks up which wheels are losing traction when gripping and alternates power to the ones that need it, helping you propel through the twists and bends. That coupled with the reverberating noise from the exhaust just makes you want to keep on going, even if the roars make the wildlife in the area disperse in fear. I was actually quite sad when my route ended up going through the bustling metropolis of Pietermaritzburg which meant I had to tone things done in the M40i but it also gave the car a chance to relax as we navigated the lunch time traffic in EcoPro mode. 

One would say the car has a Jekyll and Hyde complex, but we're in 2018, so let me bring the reference up to speed and say it has a Banner and Hulk complex. In the traffic, while in EcoPro mode, the car was calm and collected but you just know it doesn't take much to let the beast out. The journey to the lunch stop involved some dirt road driving. Now with a car as such, 3 litre, twin power turbo, sitting on 21" rims, not the ideal environment you would think? But that's where you'd be wrong, to quote another Journalist whom attended the launch earlier in the week, "I've never gone this fast on dirt!". Yup, the X4 M40i made minced meat of that gravel track, it unleashed the inner rally driver in me, all those hours spent playing Colin McRae on the PC as a child finally came into fruition as I left a trail of dust behind me while racing to the Karkloof Safari Lodge, to satisfy my appetite that was built up while driving this mighty car.

While sitting at lunch, contemplating whether I should skip dessert and rush out on the first shuttle to secure the M40i on the route back, I figured, if it brought me so much joy, imagine what it would do for the next person. So I guess you could say dessert won that one, but it gave me the opportunity to try out another engine variant and one I believe will be quite important to the X4 line up, the 20d. There's no secret that this engine is one of my favourites from the BMW Group, it offers the best of both worlds while making your trips the filling station less frequent. The drive back was quite the opposite with the diesel, not that it wasn't as fun, for obvious reasons it was much more tame but at the same time still quite enjoyable. It gave me time to appreciate what the car offered on the whole. BMW are becoming more of the giving type now, by throwing in a few more freebies in the X4. Like Business SatNav, BMW Connected drive which can be controlled by an app via your mobile device. This allows you to check on critical information on the car, like fuel levels, tyre pressure levels, oil levels, etc and also help you book your car in should there be a problem or a service is required. There's also a few cool things you can do with the app, like pre-set your air-conditioning, so the car is nice and cool when you jump in. 

Coming from a person who was not the biggest fan of the original X4, I got to say that there isn't much not to like in the new one. While it may be based on the new X3, there is some major variances in the mechanics of the two, so in essence, the X4 isn't just an X3 with a sexier bum. Yes, BMW have done a stunning job on that rear end, it flows so well and with that rear wing that sits above the windshield, just adds that much character to the overall package. A good thing to note is that this new design of the rear is something we will become used to with the upcoming Z4 sporting a similar design and from the spy shots of the new 3 Series which is due to show its face soon, it too will have its rear lights in a similar style to that of the X4. It this is an indication of what we can expect from the next line of BMW X models, the future for this line is very bright and very eXciting. 

X4 xDrive 20i	X4 xDrive 20d	X4 M40i
135kW	140kW	265kW
290Nm	400Nm	500Nm
R843 000*	R843 000*	R1 132 800*

 *Base model prices. 

BMW will have the M40d available to purchase from the first quarter of 2019.