A thoroughbred M version of the X4 seems to be out of the question, but no one ever said that BMW isn’t considering an M Performance variant.
If you have a few years on your back or if you’re an avid fan of BMW’s 1980s E30, you may remember that M40 was the internal codename for BMW’s then new inline-four cylinder petrol engine series. According to a number of sources, the name is returning for the M Performance variant of the X4, but it won’t denote its displacement.
Instead, the X4 M40i is believed to get a modified 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six, possibly shared with the upcoming M2 Coupe, delivering somewhere between 360 and 380 horsepower.
Naturally, the X4 will be all-wheel drive and offer an 8-speed automatic transmission. We cannot rule out the possibility of BMW offering a 6-speed manual, which would be a first for an X car with an M or M Performance badge, but we wouldn’t say it’s very strong…
The car spotted on the road is an early development mule and was not fitted with styling mods, but it does spread out its twin pipes to the corners of the rear bumper instead of placing them on one side together as on the X4 35i. The existing X5 and X6 M50d should give you a rough idea of what to expect from the X4 M40i on the design front.
A tweaked chassis with a stiffer suspension setup, more potent brakes and improved steering feel will be part of the package.
We’ve yet to hear something official, but the X4 M40i could be presented as early as the third or fourth quarter of next year.
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS
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