If you didn’t already know the BMW X range is growing. First there was the X5, then there was the X6 then followed a period of confusion, then suddenly before you know it the X range has been joined by the X1, X3 and now the X4. Its all to do with buying power and BMW has an incisive backgorund on consumer buying behavior and income levels, thats why they are able to launch such an array of cars because they know a certain type of individual will buy a certain car. Its called caronomics. Somebody at BMW HQ clearly likes numbers, order and structure in that typical Germanic way, but the X4 isn’t Germanic at heart, its an immigrant car that has emigrated to South Carolina in the United States where it is manufactured. The X4 is a compact executive crossover not, not quite a car and not quite an X5, its sits in no man’s land, between the X3 and X5 and was first revealed as a concept in 2013. It didn’t take BMW too long to move it into production phase. It was officially unveiled in 2014 at the New York International Auto Show, fast forward a few more territories, which includes China, the X4 has finally landed on UK shores for eager the ‘Beemer-ist’ to buy. So what do you get and how much does it cost? In the UK its available as a diesel only model, if you are reading this in Wako or Arlington Texas that means God has no mercy on gas guzllers, in the UK at least. The X4 will be priced from £36k, the xDrive20d being the entry level model. The X4 shares many components with the X3 such as powertrains and four to six cylinder engines but gets a higher equipment list. God does have mercy. The xDrive20d is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel which churns out 187bhp and is capable of a claimed 54.3mpg with Co2 emissions of 138g/km. For more info on the model range and price see the table below. Standard equipment includes an automatically opening tailgate, Variable Sport Steering, 18-inch light-alloy wheels, front and rear Park Distance Control, Performance Control and Xenon headlights. Inside the BMW X4 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats, a Sport leather steering wheel, Heated front seats and BMW Business Media package. BMW offers the optional xLine trim at a £1,500 extra and it includes exclusive18-inch light-alloy wheel, Satin Aluminium exterior trim, Dark Copper interior trim, Sport seats and exclusive xLine leather upholstery. All BMW X4’s come with xDrive all-wheel-drive system as standard. EfficientDynamics technologies include Auto Start- Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration. Optional tyres, with reduced-rolling-resistance, reduce the CO2 emissions of by a further 7g/km. The BMW x4 may well end up being something of a confusion, its bigger than the X3 but smaller than the X5, its a filler designed to increase BMW’s net sales, the real question is , what need is there for the BMW X4?

Model	Power (hp)	Torque (Nm)	0 – 62mph (seconds)	Top speed (mph)	Combined (mpg)	CO2 emissions (g/km)	PriceOTR
BMW X4 xDrive20d SE	190	400	8.0 (8.0)	132 (132)	52.3 (54.3)	143 (138)	£36,590
BMW X4 xDrive30d xLine	258	560	(5.8)	(145)	(47.9)	(156)	£44,890
BMW X4 xDrive35d M Sport	313	630	(5.2)	(153)	(47.1)	(157)	£48,990