AutoExpress 11/17/2004: CALL OF THE WILD FOR DARING NEW X4
X marks the spot for BMW - the German manufacturer is planning a coupé based on its X3 SUV with four-wheel drive, bold styling and off-road ability to create a new niche in the small 4x4 market. An exclusive image in this week's mag shows how the X4 is another step in BMW's plan to expand its line-up with unique models based on its mainstream cars.
The newcomer is aiming for fewer sales than the conventional X3, so designers can be more adventurous with the looks, which will be influenced by the X Coupé concept revealed at the 2001 Detroit Motor Show. This was the first BMW to use the 'flame surfacing' styling instigated by design chief Chris Bangle, which provoked a mixed reaction from the press and public alike.
The X4 will be less dramatic, dispensing with the concept car's unusual asymmetric rear hatch and pillarless bubble roof. Nevertheless, it will be one of BMW's most daring models, targeting affluent, design-conscious buyers looking for a lifestyle vehicle. A long nose and low roofline similar to the 6-Series lead to chunky rear wheelarches, which hint at the X4's crossover nature, while the glass hatch covers a substantial load area for a car of this size.
Underneath the dynamic bodywork, the coupé will utilise the conventional mechanicals of the X3. That means the innovative xDrive 4WD system will deliver power to the wheel with the most traction in slippery conditions.
As the newcomer is smaller than the X3, it will be lighter and more manoeuvrable, while still maintaining the SUV's off-road ability. The X4 will also benefit from the latest range of Valvetronic engines, in 2.2 and 3.0-litre petrol guises, while diesel fans will have a choice of 2.0 and 3.0-litre turbos. BMW will not produce an M version, but the flagship coupé could be powered by the 4.0-litre petrol V8 that is set to appear in the all-new M3 due next year. Transmission options will include five and six-speed automatics, as well as a manual gearbox with six ratios.
Inside, the X4 will inherit the minimalist dashboard design first seen on the firm's executive 7-Series, but with unique touches to distinguish it from lesser models. Chunky seats and more rugged materials will hint at the car's mud-plugging aspirations, and the iDrive controller will give owners the option of altering the suspension and transmission settings for more extreme conditions. Occasional rear seats and a spacious boot will make the newcomer reasonably practical as well as stylish, although the focus is on comfort for occupants sitting in the front.
The X4 will be the first coupé off-roader from a mainstream manufacturer, with the exception of more unusual offerings such as the Suzuki X-90, and will therefore lack any direct competitors. However, it's likely to steal sales from premium SUVs such as the Audi Allroad and the forthcoming Mercedes B-Class. Due on sale at the end of 2007, the X4 should get its first public outing at that year's Detroit Motor Show, as the US will be a lucrative market for a car of this nature.
Quote:
BMW CEO Helmut Panke about BMW crossover:
"We have decided that BMW will enter the [crossover] segment," he said in the clearest indication yet about the car maker's intentions.
Mr Panke praised the Honda Acura [RDX concept car] as the "best execution" yet of a crossover vehicle.
"We have decided that the BMW brand will enter the segment," he said.
A decision on just how BMW will manage its entry into the new market is due in the first half of 2005.
Typically it takes about three years from when a decision is taken before a new model hits the streets, Mr Panke said, implying that a BMW crossover could be on the market by 2008.
The coming switch is driven in part by the need for successful carmakers to stay aware of trans-Atlantic differences in the car market, Mr Panke insisted.
While in the US drivers tend to prefer sports utility vehicles (SUVs), such as the BMW X5 and its sibling X3, in Europe demand for crossover vehicles is likely to be considerable, Mr Panke said.
"There's a growing market here," he said. "We are going to go that way."
Source: BBC
Očitno strokovnjaki za marketing odkrivajo nove tržne niše. Meni pa te variante niti približno ne dišijo.
LP,
don CONSIGLIO
