Tag: X5

2014 BMW 4 Series Coupe Revealed

Less than two hours after the first images of the 2014 BMW 4 Series Coupe leaked onto the Internet, BMW has gone ahead and revealed the car themselves. The 2014 BMW 4 Series Coupe was first revealed in concept form at the Detroit Motor Show in January, and is a replacement for the 3 Series Coupe.

The midsize coupe is both wider and longer than its predecessor. BMW says the wheelbase on the 4 Series is 50mm longer than the old two-door’s, plus the new car is 26mm longer overall, with the track widened by 45mm at the front and 81mm at the rear. The roofline is also 16mm lower than before, and combined with the lowered suspension, the 4 Series Coupe has the lowest centre of gravity of any BMW currently on sale. That should make it quite nice to drive fast in the corners, better maybe than the current 3 Series. To add to this, BMW has tuned the springs, dampers and camber angles to make the car more responsive, while tweaking the the rear axle as well.

The 4 Series Coupe gets the same lower grille as the dramatic 4 Series concept, which wraps around each of the foglights. The Air Breather mounted on each front wing was something else seen first on the concept before appearing on the 3 GT and new X5. It looks a lot like its 4-door brother, but the width provides a nice stance giving the car well balanced look and feel.

Internationally, BMW will offer the 4 Series with 3 petrol and 3 diesel engine options. Kicking off the diesel range is the 420d, with the same 2.0-litre engine as the 320d saloon. This produces 181 bhp and goes from 0-100 kmph in 7.5 seconds. The 420i is the entry-level petrol model, with the same 181bhp output. Further up the range are the 3.0-litre six-cylinder 430d, with 254bhp, and the petrol-powered 428i and 435i, with 242bhp and 302bhp respectively. A 309bhp 435d model is the flagship, but is only available with the xDrive four-wheel-drive system. The 420i and 420d can also be fitted with four-wheel drive. No information on the engine lineup in India is available right now.

The 4 Series Coupe will be available in three different trim lines – Luxury, Sport and M Sport. The Luxury line focuses more on overall amenities and upscale appearance, while the Sport and M Sport models are meant to offer much more performance-based kit and additions to make for a slightly more aggressive exterior. The M Sport model will offer stiffer suspension and upgraded brakes but an Adaptive M Sport set-up featuring adjustable dampers as well as 18-and 19-inch wheels are options on all models. The cabin doesn’t look all that different from the 3 Series, incorporating the same line of toys and creature comforts, and is offered in a variety of shades.

The new 4 Series goes on sale later this summer, and BMW has already confirmed pricing for some countries. In the US it will start at $41,425 and the range-topping 435i xDrive will set you back $48,925. In the UK, the base model will cost £31,575 and the 435i xDrive Luxury priced at £40,795. Watch this space for updates on its launch and pricing in India!

Image credit: BMW

June 16, 2013
2014 BMW X5 Revealed

After months of speculation and spy shots, the 2014 BMW X5 has finally been revealed by the Bavaria based manufacturer. Since its launch in 1999, the BMW X5 has gone from strength to strength and established itself as one of the world’s best SUVs. The third generation is more evolution than revolution as it builds on these strengths, but doesn’t bring about any radical changes.

The new grille, bumper and headlamps are in alignment with BMW’s new direction in style and are reminiscent of the current 3-series and 5-series ranges. The bumper is slightly more aggressive than its predecessor too. A prominent character line runs down the side from the newly designed front apron all the way to the taillights. At the back, the new X5 gets a redesigned tailgate, new taillights and a new bumper with reflectors and twin tail pipes.

The BMW X5 will be available with a choice of three engines. The X5 sDrive 35i comes with a 3.0-litre twin turbo straight six petrol unit producing 300 bhp and 406Nm of torque that can power the SUV from 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. For those looking for extra thrust, the X5 sDrive 50i packs a potent 4.4-litre twin turbo V8 petrol motor putting out 445 bhp and 650Nm of torque, which can propel the SUV from 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. An all new 3.0 litre turbo straight six diesel producing 251 bhp and 559 Nm of torque will also be on offer. All engines will be mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. For the first time ever, BMW is offering the X5 with rear-wheel drive on the X5 sDrive 35i (the one with the 3.0-litre petrol engine), and traditional all-wheel drive systems will be available as well.

The 2014 BMW X5 is a classic case of ‘don’t fix it if it ain’t broken’. BMW seems to have figured out the formula to success in the SUV market and are now working to perfect it rather than reinvent it. The 2014 X5 is a well thought out vehicle and should be a worthy successor to the outgoing model.

June 2, 2013
Autogyaan: BMW X4 Concept Unveiled Before Shanghai Motor Show

The BMW X6 was a very polarising design when it first came out in 2008, and its newly unveiled younger brother seems to be headed the same way. The X4 concept has been unveiled and a production model of the ‘Sports Activity Vehicle’ (SAV) as its called by BMW, will go on sale in 2014. BMW also says that the concept isn’t just the preview of a new model, but a glimpse at the future of the entire X range.
Like the X6, the X4’s styling is a hybrid of an SUV and a fastback coupe, a design most of us now know as the crossover. Flaunting strong character lines down its sides, a big radiator grille and two-tone 21-inch alloy wheels, the X4 takes on an aggressive and powerful stance, like the larger X6. Dimensionally most similar to the 3-Series Wagon, the X4’s headlight’s and taillights remind us a lot of the upcoming 4-Series coupe as well as the 3-Series Gran Turismo. Underneath the sculpted body, the X4 is based on the smaller X3 and will most likely offer the same engine options as the X3. It will be built alongside the other X models at BMW’s factory in Spartanburg, USA.
The X4 seems to be a well-shaken cocktail of many old and new BMWs. We prefer the X4’s adventurous yet balanced design to that of the X6, but the fastback SUV is still a niche segment and isn’t widely accepted by petrolheads all round the world. Expect this car to make a lot of news when it makes its world debut at the Shanghai Motor Show later this month.

April 6, 2013