By A.C. Motor S.L., servicio oficial BMW y Mini en Marbella
The new model of the X family is now on sale with six engines from 184 to 313 hp and the xDrive drive system
The German manufacturer’s X family is growing due to the good reception it is having in markets like the U.S., China, Russia and many European countries. The secret lies in having achieved an attractive aesthetic, a combination of an SUV, a sleek saloon and some sports features. It is the SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) concept which began in 1999 with the arrival of the BMW X5 and has already registered 3.2 million units.
Although X4 derives from its brohter, X3, aesthetically it can be called a X6 to scale, with more reasonable measures for a perfect daily use. Instead, X4, with a length of 4.71 meters (24 cm less than a X6) and five very usable seats, proves to me a reasonable vehicle.
The shape of the hood, with a slight bow and sharp lines, large air intakes and headlights characteristic for the BMW escorting the double kidney-grille form a front that is easily recognizable from a distance. And viewed from the side, it draws attention with its ‘coupe’ silhouette. Up to the the central pillar it meets the requirements of an SUV, but from there the roof line starts a gentle downward curve to the trunk lid that gives it a rather sporty character.
Once inside, we find a dashboard reminiscent of most models of the brand, with driver-oriented watches and information, front seats in a lower position than usual and a center console where everything is well grouped, logical and neatly finished.
By the shift lever you can select the desired mode of driving: Comfort, Sport, Sport + and Eco Pro, designed for those that are watchful about fuel consumption. Selecting one of the positions changes the settings of the gearbox, the steering feel and throttle, in a way that we can have a very different car depending on what the road demands.
The feeling of safety is very high because the car transmits a lot of confidence and sits nicely on the road. In tight curves the bodywork barely balances and in open roads you can travel very fast with little aerodynamic noise.
A key element in the dynamic behavior of X4 is the intelligent xDrive all-wheel drive, which can deliver 100% of engine torque to a single axis if necessary. Under normal conditions, the distribution is 60% to the rear and 40% to the front, but continually analyzing what happens in each of the wheels to optimize traction.
Standard equipment is very complete and can be enhanced with elements such as signal recognition system, the colored Head-Up Display, sport suspension, heated steering wheel, 17, 18 and 19 ” alloy wheels and the M sports package (from 4,150 euros), one of the most requested options.
