2015 BMW X4 and 2015 BMW M4 Convertible At New York International Auto Show

2015 BMW X4 and M4 Convertible to be unveiled at the New York International Auto Show

By Henny Hemmes
Senior European Editor
The Auto Channel

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, April 3, 2014. In less than two weeks the New York International Auto Show opens its doors to the media. On April 16 and 17, the car manufacturers will unveil their news to the automotive reporters. As from the 18th through the 27th the public will be able to see and touch the new models and virtually every make and model vehicle that is sold in the U.S. Last year New York welcomed more than one million visitors in the Jacob Javits Center.

BMW will cross the Atlantic Ocean with the new M4 Convertible and brings its brand new X4 model up from the plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Last Monday, on the occasion of the first X4 rolling from the assembly line, Dr. Norbert Reithofer, CEO of the BMW Group, announced to invest 1 billion dollar by 2016 in the plant, for the fifth expansion in the 20 years of its existence. When this is finished the plant will have a capacity of 450,000 units per year, and will be larger than the plant in Dingolfing, Germany, that builds 342,000 units. By then Spartanburg will employ 8,800 people on site.

BMW’s boss said: “In addition to the X3, X5, X6 and the new X4, another all-new, larger X model will be manufactured exclusively at this plant for our world markets: the X7.”

We should not expect this model to arrive before the end of 2016.

X4

Before the world premiere of the BMW X4, details and pictures have been released. The mid-size premium SUV, or better SAV – remember BMW ‘invented’ the term Sports Activity Vehicle – will be offered with a choice of two TwinPower turbo engines.

The X4 dDrive28i gets the 240 hp strong 2.0-liter four cylinder engine and the xDrive 35i will be equipped with the 300 hp 3.0-liter six cylinder line motor. Both engines will be teamed to the 7-speed automatic transmission and, as speaks for it self when it concerns a BMW X-model, they will have standard xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive.

In other markets, also the X4 will be available with the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 184 hp as xDrive30i.

The five-seater has a wheelbase of 110.6 inches, is 181.9 in. long, 74.05 in. wide and 63.92 in. high. The luggage compartment takes 17.6 cubic feet, up to 49.4 cu.ft with the 40:20:40 split rear seat backrests folded. Both X4 models for the US market can tow up to 2400 kg, 400 kg more than the xDrive20i.

Well-known features such as the full-color head-up display will be available as an option, as well as the anti-dazzle high beam assistant, driving assistant plus including pedestrian and collision warning with city braking function, to name a few. BMW ConnectedDrive Services will also be available. This allows drivers to access smart phone apps, such as personal internet radio, or mobility services thought a built-in SIM card.

The X4 will reach BMW dealers in the US and Europe on July 12, while the rest of the world will have to wait until August 9. The X4 xDrive28i has an MSRP of $ 45,625 (including destination and handling), the price of the X4 xDrive35i is $ 48,925.

M4 Convertible

The arrival of the M4 Convertible has been expected soon after the debut of the 4 Series Convertible.

Especially as the M3 and M4 also made their debut. The fast convertible is the second world premiere in New York and gets the same driveline and technology that is under the skin of the 4 Series Coupe. The 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine has 430 hp, 405 pound-feet of torque at 1,850-5,500 rpm and accelerates from 0-62 mph in 4.4 seconds, if it is equipped with the optional 7-speed M double-clutch transmission. (FIRST DRIVE M4)

The market launch world wide starts from September 6. The price has not been announced yet.