At the wheel of a 360 hp weightlifter
Music. Oscar Wilde used to say that it is the most perfect art form, because it doesn't reveal his last secret. The Irish author was far from imagining that in the future, the automobile, which was still something that took the “first steps” in its time, would be a potential source of auditory pleasure – a true petrolhead knows what I'm talking about, why yes (insert sound shocking), some are indifferent to the sound of an engine.The most powerful of the X4 range he left the M sports division, which was given the responsibility of bringing a little more emotion to the stomach of those who are committed to versatility, space, or simply like the SUV concept and all its exotic derivations.
Exterior and the "first impact"
The BMW X4 is a baby-X6 and that shows it at first glance. With the exception of what we already know about the car in terms of design, what eventually catches the eye of the most attentive are the 20-inch wheels and the model designation on the rear “M40i”.
For the rest, nothing allows us to say: “here is an SUV that is half a second slower than the new BMW M2 in the 0-100 km/h sprint” . The visual panacea of the M models doesn't live here, there aren't four exhaust vents or air intakes bigger than your room, or even carbon fiber in sight. The BMW X4 M40i is discreet enough to deceive the common mortal, and that's the point. Unless it's turned on…and moving.
Start
Still inside the park, I press Start (we are less and less “keying” these days…) and I'm treated to a grunt followed by a “snap”. I had to contain my reaction, also because there were more people around and this being a petrolhead can lead to a bit embarrassing demonstrations…my reaction was more or less like this.
How does it behave?
One of the first notes I'm going to register is that the feeling of the direction is there "somewhere", even though this is still a good compromise between daily use and adventures on that more challenging road . Electromechanical steering manages the driving style well, but it's not enough to convince, it's too filtered. Although here this perception can change from driver to driver, call it preciosity, I'm not offended.RELATED: New BMW 5 Series (G30): everything you need to know
THE four-wheel drive distribution it's done by putting more traction at the back than at the front, more sharply than in the rest of the X4 range. Significant changes were also made to the electronic torque vectoring system, all with the aim of improving agility.
THE motor the adaptive suspension is excellent, no doubt, too, but the box is not far behind: the 8-speed Steptronic gearbox that equips the BMW X4 M40i is fast, accurate and touch-responsive. steering wheel paddles at the same speed as a light turns on. The best part is to let us take the rotation regime to the redline (7000 rpm) releasing all its splendor six cylinders in line.
I have no doubts: the BMW X4 M40i is an SUV to travel on a road with good curves or a motorway comfortably and with a lot of breath “to spend”: 360 hp, 465 Nm of torque between 1350 and 5250 rpm, 4.9 sec . from 100 km/h and 250 km/h of maximum speed.
Despite being a generously proportioned SUV (albeit smaller than the X6, naturally) and weighing 1840 kg, it feels “fit” and able to corner to the limit without a significant body roll (am I changing my mind? ) But better than that is to do all this accompanied by a delicious soundtrack . That tunnel? There's no way, you'll want to do it with “all sauces” – radio off (I don't even remember if there was a radio…) Sport Plus mode with aids off, windows slightly open and silence the tenor weightlifter will show his muscle with all the gallantry.
And the interior?
A note for the interior and controls , where the abbreviation M is spread all over the place, from the steering wheel to the thresholds of the front doors. Apart from these details, it's an interior quite similar to the other X4's and, of course, versatile: there's room for five and 500 liters of capacity in the back.
It's comfortable, the steering wheel is excellent (superb?) and the overall quality of the materials is very good, with (prepare for the cliché…) soft plastics placed in areas where only a cheeky would dare to reach out.
Are you up to the challenge?
I have always been very skeptical about the concept of “sport SUV” or “high performance SUV”. Because this upgrade, which is almost always excessively expensive, does not allow them to properly fulfill any of the functions they wanted to give them. If an SUV is supposed to be comfortable, practical and allow for a timid road-going when the “King's Birthday”, with 20-inch wheels, sport suspension and tires more expensive than those all-inclusive Maldives holidays, the scenario changes soon of figure.
And of course, if you want it to be an example of performance and muscle it will never manage to be as good as a “sports saloon”, that's talking about cars with 5 seats. They're heavy and tall enough that turning at certain speeds is as scary for the occupants as the day they went for a ride on that roller coaster that did at least 20 loops. These SUVs are capable of doing that, but they don't repeat, ok?
Final thoughts...
I deliver the BMW X4 M40i after a week of making my life with it, because there is, in my opinion, a better way to test this type of car. I didn't have to change anything, but of course the fuel gauge went down much faster than usual, there are no miracles: getting 9 l/100 km averages is a challenge and if we stretch “on that road” we can count with at least twice as much.
Consumption aside, the BMW X4 M40i is fun, practical, has an Olympic athlete's lungs and muscle to give and sell. Along the way, he presents us with a beautiful symphony, a voice that amazes wherever he goes and apparently (since I haven't tested them yet) is up to par with rivals Porsche Macan GTS and Mercedes GLC Coupé 43 AMG. Its “semi-M” look lets it hide a lot of secrets. And I like this.
*The data presented in the technical sheet are the official ones, provided by the brand.