Shown back February at the Geneva Motor Show, the internally designated F98 was one of the initial models to make use of the CLAR platform, which BMW claimed helped reduce weight by some 50kg when compared to the previous F26.

Longer and wider than its predecessor with a claimed boot space of 525-litres or 1 430-litres with the rear seats folded down, the coupe-styled X4 will go on sale with a choice of three trim levels; M Sport, M Sport X and M Performance with power coming from a single turbodiesel engine and two turbo-petrols.

Equipment-wise, notable standard items includes a 6.5-inch iDrive infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, USB and satellite navigation, tri-zone climate control, six colour interior ambient lighting system, keyless start, Hill Descent Control, automatic tailgate, cruise control, LED head-and fog lights, sport steering, Park Assist, Attentive Assist and follow-me-home headlights.

As ever, buyers have a seemingly never ending list of options including the Adaptive (R8 600) or Adaptive M (R10 300) suspension, a panoramic sunroof (R21 100), Adaptive LED headlights (R5 000), electric front seats (R13 100) that can also be heated both at the rear as well (R11 100), heated steering (R2 750) and ventilated front seats (R28 200) which can be equipped with lumbar support (R4 100).

In terms of infotainment and technology, the X4 can be had with the bigger Profession Navigation system displayed on a 10.25-inch screen (R9 300) and with Gesture Control (R3 650), a wireless smartphone charger (R5 800), full colour Heads-Up Display (R17 000), Active Cruise Control (R17 500), High Beam Assist (R2 150), Driving Assistant Plus (R33 500), the multi-function instrument cluster (R7 100) and Remote Function (R1 100).

On the model front, the M Sport comes with a model specific bodykit, aluminium interior details, double-spoke bi-colour Ferric Grey 19-inch alloy wheels, the aforementioned M steering wheel and sport seats, high gloss Shadow Line exterior trim, anthracite roof lining, chrome exhaust and choice of cloth/leather or Vernasca black with contrasting blue and black stitching.

From the options list are M Sport brakes with blue calipers (R9 500), Orbit Grey double-spoke bi-colour 20-inch alloy wheels (R12 400), Merino leather seats in Ivory White, Fiona Red/Black or Tartufo (R34 350) and 21-inch Orbit Grey alloys (R30 000).

Distinguish itself from its sibling, the M Sport X comes with its own specific exterior bodykit, but does without the M aerodynamics kit and offers the same level of optional equipment at the same price as the M Sport.

At the top of the range, M Performance boast the Vernasca leather interior, blue M Sport brakes and M Sport steering wheel as standard, but adds the model exclusive, optional 21-inch M light double-spoke alloy wheels, M Sport Differential, electric M Sport seats, M40i branded door sills and Cerium grey finish for the mirror caps, grille and air vents.

On all models, a choice of eight colours are offered; Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Glacier Silver, Carbon Black, Sophisto Grey Brilliant, Phytonic Blue, Flamenco Red Brilliant and the optional (R18 200) Sunstone Metallic.

Up front, the X4’s range of engines kick-offs with two 2.0-litre four-cylinder mills, the petrol powered xDrive20i that churns out 135kW/290Nm and the xDrive20d that produces 140kW/400Nm. Claimed to go from 0-100km/h in 8.3 seconds, the former tops out at 215km/h with the latter completing the benchmark sprint in eight seconds reaching a V-max of 215km/h.

As with the X5, the X4 is only offered with an eight-speed Steptronic gearbox and xDrive all-wheel drive, with fuel consumption for the xDrive20i being rated at 7.8-litres/100km and at 5.6-litres/100km for the xDrive20d.

Until the arrival of the recently teased X4 M, the M40i serves as model flagship powered by the same 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six petrol as the X3 M40i, which makes 265kW/500Nm and allows for a top speed of 250km/h and 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds. Teamed the sports-optimised eight-speed Steptronic ‘box, BMW claims that the M40i will consume unleaded at a rate of 9.2-litres/100km.

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