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NEWS
BMW says no to X4 M
High price and possible sales cannibalisation issues force re-think on X4 MSpeaking at the launch of the new X5 this week, BMW’s product communications spokesman, Bernhard Ederer, told motoring.com.au that the X4 M’s niche sales and high price would place it on an even heading with X6 M variants.
“It makes no sense if you bring a model like the X4 M if the customers don’t buy the X6,” said Ederer.
“Really the question is ‘what customer are we talking to?’. Are we talking to someone that is willing and able to afford that car? And do we really want him switching to an X4 M if we could sell him an X6 M.
“It’s a little bit selfish in a way, [but] it’s not always about what a number of customers would like, but what for us is the best business opportunity.”
He added that although possible from a mechanical standpoint, the X4 M did not prove a “suitably strong business case”. He added that he admired the fact Audi was able to get its RSQ3 across the line, but said that even it was a model that “would serve only to draw buyers to showrooms” where he proposed that they’d most likely opt for a standard variant.
The news comes only weeks after BMW's admission that its electrified 'i' brand is more important that the high performance M division.
The X4, which shares a similar body style to the love-it-or-hate-it X6 was first shown in its concept form at the Shanghai motor show earlier this year. It shares the same underpinnings as the X3 SUV, and will likely arrive with identical mechanicals.
For those of you concerned that the X4 won’t have enough pep to match its sporty image, the good news is that BMW has said its 225kW 3.0-litre turbo six is a likely starter for the all-new model. It is also likely to be offered in both rear- and all-wheel drive variants, depending on market.
The regular-strength X4, which is to be built at BMW’s Spartanburg facility in South Carolina, USA, is slated for release internationally later this or early next year. BMW Australia said we can expect the model to arrive in local showrooms “sometime in 2014”.
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Written byMatt Brogan
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