SPY PICS: BMW X4 loses weight for 2018

BMW's X4 has been doing the rounds recently, heavily disguised to conceal it's an all-new model due in world markets sometime next year.

There's little information to hand concerning the new model, but industry speculation suggests the current X4 – the F26 generation – will be canned half-way through the traditional model life cycle in favour of this new series.

The reason for that? BMW is fast-tracking a new X3 on a lighter, modular platform. The X3 has been in the market for seven years in its current form. Cost savings in manufacturing the two SUVs on the same platform appear to be driving the premature development of the new X4.

Rumour has it that the new X4 will be better packaged inside and promises to be more fuel-efficient, not only through weight-reduction measures – up to 100kg less than the current car – but also drivetrain technology, including a plug-in hybrid variant to join the other plug-ins already offered by BMW.

Munich won't be totally deaf to the demands of traditional brand fans however, if the introduction of an M version of the X3 spawns an X4 counterpart as well.

While it's possible the X4 and X3 will be unveiled at Frankfurt motor show in September, it's also possible that the X4 will be held back until as late as early next year – Detroit, perhaps, or even Geneva.