BMW know that after their Design failure in the past with the old 3, 5, 7, X3, and the 6- series, that customers like a looker. The new cars were fab, and when they showcased their direction with the new X4 concept, you get the hint that the designers are doing a good job. Inspired by the big brother X6, this is a baby SAC, or Sports Activity Coupe! Its basically a Coupe styled Tall SUV, and to my eye, it looked fab. The X4, well, its just better!
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| SUV's are getting sexy, this is the SAC, cool? |
The front-end styling of the BMW X4 Concept exudes hallmark BMW dynamics and the rugged purpose and presence of a BMW X model in equal measure. Classical BMW features such as the kidney grille and stylized twin circular headlights give the front end a clear identity and ensure it shines out as a BMW the first time you set eyes on it. The BMW X4 Concept lavishes both these front-end design icons with meticulous detail and three-dimensional depth. The large kidney grille stretches out within a solid-looking surround. The high-gloss frame is open to the sides and at its lower extreme, lending it an almost "floating" appearance in the centre of the front end. The grille features prominently sculptured bars with ultra-stylish detailing. The hollowed out, high-gloss black bars have a milled lower third with a matt finishing, which lends the kidney structure extra visual depth. And the grille also comprises additional air apertures to ensure an increased supply of cooling air to the engine.
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| Its angry because its a good looking car? |
The kidney grille is flanked by dynamically contoured full-LED headlights. Inside the light units, a flowing, hexagonal interpretation of the familiar BMW twin circular appearance points to an unwavering focus on the road ahead. The horizontal continuation of the inner light elements creates a visual connection with the grille, accentuating once again the width of the front end.
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| A sloping roof on a car as tall as an SUV, Bravo! |
This dynamic impression extends to the front apron. In keeping with BMW Coupe tradition, the side air intakes are larger than the inner units and make a visual feature of the increased cooling air requirement - while satisfying that need. Together with the car's wide track and low centre of gravity, the intakes represent a promise of exceptional performance capability. The side air intakes pick up on a stylistic theme from the kidney grille; their black horizontal bars are, like the grille's, partly milled out but boast gleaming chrome edges. It all makes for an enticing contrast of materials, a fusion of high-end quality with the characteristic robustness of BMW X vehicles.
This design theme concludes in the underride protection element, where three milled out, gleaming chrome elements present a high-quality take on the modern preference for minimalist solidity.
The qualities of a BMW X model merge with the values of a BMW Coupe in the muscular silhouette of the BMW X4 Concept. Its proportions present a persuasive case for the BMW X4 Concept as the most dynamic vehicle in its segment. In hallmark BMW style, a longer wheelbase, relatively long bonnet, short overhangs and a set-back greenhouse lend the car an undeniable dynamism even when standing still. The striking interplay of surfaces creates a vibrant contrast of light and shadow that exudes a feeling of agility and power. Prominently rising lines mould the flanks into a wedge shape and give the car as a whole a forward-surging momentum.
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| You can see the hard work! |
The coupe-style roofline sweeps elegantly downwards and makes the car appear longer. Below, the windows extend well to the rear, where they are bordered by a dynamic interpretation of BMW's signature Hofmeister kink. The stretched and shallow band of glass creates a persuasively dynamic link between the greenhouse and vehicle body, the slim glass surface giving the body an impressively powerful appearance. At the same time the visual centre of gravity is lowered, underlining the sporting mission statement summed up by the car's flanks.
The BMW X4 Concept's contours include a new interpretation of the familiar BMW swage line, a pair of dynamic lines defining the eye-catching impact of the side view. A concave area under each swage line lends the flanks an almost sculptural expression - at once robust and dynamic. The surface volumes and definition of the contours deepen as they extend towards the tail and imbue the rear end with added stature. Here, the powerfully flared wheel arches team up with the concave surface below the rear swage line to visualise the power rippling through the rear wheels. The radiant exterior paint shade Long Beach Blue is a perfect match for the elaborately structured volumes and contours, and brings particular depth to the expressive design language.
Fitting the BMW X template, the wheel arches of the BMW X4 Concept are large and almost square in design. This prominent emphasis on the wheels draws further attention to the car's planted stance and long wheelbase, while at the same time providing a visual showcase for the xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system. The pared-back, matt black protective cladding provides the final element of bodywork before the BMW X4 Concept meets the road.
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| At first glance, its a difficult thing to guess! |
Expressive 21-inch bi-colour light-alloy wheels round off the car's appearance when viewed from the side. Intricate, high-gloss polished spokes provide visual allure, while behind them dark-coloured flame surfaces contribute an impressive feeling of depth.
The rear of the BMW X4 Concept takes the sporting, width-accentuating elements of the front-end design and reproduces them with an emphatically horizontal flavour. The body's lines and the slim LED tail lights positioned at the outer edges of the rear emphasise the muscular wheel arches and wide track. Below, horizontal lines split the rear visually into sections, while light surfaces reduce the car's visual height and underline its width.
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| That rear-end, those exhausts, those lights! |
The shallow rear window gives the vehicle body an even more powerful impression and its broad shoulders a show-stealing presence. Looking further down, the L-shaped rear lights of the BMW X4 Concept underscore its consummate stance on the road. A full-sized inner element in the tail lights, meanwhile, replicates the signature BMW "L" shape in three-dimensional form and with impressive depth.
The most striking element at the back of the car is the rear apron, which provides a wide, full-length interpretation of the front apron's large outer air intakes. The apron's cut-out picks up the two exhaust tailpipes in a dynamic sweep before diverting the gaze to the wheels. Body-colour elements reaching well down towards the road surface provide a high-quality border for the rear end and re-emphasize the road-focused proposition of the BMW X4 Concept.
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