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BMW X4 hatches its fastback shape in Shanghai

The day has finally come for BMW to pull the covers off its X4 Concept at the Shanghai Motor Show. The machine brings few surprises - we've already seen an official image gallery from the German automaker, so its exterior shape was well known - but at least now we get to see it with our own eyes, and with the lenses of our very own cameras.
You can clearly see the fastback roofline in our high-res image gallery above, along with the jacked-up stance that allows BMW to call this machine a Sports Activity Vehicle, which basically means "Crossover" to our friends in Munich. We've seen similar vehicle shapes before, most notably in the form of the BMW X6, but also as far back as the 1980s from the likes of AMC.
We fully expect the transition from concept to production to be pretty seamless, so what we see here is, for the most part, what we'll see on the showroom floor in 2014. Feel free to peruse the press release below, but first, be sure to browse through our live images from Shanghai and let us know what you think.

2015 BMW M4 Convertible is here to put wind in your sails

Each generation of the BMW M3 has included a convertible model. Even the distant E30, the patriarch of the M3 line, had an ultra-rare (only 787 were built) droptop model. The convertible became more common on the successive generations, with the hardtop-convertible E93 being the most recent. Considering this history, there seemed very little doubt that as the M3 became the M4, a convertible would be in the cards. Now, the new droptop has arrived.
Set for its global debut at the 2014 New York Auto Show, the 2015 BMW M4 Convertible features, like its forbearers, everything that's great about the hardtop variant while adding an unlimited amount of head room. That means the same 3.0-liter, 425-horsepower, 406-pound-foot, twin-turbocharged straight six sits under its domed hood, while either a six-speed stick or a seven-speed M dual-clutch transmission dispatches power to the fat rear tires.
As for specific differences between the hardtop and the new convertible, obviously, the droptop is heavier. A lot heavier. Where an M4 with a six-speed manual tips the scales at 3,530 pounds, the M4 Convertible weighs in at 4,055 pounds. Believe it or not, BMW has actually trimmed 90 pounds from the last-generation M3 convertible, code-named E93. This marginal weight reduction from the third-generation convertible to the fourth is barely half of the 174 pounds BMW was able to subtract when transitioning from M3 Coupe to M4 Coupe.

BMW X4 M40i: not really a coupe and almost an M

BMW showed its newest niche of a niche vehicle, the new X4 M40i, at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. Yes, this vehicle originally debuted in October, but since it was conspicuous by its absence in LA, we figured you'd like some live photos here in Detroit. The M40i version of BMW's swoopy X4 improves on the standard xDrive35i, packing a total of 355 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque from its turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six. Buy one and you'll be able to scamper to 60 in just 4.7 seconds. An eight-speed automatic is the sole transmission on offer, and it channels the grunt to a sportier xDrive all-wheel-drive system recalibrated for more rearward bias. Beyond that, there's the typical array of near-M-spec exterior and interior enhancements. Large wheels – standard 19-inchers or optional 20s – fill out flared wheel arches and sit between more aggressive front and rear fascias. In the cabin, M has fitted its usual oversized steering wheel, along with M-badged door sills. Check out the live gallery for shots of the new X4 M40i from the floor of the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. THE NEW BMW X4 M40i - World premiere of the new inline 6 cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine. - Intelligent BMW xDrive: four-wheel drive with rear-wheel-drive characteristics. - A sporty chassis specifically tuned to M Performance specifications. Woodcliff Lake, N.J.- September 30, 2015... Today, with the introduction of the new BMW X4 M40i, the successful BMW X4 has gained a new top model. In the Sports Activity Coupe segment (SAC), the BMW X4 M40i is setting new standards with enhanced driving dynamics and best-in-segment acceleration. The new BMW X4 M40i will be available at dealers starting February 2016. Design. The exterior of the new BMW X4 M40i makes it stand out as a clear member of the BMW M Performance family. Exclusive Ferric Gray metallic accents on the front of the vehicle and side mirrors, as well as the exclusive 20-inch M light-alloy double-spoke wheels with optional Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires and the sport exhaust system with valve control and Black Chrome tailpipes on both sides emphasize the unique character of the new BMW X4 M40i. The M leather wrapped steering wheel, M gear shift lever, sport seats, model-specific door sills and "X4 M40i" digital lettering on the instrument cluster decorate the interior, assuring immediate recognition as a BMW M Performance model. A world premiere – the 6 cylinder inline engine.