BMW X4 M to Return as an EV With More Power Than the M5

For several years now, the BMW X4 has been on life support. Since 2022, we've seen reports that the coupe-styled crossover will be killed off, but it's not going to disappear altogether. According to a reputable insider who shares their findings on the BimmerPost forum, the X4 will return, and an M variant is coming next year with more power than the 717-horsepower M5, but both it and the base crossover will be all-electric SUVs. As first reported by BMW Blog, the electric iX4 will enter production in November of this year, and the M variant will follow a year later, joining the iX3 M. However, neither electric vehicle is expected to be denoted by the "i" prefix. How BMW intends to set these apart from combustion-powered vehicles remains to be seen, but what we do know is that they'll be very powerful.

Quad-Motor X4 M Electric Crossover to Make Over 800 HP

Both the electric X3 and the electric X4's M variants are expected to share the electric M3's powertrain, which means four electric motors with over 800 hp. For the record, the S58-engined X4 M of the current generation makes up to 503 hp in Competition guise. BMW is also likely to offer M Performance EVs with dual-motor setups producing more than 600 hp, the first of which will be the iX3 M60 with up to 630 hp, scheduled to arrive before 2026 comes to a close. This will share the 108.7-kWh battery of the iX3 50 xDrive, though its higher output will mean less range. The X3 M is said to be internally known by the designation ZA5, and the X4 M EV is called ZA7 (ZA6 is reportedly being reserved for an M version of China's long-wheelbase iX3). Production of the electric M3 is expected to begin in Munich in March 2027, and the electric X3 M and X4 M will follow shortly after.

Why the Gas BMW X4 Is Departing

In 2024, Motor1 Italy reported that BMW representatives had revealed the X4's discontinuation is being attributed to the success and growth of the X2, which has become bigger and more packed with features in its latest generation. The X2 is still considerably smaller than the X4, measuring 8.3 inches shorter in length and 2.9 inches narrower. Its roof is also 1.2 inches lower and its wheelbase 6.8 inches smaller. Those are significant differences, but BMW expects those wanting more room to go for the X3 instead. It seems that BMW wants to streamline its offering, removing vehicles that overlap unnecessarily. Of course, none of this is official yet, and with less legislative support for EVs, it's unclear how long these rumored plans will stay in place.

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