Called BMW concept X4, car’s design is heavily inspired by the design of 4-year-old X6. Two share the same basic silhouette and proportions with a bluff front, large wheel houses, high waistline, shallow glasshouse and a near vertical rear. Definite elements of concept’s design will be changed before it reaches BMW dealerships. Among them are internal headlamp graphics, front bumper, mirror housings and door handles. Rear side window will get additional quarter window in style of BMW X6.

The decision to push ahead with production of latest BMW Concept X4 has been driven by demand for larger X6. Indications are that it will be priced around £3000 above corresponding X3 cars, with X4 xDrive20d set to be pitched at around £35,000 in United Kingdom.

At 4648 mm long it is 227 mm shorter than X6. Car is also 68 mm lower (standing 1622 mm high) and 70 mm wider, at 1915 mm wide. 2810 mm wheelbase is shared with X3 which it will be manufactured alongside at company’s Spartanburg factory in United States. But BMW Concept X4 features unique track widths to offer it with a more ground-hugging posture than X3.

BMW Motor is yet to unveil interior of X4. Though, BMW sources have told, it draws heavily on X3 in interests of cost saving. Common items include dashboard, central console and infotainment head unit, although new materials will be used to distinguish two more clearly.

As with X6, X4 will come with standard four seat layout with individual rear seats separated by a central console. A 5-seat layout will be optional. Boot capacity is also yet to be disclosed but insiders suggest it will be around 500 litres, 50 litres less than X3. BMW Motors X4 concept to be shown in Shanghai Auto Show is a styling car and does not have a driveline. Production variant will be sold with a range of 4 and 6 cylinder petrol and diesel engines in combination with a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic gearbox.

Company sources indicate that engine X4 range will mirror that of second-generation X3, itself set to be facelifted in early 2014. Likely inclusions for United Kingdom market will be 242 PS turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder and 302 PS turbocharged 3.0-litre 6-cylinder petrol units along with 184 PS 2.0-litre 4-cylinder and 306 PS 3.0-litre 6-cylinder diesels.

A plug-in-hybrid is also under development. It will use a variant of 3-series ActiveHybrid’s petrol-electric system with 302 PS, 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder and 54b PS electric motor. With X cars accounting for one in four sales in 2012, BMW has high hopes for X4. Officials would not be drawn on just how many it expects to sell globally but they say it is likely to be more than larger and more expensive X6 which has sold almost 50,000 units per year since launch.