BMW has not one, but two world debuts coming to the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Both the media and the public will be seeing two performance models for the first time, although one might be considered just a bit more sporty than the other.
First up, we have a crossover with some slight sporting pretensions. The X4 is not necessarily an enthusiast-pleaser on its own, but that may change with its new M40i trim. This variant relies upon an also-new, 355-horsepower, twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine.
Mated to an eight-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive, the X4 M40i hits 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, which is not bad at all. Naturally, it's also packing some moderate aesthetic upgrades to help it stand out from the more pedestrian variants. This one goes on sale in February, and pricing has not yet been announced.
The M2, on the other hand, is purely about performance -- no concerns about storage space here. The M2 totes a 365-horsepower, twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine, and should reach 60 mph in 4.2 seconds.
Whereas the X4 M40i is available with just an eight-speed automatic, M2 buyers will have a choice between a six-speed manual and a dual-clutch gearbox. The rear wheels alone power it, so you might want to have a winter car handy. The M2 goes on sale in the spring, and pricing is once again unannounced as of this writing.
NAIAS kicks off with a media preview starting January 11, and it opens to the public on January 16.