BMW has unveiled an almost production-ready X4 Sports Activity Coupe concept, built as a little brother to the successful X6.

The company reports that one in four cars it sells worldwide is an X model, so it makes business sense to expand the range.

The X4 concept looks very similar to the X6 and is still a large vehicle in its own right – as shown by the fact that the huge 21-inch wheels look relatively normal beneath it.

At around 4.65 metres long the X4 is, in fact, about 25 cm shorter than a 5 Series, but a width of over 1.9 metres will make tight car park spaces a challenge – and drivers will need to watch out for raised roadside kerbs when parallel parking.

Scheduled for a launch some time in 2014, the X4 will be built in the same US plant that already builds the X3, X5 and X6.

No details have yet been released regarding when it will come to Europe, but whether it goes to the US or China first, it’s almost certain that UK buyers will have it by the end of next year.

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