The BMW iX4 appears to be nearing production as BMW prepares to add a second Neue Klasse model at its Debrecen factory in Hungary this fall. The automaker has confirmed that another model will join the iX3 on the assembly line, although it has not yet officially identified the vehicle.
BMW iX4 Expected to Join the iX3
BMW’s Debrecen plant has recently moved to around-the-clock production to meet demand for the iX3. The factory is now preparing to add a second model to its assembly line this fall, with signs pointing toward the first-ever iX4.
BMW has not confirmed the model’s name, but the iX4, known by the codename NA7, has long been expected to be assigned to the Hungarian plant. Earlier reports indicated that series production could begin in November, putting the vehicle’s world premiere potentially close at hand.
The iX4 will also represent a significant change from the X4 that bowed out. Rather than offering gasoline or diesel power, BMW is turning the coupe-SUV into an electric-only model as part of its Neue Klasse lineup.
The previous G02 ended production last year without a combustion-powered successor. As a result, the iX4 will serve as an indirect replacement rather than a conventional next-generation X4.
The BMW iX4 Takes on a More Dramatic Coupe Shape
The iX4 is expected to share much of its front-end design with the iX3, while taking a more distinctive approach behind the B-pillar.
Spy shots have shown a dramatically sloped roofline, giving the iX4 a more pronounced coupe profile than the previous X4. That design is expected to come with less rear headroom and cargo space as BMW puts greater emphasis on styling.
Underneath, the iX4 is expected to share much of its hardware with its conventionally shaped sibling. The lineup should include the 40 and 50 models, along with a more powerful M60 and a full-blown X4 M, known by the codename ZA7.
The X4 M is expected to stand apart with a quad-motor setup taken from the upcoming electric M3, codenamed ZA0. Reports indicate that it could produce more than 800 horsepower, although BMW has not officially confirmed those details.
Debrecen Factory Ramps Up Three-Shift Production
For now, the iX4 remains unconfirmed by name, but BMW’s plans for a second Neue Klasse model at Debrecen make its arrival increasingly relevant to the factory’s production strategy.
The plant is ramping up to three-shift, 24/7 production, while the iX3 has already surpassed 50,000 units built there and secured 100,000 orders. The iX4 is expected to join the iX3 as another model produced at the Hungarian facility.
Before BMW officially unveils the iX4, however, the automaker is preparing another major debut. Munich will reveal the next-generation 3 Series, the G50, at the end of September, with the M350 xDrive serving as the range-topping version.
