New BMW iX4 Packs 612 HP. But Does an Electric SUV Really Need a Coupé Roof?

BMW has finally given its Neue Klasse family the SUV-coupé treatment. The new iX4 takes the basic idea behind the familiar X4 and applies it to an electric platform, complete with a sloping roofline and some rather serious performance figures.

The most powerful version develops 612 hp.

That’s the iX4 M60 xDrive, which also produces 875 Nm of torque. BMW plans to introduce two other versions when sales begin in March 2027, with the M60 arriving later.

But 612 hp isn’t what makes this car unusual.

BMW has been selling coupé-shaped SUVs for years, despite the obvious contradiction. Customers pay for a large vehicle, then sacrifice some of its interior space to make it look sportier.

Apparently, enough people like the idea.

The iX4 follows that formula closely. Its roof slopes towards a distinctive rear spoiler, while the front adopts BMW’s latest interpretation of the kidney grille and twin headlights.

The M60 gets additional aerodynamic details and yellow lighting accents. They’re intended to give the flagship a stronger connection to BMW’s performance models.

Underneath, however, this is a very different machine from the old X4.

Neue Klasse brings a new electrical architecture, updated vehicle electronics and a software system responsible for coordinating several driving functions.

There’s also 800-volt technology, with DC charging rated at up to 400 kW.

That’s a substantial improvement over what many older electric BMWs can accept. It should make longer journeys easier, provided the charger can deliver enough power and the battery is at the right temperature.

The interesting question is what BMW has done with the chassis.

An electric SUV with 612 hp will accelerate quickly. That’s hardly surprising anymore. Making a heavy vehicle respond naturally through corners is a considerably harder engineering problem.

BMW has traditionally sold its sporting models on steering feel, balance and the way they behave when the road becomes interesting.

The iX4 M60 will be judged against those expectations. And then there’s practicality.

A conventional SUV gives rear passengers more headroom and generally makes better use of its luggage compartment. The iX4 trades some of that potential space for its appearance, just as the combustion-powered X4 did.

That won’t bother everyone. Buyers who want a more traditional body style have other BMW SUVs to consider.

The iX4 is for those who prefer something less conventional, even if the engineering underneath is shared with the wider Neue Klasse family.

Whether that combination works will depend on more than its power output.

BMW has already shown that it can build very fast electric cars. With the iX4, it now has to make another SUV-coupé feel worth choosing over a more practical alternative.