BMW X3 and X4 M, X3 xDrive30e PHEV and 4 Series Gran Coupe all arriving this year

BMW has revealed a number of changes to its local line-up, with new variants of its X3/X4 SUV twins and 4 Series coupe set to arrive late this year.

As part of updates to the entire X3 and X4 medium SUV ranges, high performance M Competition versions will arrive with the most powerful BMW in-line six-cylinder petrol engine offering 375kW and 650Nm.

The latter figure represents a 50Nm jump on the previous iteration and allows both models to cover 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds — a 0.3 second improvement on the first generation.

As with other recent BMW M models, the X3 and X4 Competition have all-wheel-drive which can be adjusted to feel like a traditional rear-wheel-drive sports car.

It scores special M brakes with the calipers featuring the M logo and finished in blue as standard, or in high-gloss black or red upon request.

The 21-inch wheels save 2kg per wheel and are shod in in 255/40 ZR21 tyres at the front and 265/40 ZR21s at the rear.

Up front is an M-specific apron and enlarged kidney grilles in a one-piece frame, with Aussie cars also scoring BMW Laserlight headlight with a range of up to 650m.

Inside, M sports seats with electrically adjustable headrests and illuminated M logo are standard, with Merino leather upholstery in four colour combinations, new glavanised trim on the air vents and an M leather steering wheel with multifunction features, contrast stitching and an open 6 o'clock spoke.

Local pricing will be revealed closer to the pair’s arrival.

Also arriving as part of wider updates to the X3 and X4 — comprising mainly of a redesigned front and rear end and interior enhancements — is the X3 xDrive 30e plug-in hybrid.

It joins the 330e, 530e 745e and X5 xDrive45e in BMW’s local PHEV line-up and pairs a 2.0-litre engine with an electric motor to offer a combined 215kW and electric-only driving range in excess of 40km.

Again, pricing will be announced closer to its Australian arrival.

Rounding out a busy end to 2021 for BMW, the 4 Series range will be bolstered by the returning 4 Series Gran Coupe.

Once again, it will pair the sleek roofline of a coupe with the convenience of a pair of rear doors.

Its practicality is enhanced by the new model being 143mm longer, 27mm wider and 53mm taller than its predecessor.

The wheelbase is 46mm longer while track widths have been extended by 50mm at the front and 29mm at the rear.

There will be a choice of four and six-cylinder engines.

A 420i variant offering 135kW and 300Nm starts off the range, with the 430i offering 190kW/400Nm.

For the first time, the Gran Coupe gets an M Performance model available from launch, in the form of the M440i xDrive and its 285kW/500Nm twin turbo six-cylinder unit.

Should BMW opt for the same $500 premium above the coupe version as it employed when it launched the previous generation Gran Coupe, the price range would be in the realm of $72,400-$119,400.