Photos of the BMW X4 M40i Leaked Ahead of LA Motor Show

Ahead of its expected debut at the 2015 LA Auto Show, leaked pictures of the high-performance BMW X4 M40i emerged yesterday, giving us the best look yet of the range-topping crossover.

At first glance, BMW enthusiasts can tell that the new model builds on the xDrive35i model, that it features a TwinPower Turbo inline 3.0 liter six-cylinder engine that offers 360 hp and up to 465 Nm of torque, that it can accelerate in 4.9 seconds to 100 km/h and that it can achieve a maximum electronically limited speed of 250 km/h.

Despite boasting the “M” badge, the BMW X4 M40i is not a full blown M. It takes the same equipment used in the M235i for the US market and the M50d for the European market, which provide high performance without offering the full package typical of an M car. This explains the more aggressive body kit that is not as sporty as the typical M.

The exterior of the BMW X4 M40i has a new front bumper accented by thin strips of chrome trim, a redesigned rear bumper with double, round exhaust tips, a set of meaty 19 inch alloy wheels wrapped in sporty Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires and a scattering of M badges.

Not much was revealed of the BMW X4 M40i’s interior, but we do know it will boast an oversized M-branded steering wheel.

The BMW X4 M40i will go on sale in the Spring of 2016 and is expected to hit showrooms in time for the 2017 model year.

We expect more details to surface in the next couple of months as the LA Motor Show approaches.