The elegantly named X4 M40i is quick, hitting 60 mph in a claimed 4.7 seconds. Oh, and it’s a lightweight at a mere 700 pounds more than the Toyota RAV4, a similarly sized vehicle with slightly more than twice the cargo capacity.

Some other facts: This new M40i thing is the top dog of the X4 lineup, which also includes the 240-hp xDrive28i and the 300-hp xDrive35i. The M40i wears a bunch of M logos so that BMW can further accelerate its tarnishing of a brand name that once, literally, stood for “Motorsport.” The M40i’s straight-six makes 355 hp, and its exhaust fills the cabin with the sort of droning moan that says “sporty” if you’re hard of hearing, or “just kill me” if your ears are healthy.

This X4 handles, too, with optional Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, electronically adjustable dampers, and BMW’s “Performance Control.”

That last feature is not to be confused with the X6’s “Dynamic Performance Control,” an honest-to-goodness torque-vectoring rear differential. Instead, the X4 M40i’s stability control is programmed to change the attitude of the car when you least expect it by grabbing a rear brake. At least you feel none of it through the numb steering.

Oops, I was supposed to be nice. Here: The X4 isn’t nearly as ugly as the X6.

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