A New Beast from BMW
You don’t become an automotive icon by resting on your laurels. BMW proved that in 2004 when it introduced a brand-new concept to the market: a small premium SUV with all-road capability and driving dynamics that were more sports car than sport utility. No surprise: The first-generation BMW X3 became a bestseller in the BMW line, both in the United States and in Europe. More than 600,000 X3s were sold worldwide.
Where to go from there? How about a new second-generation BMW X3 that builds on the success of the original, incorporating technologies aimed at enhancing agility, efficiency and comfort?
Exterior design
Of course, knowing what to update is just half the battle. Knowing what to keep is just as important, and in the design arena, BMW clearly knows the qualities that have kept its cars on top: elegance, agility and ruggedness, which the new BMW X3 has in spades.
Up front, the large headlight assembly and powerful-looking front apron combine with a hood that boasts six contour lines sweeping down to converge at the forward-slanting BMW kidney grille.
The X3 xDrive28i
A peek under the hood reveals this beauty also has beastly power. For the U.S., the entry-level X3 xDrive28i will feature BMW’s 3.0-liter inline-6. The magnesium/aluminum engine is rated at 240 horsepower and has 221 pound-feet of torque. That’s good enough to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds.
The X3 xDrive35i
As the new top-of-the-line model, the X3 xDrive35i features BMW’s newest turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 engine, combining direct fuel injection, twin-scroll turbo technology and Valvetronic. The engine develops a maximum output of 300 horsepower, with peak torque of 300 pound-feet available in a surprisingly broad range: 1,200 to 5,000 rpm. Redline is 7,000 rpm. This engine enables the X3 xDrive35i to sprint from zero to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds.
Both the BMW X3 xDrive28i and the X3 xDrive35i will offer the most favorable fuel consumption and emission levels within their class.
With this kind of commitment to cutting-edge automotive design, is it any wonder why BMW is still synonymous with “wow”?
