The car was revealed ahead of its international launch, which will happen later this year. BMW has extensively re-engineered the X3 for 2017 – the car is built on a new platform. There’s now an incremental increase in dimensions, a little more space on the inside and the car is lighter now.
The New BMW is 61mm longer, 17mm wider and 16mm higher than the outgoing car and the company has stated that the increase in dimensions was driven both by customer feedback for greater interior space, and by the need to further distance the new car from the X1. The new Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform is built on a longer wheelbase and has grown in size, but the use of lightweight metals and alloys has resulted in a 55kg reduction in kerb weight.
The new Bimmer looks sharper and comes fitted with new LED headlamps, a revised kidney grille, a heavily contoured bonnet, prominent creases along the sides and tailgate, new LED tail-lamps and large alloy wheels. Inside, the dashboard closely resembles the 5-series and features a free-standing infotainment monitor for the first time. As optional extras, you can get a 12.3-inch all-digital instrument cluster, a heads-up display, and a 10.2-inch infotainment display that has gesture control and voice recognition. The seats are now more comfortable as well, according to BMW.
There will be a range of petrol and diesel engines available, with the company working on a hybrid system as well. There’s a new range-topping X3 M40i performance model which is powered by a 3.0-litre, in-line, six-cylinder petrol motor delivering 360hp and 500Nm of torque. The motor is paired to an eight-speed automatic gearbox and comes with BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system as standard. The car will also be sold with a 20d variant powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel unit, good for 190hp, and a more powerful 30d powered by a 265hp, 3.0-litre, straight-six diesel engine.
BMW will also add a further petrol engine to the new X3 line-up once the car is launched. It will feature a 2.0-litre petrol unit good for either 184hp in the 20i and a meatier 251hp in the 30i.
The new X3 is likely to make its way to the Indian car market sometime next year.
