BMW unveils next-gen X3

MANILA: BMW has unveiled the next generation X3 sports utility vehicle (SUV). The latter is known internally at the German luxury car maker as the G45, which supersedes the BMW X3 G01 iteration launched in 2017.

As for what’s new, the X3 G45 was given a sportier and sharper look, hybrid powertrains, and the latest infotainment systems from the German automaker.

So, what is the next-gen BMW X3 offering to prospective buyers?

Exterior

On the outside, the next-gen X3’s front fascia boasts plenty of smoothened angles enhanced with a pair of sharp-looking LED headlamps. The latter are seated between a sizable example of the brand’s signature kidney grille. Found below, meanwhile, is a new lower bumper fitted with large vents and a dark trim piece stretching sideways to envelop the fog lamps.

From the side, the SUV received more slick design details with only a few character lines. The latter is coupled with chrome or black-colored trim on the window line, and a mostly flat bonnet.

The mid-size SUV has some kinks in its wheel arches and on the lower part of its doors. From the rear, it is fitted with T-shaped LED taillights, a roof-mounted spoiler, and a stealthy-looking black-colored rear diffuser. 

Other exterior features made available to the next-gen X3 include cornering functionality for its headlamps, decorative exterior lighting on the contours of its grille, power-folding side mirrors, LED daytime running lamps, roof rails, a fixed panoramic sunroof, and a set of 18 to 21-inch wheels. 

Interior

Inside, the next-gen X3 features a clean-looking but minimalist cockpit underpinned by the Bavarian brand’s current design language. The latter was achieved via the use of curved displays resulting in an enhanced cockpit feel for the BMW SUV. 

At the center of its neatly arranged dashboard is a 14.9-inch central infotainment display, which is linked seamlessly to a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. 

Positioned in key bits of the vehicle’s interior is the BMW Interaction Bar, which comes in the form of V-shaped LED interior lighting. The latter works in tandem with the aforementioned infotainment system, which in turn, also gets wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the luxury brand’s newest iDrive nine infotainment software. 

Other interior niceties fitted inside the all-new BMW X3 include leather upholstery, plenty of soft-touch points, a wireless smartphone charging pad, a Harman Kardon speaker set, a heads-up display, and augmented reality navigation, among other features. 

Safety

Safety aboard the all-new X3 is handled by a number of advanced driver-assist systems. The most notable are adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, traffic jam assist, lane change warning, and speed limit assist, among others. 

BMW’s Parking Assistant package, which consists of a reverse camera and a reversing assistant, was also made standard on the model. The reversing assistant, in particular, is touted by the brand as a useful function as it can automatically reverse through a route previously traveled over by a driver.   

Engine

Under the hood of the entry-level BMW X3 30 XDrive is a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline four-banger. At the most, the said engine can produce 255 horsepower and 399 Newton-meters of torque. 

On the other hand, the top-spec M50 XDrive gets a larger 3.0-liter inline-6 mill capable of making up to 393 hp and 580 Nm of torque. 

Both trims are equipped with BMW’s eight-speed Steptronic gearbox and have all-wheel drive. The M50 XDrive, however, was provided with a 48-volt mild hybrid system integrated into its transmission. 

Per BMW, the sales period of the next-gen X3 will start in the fourth quarter of 2024, with the European and North American markets getting first dibs. BMW Philippines, however, has yet to share when or if the said model will enter the local market, but we’re hoping it’ll happen soon. 

Photos from BMW USA

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