BMW will introduce the new X3 in the UK soon with new and updated engines, including a entry-level two-wheel driven four-cylinder variant.
The X3 always aimed to deliver class-leading driving dynamics, style, efficiency and practicality. While its competitors were hot on its tail and in many markets even getting the better of it, BMW have been busy working on new, more appealing variants and these bear fruit with the new car.
The new car features sharper design language, including restyled headlamps, including full-LED options and a new kidney-grille. The styling changes range from distinctive elements to subtle retouches. The big change comes under the bonnet. The X3 gets a new base variant – the sDrive 18d – which houses a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo diesel engine with 150 PS and 360 Nm (up from 143 PS and 320 Nm of the earlier spec engine). The 8-speed automatic transmission drives only the rear wheels. The xDrive 20d meanwhile now uses higher injection pressure and that results in a power bump (from 184 PS and 380 Nm) to 190 PS and 400 Nm, which feed all four wheels. A 6-speed manual transmission is available with both four-cylinder models. These updated engines will also find their way into the rest of the range.
The six-cylinder models both use the 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo straight-six in two states of tune – 258 PS and 560 Nm in the 30d; 313 PS and 630 Nm in the 35d. Both have the 8-speed Sports Automatic and xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive as standard.
The new BMW X3 should arrive in India later in 2014.
Story: Jim Gorde
Images: BMW Press
