As we reported earlier, BMW has unveiled the all new 2018 BMW X3 at its US plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina on June 26, 2017.
With this new SUV, BMW has re-armed itself in its fight against other major players in the market like the likes of Audi Q3 and Mercedes Benz CLC. Earlier, the German marquee brands namely BMW, Audi, Mercedes had a sedan as their entry level product through which one would be able to get the taste of luxury and performance.
Now, with the demand for stylish urban SUVs going up, it is the BMW X3 which has become the bread and butter for BMW which is seeing double digit growth even though the previous generation model had been available for more than half a decade. The entry level sedan BMW 3-series, on the other hand, has been experiencing stagnant if not persistent decline in its sales numbers.
With the new BMW X3, the third generation model gets an all new sheet metal with design language similar to its smaller sibling BMW X1 and the larger BMW X5.To improve the aerodynamics, BMW has equipped its new X3 with active grille shudders, underbody cladding and a rear spoiler. Also, the chassis has been re-engineered to reduce unsprung mass and an extended wheelbase achieves the holy grail of 50:50 weight distribution.
The base X3 is powered by a 2.0 liter TwinPower turbocharged inline four cylinder capable of producing 248 HP and mated to an eight-speed automatic. 0 to 60 mph is achieved in just 6.0 seconds.
Other engine options include a 3.0 liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder unit with 335 horses under its hood. The performance spec BMW X3 M version can in fact can boast of standstill to 60 mph in under 4.6 seconds.
Inside, all new 2018 BMW X3 gets a larger full color heads up display with a 10.25 inch touchscreen infotainment system running the latest version of BMW iDrive.the new X3 also features gesture control technology that allows the passengers to attend phones or adjust the volume with just gestures.Also included is the BMW’s latest driver assistance and crash prevention technology with its adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, cross-traffic alert and front collision mitigation features.
The 2018 BMW X3 is expected to go on sale first in the US by the end of this year.