Hear the BMW X3 M Howl On the Nurburgring

As far as the exterior design of this Nurburgring dweller is concerned, the next generation of the BMW X3 in M form boasts large air intakes up front, flared wheel arches, and a low-slung stance. Being an M division product, it’s only natural to find quad exhausts integrated into the rear bumper.

Compared to the current generation of the BMW X3, the new kid on the block has grown in size and it is expected to shed up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds) thanks to the platform it is built upon. Colloquially known as CLAR, the so-called Cluster Architecture is rear-wheel-drive by nature. In the case of the BMW X3 M, the Cluster Architecture is enhanced with a performance-oriented variant of the tried-and-tested xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

If you listen carefully to the spy video, you can hear that the pre-production mule of the 2018 BMW X3 M is equipped with an automatic transmission. It’s hard to tell if it’s the 7-speed M-DCT dual-clutch transmission of the BMW M4 or the ZF-developed 8-speed unit, but the way this thing shifts through the gears is a tell-tale sign that this compact luxury crossover has two pedals.

Under the hood, the 2018 BMW X3 M (F97) boasts a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six expected to deliver close to 500 horsepower. In the case of the BMW M4 GTS, the fastest BMW to lap the Nurburgring makes use of a water-injected engine with the same displacement, number of cylinders, and 500 horsepower on tap. Word on the street is the same mill motivates the X3 M as well, but only time will tell what kind of sorcery lurks under the hood.