Spyshots: BMW F25 X3 Facelift (LCI) First Photos

BMW’s current generation of X3 mid-size SUV doesn’t have any major flaws, yet for some reason it will get the earliest facelift we’ve ever seen from the Bavarians. The reason for this is likely to keep up with Audi’s Q5 and the Mercedes GLK, both of which also received cosmetic makeovers this year.

The second generation X3 was revealed in 2010 as a 2011 model year car. Production was shifted from Austria to the US factory of Spartanburg, South Carolina. The model grew in size and almost became the size of the first X5.

The facelift F25 model has been spotted for the first time by our spy photographers while undergoing road testing. The changes are focused on the front and back, but despite the camouflage, we don’t expect completely new bumpers.

Instead, the headlights will be tweaked and the foglights will be integrated. The small intake just under the kidney grille has also been changed with the addition of an extra bar going across. All this changes will appear very minimal, but this is something we’ve come to expect after seeing what they did with the X6 facelift.

The Life Cycle Impulse (LCI) for the F25 X3 will also likely include some new engines, although guessing what they are is educated detective work at this point. They could finally make the X3 M, with either the engine from the M3 or preferably the tri-turbo diesel. However, they will likely stop short of making it faster than the X5 M which is a shame. At the other end of the spectrum, the 1.5-liter three-cylinder family could be making its way into base models, replacing the existing 18d models which have 143 hp, and even the 20d xDrive, though this isn’t really necessary.

❐ Check out the BMW F25 X3 Facelift (LCI) photo gallery