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2011 BMW X3 3-Door Imagined

Now that Range Rover Evoque broke cover and Porsche is making the final touches on the Cajun model, BMW might have to rethink its strategy and launch its very own 3-door SUV. A little help comes from Theophilus Chin, who created two manipulated photos with the 2011 BMW X3 in 3-door configuration.

If you're asking us, the car looks pretty good, although BMW X3 isn't the most handsome car on the market. However, the three-door architecture brings a little extra sportiness to the model presented for the first time to the public at the 2010 Paris Auto Show in September.

Dimensions would be slightly different from what we can see in the photos and, as compared to its predecessor, the 2011 X3 is now 78 mm longer (4,684mm) and
14mm taller (1,675mm), with its width being decreased by 4mm (1,855mm). The wheelbase is now more generous (up 15mm to 2,810mm) with the boot capacity also being superior (it offers a 70-liter increase to 550 liters).

In Europe, the new X3 (the five-door version, of course) will be offered with two engines (a diesel and a petrol), with all the versions of the car coming with four wheel drive as standard. The X3 xDrive2.0d uses a straight four diesel with an aluminum crankcase, delivering 184 hp at 4,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 380 Nm. The entry-level model needs 8.5 seconds to reach 62 mph and tops at 130 mph (210 km/h), while returning a fuel economy of 42 mpg (5.6 liters/100 km) and emitting 149 g CO2/km.

BMW has never hinted that it might release a three-door version of the X3, so this remains a simple design that could get closer to reality in case the German manufacturer decided to reconsider its position after the Evoque and Porsche's baby-SUV reach the market.
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About the author: Bogdan Popa
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Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
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