Photo: CarPix
With Mercedes-Benz breathing down its neck, BMW has to freshen up its lineup or face an inevitable relegation to the second spot of the premium car sales hierarchy. After the successful launch of the new X1 crossover, comes the turn of its bigger brother, the X3.
The two previous generations of the compact-sized SUV from BMW didn't have a performance version as BMW felt there wasn't a market for them, but with the new additions, like the Porsche Macan, the upcoming Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 or the Audi RSQ5, it looks like the time is finally right for a BMW X3 M.
Following the significant growth of the smaller X1, the new X3 will have to readjust and put on a few inches itself. It will employ the new CLAR platform that uses CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) - a light, durable, and cheap-to-make composite material - shaving off about 220 pounds (100 kilograms) compared to an equivalent model of the current generation. That translate into a host of benefits for the new X3 that the M version will take advantage of as well.
The engine of the X3 M is still something to speculate on, but an in-line six-cylinder three-liter unit seems like the logical choice. With BMW now installing as many turbochargers as it wants on its engines, it seems like there's no limit to the amount of power it can extract from these plants. However, rumors talk of 500 hp, which sounds good enough to us.
On the outside, the X3 M will differ from the regular version through the usual bits and bobs that make a sports car stand out: larger air intakes, flared arches, bigger wheels, bigger brakes, a more aggressive roof spoiler and, of course, the quad exhaust pipes. The X3 M should be a beautiful machine to behold, even though it will be the blockiest of the lot, far from the curvy surfaces of the GLC3 or the Macan. Or even those of the Jaguar F-Pace (notice we've left the Audi out).
But BMW won't have just one compact-sized performance SUV, but two: the X3 M will later be joined by the X4 M, the coupe version that's a direct competitor of the Mercedes-AMG GLC63 Coupe. The no-fuss X3 is expected to debut this year, but BMW hasn't hinted at whether the M version will join it immediately, or make a separate entrance later on. We believe the latter to be the case, meaning it should probably be with us early next year.
Following the significant growth of the smaller X1, the new X3 will have to readjust and put on a few inches itself. It will employ the new CLAR platform that uses CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) - a light, durable, and cheap-to-make composite material - shaving off about 220 pounds (100 kilograms) compared to an equivalent model of the current generation. That translate into a host of benefits for the new X3 that the M version will take advantage of as well.
The engine of the X3 M is still something to speculate on, but an in-line six-cylinder three-liter unit seems like the logical choice. With BMW now installing as many turbochargers as it wants on its engines, it seems like there's no limit to the amount of power it can extract from these plants. However, rumors talk of 500 hp, which sounds good enough to us.
On the outside, the X3 M will differ from the regular version through the usual bits and bobs that make a sports car stand out: larger air intakes, flared arches, bigger wheels, bigger brakes, a more aggressive roof spoiler and, of course, the quad exhaust pipes. The X3 M should be a beautiful machine to behold, even though it will be the blockiest of the lot, far from the curvy surfaces of the GLC3 or the Macan. Or even those of the Jaguar F-Pace (notice we've left the Audi out).
But BMW won't have just one compact-sized performance SUV, but two: the X3 M will later be joined by the X4 M, the coupe version that's a direct competitor of the Mercedes-AMG GLC63 Coupe. The no-fuss X3 is expected to debut this year, but BMW hasn't hinted at whether the M version will join it immediately, or make a separate entrance later on. We believe the latter to be the case, meaning it should probably be with us early next year.
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