BMW has already confirmed that the BMW X3 (F25) will be all new for 2011. Additionally, production is to be moved to South Carolina in the newly expanded plant alongside the other X vehicles.
The car itself is built upon a shared platform with the
next generation 3-series (F30) and since the X3 will be released before the next generation 3-series it will actually serve as a preview for the 3-series.
Benefiting from the 3-series lineage, the X3 will now come up to par with the rest of the BMW lineup and no longer considered a 'pariah' in the BMW family. Technology, engines, chassis and quality will all be roundly improved as well as styling.
The car is to be offered with the usual suspects in the engine department, including the N55 twin-scroll single turbo engine producing 300hp. Smaller more fuel efficient engines part of the EfficientDynamics program will also likely to be offered, as for now this will be the smallest and most affordable and fuel efficient option in the BMW X lineup for the USA.
There are no plans for an ///M variant like the X5 and X6, but it has been
semi-confirmed that an iS (possibly N54 powered) variant is on the table and presumably being developed at the moment.
In the end, the emphasis of this car from the styling, to the engines and drive will be predominantly on sportyness and will help further establish the X3 in an increasing competitive field.
Along with all the improvements in the car itself, it has been rumored that BMW will offer the car along with an all new ordering system that will shorten the time from order to delivery of the car and allow changes to the options and colors of the car up to 5 days before the car is actually produced.
Whats new in this latest round of spy photos? Well BMW has been kind enough to show us what the lower bumper design will be. BMW will be giving us a bottom up strip tease of the X3 over the next few months?
