[goobies818]

Hi all,

Same story as before that I posted on the X7 and X5 forums…My kid’s route to school is along the same path many BMW group test mules are driven in the morning.

This time…I came across what looks to be a possible iX3 as highlighted by the lack of exhaust tips and the flush door handles we see on the current “i” lineup

Sorry couldn’t get better pics…rain has been pretty crazy here and the driver of the mule was pretty hell bent on making it difficult to snap pics

[avi66]

Thought the ix3 was a Chinese project where they are made.

[Tim@codemybimmer]

Originally Posted by goobies818

This time…I came across what looks to be a possible iX3 as highlighted by the lack of exhaust tips and the flush door handles we see on the current "i" lineup

Thanks for the pics!

The flush door handles are what we see on even the new ICE line up, such as the G42 2 Series and U11 X1.

We also see no visible exhaust tips on the U11 X1 as well with the ICE motor. It might be a styling direction they're taking on the 4 cylinder, non M models.

It's likely the xDrive30i based on those assumptions, also because there doesn't appear to be a sticker indicating an Electric or Hybrid vehicle being tested (normally they put one on their test vehicles on the bumper and/or doors)

[goobies818]

Originally Posted by avi66

Though the ix3 was a Chinese project where they are made.

Yeah…to the latter poster’s point…it could be a pure vanilla X3 and might be the styling choices going forward with hidden tailpipes and flush handles now.

[dmicah]

This is very interesting and thank you for posting it! I can't make heads or tails of what this might be. It doesn't particularly look like the spy shots shown here:

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/...w-x3-spy-shots

BTW: What's the deal with all the rain here in SoCal!

[goobies818]

Originally Posted by dmicah

This is very interesting and thank you for posting it! I can't make heads or tails of what this might be. It doesn't particularly look like the spy shots shown here:

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/...w-x3-spy-shots

BTW: What's the deal with all the rain here in SoCal!

yeah...I'm in the foothills area and our street turned into a 6" deep fast flowing river. too many people didn't think things through and left their trash cans on the street as opposed to on the curb...and now the cans and the trash have gone down to the bottom of the street.

[BeeMdblU]

if it was electric it would say it on the sides and back,
i don't see anything

[goobies818]

Originally Posted by BeeMdblU

if it was electric it would say it on the sides and back,
i don't see anything

That’s true in the case of later stage test mules.

When the whole car is covered in the swirlies…they’re really trying hard to keep us off the scent of what they’re cooking

[satz]

Originally Posted by dmicah

This is very interesting and thank you for posting it! I can't make heads or tails of what this might be. It doesn't particularly look like the spy shots shown here:

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/...w-x3-spy-shots

BTW: What's the deal with all the rain here in SoCal!

Seems it never rains in California,
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before

[dmicah]

Originally Posted by satz

Seems it never rains in California,
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before

I guess you're as old as I am, then

[Bimmerforlife]

I absolutely hate flush door handles, when there wet and your hand slip out of the handle trying to open the door....it can hurt.

[Bimmerforlife]

I’m sure this has been posted but spy pics of next gen X3 posted interior shots. No more shifter.

https://www.motor1.com/news/630417/2...irst-time/amp/

[X6DividedByTwo]

Originally Posted by goobies818

Hi all,

Same story as before that I posted on the X7 and X5 forums…My kid’s route to school is along the same path many BMW group test mules are driven in the morning.

This time…I came across what looks to be a possible iX3 as highlighted by the lack of exhaust tips and the flush door handles we see on the current “i” lineup

Sorry couldn’t get better pics…rain has been pretty crazy here and the driver of the mule was pretty hell bent on making it difficult to snap pics

Thank you for snapping some shots!

[NoMoreVauxhalls]

Originally Posted by Bimmerforlife

I’m sure this has been posted but spy pics of next gen X3 posted interior shots. No more shifter.

Shame that the shifter is going. I much prefer the one in my G01 when compared to that toggle thing in the 2023 X1

[bocabimmer]

Originally Posted by NoMoreVauxhalls

Shame that the shifter is going. I much prefer the one in my G01 when compared to that toggle thing in the 2023 X1

Yeah, as a “save the manuals” guy I instinctively like to have something to pretend to downshift with.

[jsh139]

Originally Posted by bocabimmer

Yeah, as a “save the manuals” guy I instinctively like to have something to pretend to downshift with.

It's not just pretend. You can manually shift with our shifters. I like it. Especially how the upshift is down, towards you, and the downshift is up, away from you. Feels very intuitive.

[NoMoreVauxhalls]

Originally Posted by jsh139

It's not just pretend. You can manually shift with our shifters. I like it. Especially how the upshift is down, towards you, and the downshift is up, away from you. Feels very intuitive.

Yup - it has a nice, tactile feel when you use it as well. The direction BMW (and many other manufacturers) are going with their interior controls and switchgear is something that I really don't like.

Removal of physical controls and replicating them on the touchscreen is just plain awful. And now the reduction of things like the shifter to little toggles... it just seems off to me!

[Bimmerforlife]

I don’t like how BMW designs are going, I don’t like the shifter knob gone and just a little slat there. I also don’t like all the massive screens side to side and losing all the physical buttons for A/C etc. It’s like they want the car to drive you instead of how it’s always been the driver driving the car.

[JC210]

Just wait till they put the steering and the brakes on the touchscreen!

[goobies818]

Originally Posted by JC210

Just wait till they put the steering and the brakes on the touchscreen!

Use of steering wheel and brakes will become a subscription based service next year…