Based on the BMW 3 Series platform, the first generation BMW X3, internally known as the E83, was manufactured from 2003 to 2010. BMW and Magna Steyr of Graz, Austria, who also produced all first-generation X3s for BMW under contract, collaborated to design the E83.
The xActivityconcept car, which served as a prototype for the X3, was unveiled by BMW in 2003 at the Detroit Auto Show. It was built on the 3 Series platform and had a fixed-profile convertible body style. Reinforced longitudinal rails connect the A-pillars to the rear of the vehicle on both sides, doing away with the need for B- or C-pillars.
The X3 made its debut in September 2003 at the Frankfurt Auto Show (Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung). It used an automated four-wheel drive system known as xDrive and shared its rear suspension with the E46 330xi. BMW’s all-wheel drive system, with a default 40:60 torque distribution between the front and rear axles and the option to send all torque to either axle, is a standard feature of all X3 variants. Utilizing an electronically controlled multiple-plate clutch, the system allowed for totally variable, indefinitely adjustable front-to-rear torque distribution, with the capacity to send up to 100% of engine torque to either axle. In order to describe its X-line of vehicles, BMW refers to the crossover as a Sports Activity Vehicle.
The X3 was designed to combine the agility of a little car with the X5’s driving experience. The upright, high H-point seating arrangement on the X3 was advertised as “command seating.” The styling included a reinterpreted Hofmeister kink as well as interacting concave and convex surfacing, which were distinctive for the brand at the time.
BMW made changes to the engine, interior décor, body bumpers, and suspension in the model’s 2005 update and 2007 facelift.
The 2005 Canadian Car of the Year Best Sports Utility Vehicle title went to the X3 3.0i. Initial complaints about the X3 focused on its rough ride, drab interior, lack of off-road capability, and high pricing.
The BMW Business A/M-F/M-CD radio, an eight-speaker premium audio system, leatherette-trimmed seating surfaces, dual power front bucket seats, aluminum interior trim accents, keyless entry, and seventeen-inch (17″) aluminum-alloy wheels were all standard on US-spec X3 models. These models were well-equipped. A ten-speaker premium audio system with Digital Sound Processing (DSP), Sirius Satellite Radio, a dashboard-mounted color GPS navigational system, eighteen-inch (and later nineteen-inch) aluminum-alloy wheels, Nevada leather-trimmed seating surfaces, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a security system, and more were all available extras.
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2017 BMW X3 (2nd Generation)
2011 saw the release of the X3’s successful second generation. Because this new edition was completely revamped and shared little with its predecessor, there were considerable modifications everywhere. However, production was also transferred from Austria to BMW’s South Carolina-based U.S. assembly facility.
The new BMW X3, which was marginally larger than the outgoing model, had an upgraded basis based on the most recent BMW sedans and a better packaged interior. All-wheel drive, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with 240 horsepower were standard on the entry-level xDrive28i versions. The old six-speed manual transmission was abandoned. xDrive35i utilised a 302-horsepower, six-cylinder, turbocharged 3.0-liter engine.
Push-button start, BMW’s iDrive infotainment system, Driving Dynamics Control with adjustable suspension damping, a panoramic sunroof, and an adjustable backrest for the rear seat with 40/20/40 split-folding were among the new features. In place of the previous six-cylinder, a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 240 horsepower was installed in the xDrive28i for 2013.
With the exception of these early models, there weren’t many improvements made until 2015, when the X3 received a subtly updated exterior and interior design as well as the most recent iDrive infotainment system. Customers could now choose between two appearance groups, the xLine and M Sport packages, depending on whether they preferred a sportier or more tougher appearance.
There were also brand-new engines. The new sDrive28i variant had a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and had rear-wheel-drive. A new 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine with 180 horsepower was employed in the xDrive28d model for better fuel efficiency.
For 2016 and 2017, new technology upgrades like improved Bluetooth connectivity and wireless phone charging were included, although the X3 received minimal updates before a new model was unveiled for 2018.
BMW X3 spy images: first appearance of redesigned SUV
For the first time, a prototype of the revamped BMW X3 has been spotted. The fourth generation of the best-selling marque will be represented by the new crossover.
A mid-cycle update for 2022 was given to the existing X3, which debuted in 2017 as the 2018 model year. According to BMW history, the revamped X3 should debut in 2024 as a 2025 model. About a year following this X3, a redesign of the associated X4 should be released.
Despite the prototype’s extensive camouflage, we can tell that it will have proportions that are extremely close to those of the current generation, but slightly more rounded. Although the camouflage gear has been used to make the grille look identical to the grille on the existing X3 model, the outline of the headlamps can plainly be seen and the grille appears to be adopting a taller design.
Although we can’t see the interior, it should have a clean dash with floating screens for the infotainment center and instrument cluster, as seen in the newest BMW models, including the just-updated 2023 3-Series.
Rear-wheel drive with an all-wheel drive option will be standard on the platform, which will be an upgraded version of the CLAR design used in the present X3. Look for 2.0-liter inline-4 and 3.0-liter inline-6 turbocharged engines, both of which come standard with mild hybrid technology. Additionally, plug-in hybrid power will be available, possibly even in the next X3 M.
Outside of the United States, the current X3 provides an electric iX3 option. While the current iX3 is built on a modified version of the CLAR platform, the successor, which should debut in the United States in 2025, is anticipated to be built on the Neue Klasse dedicated EV platform developed by BMW Group. The upcoming 3-Series is anticipated to come in an electric variant as the first model.
The BMW Group plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where the current X3 is made, will produce the new X3. The BMW Group plant in Debrecen, Hungary, where Neue Klasse automobiles will be produced, may also produce the electrified model.
BMW won’t want to take any chances with the X3. BMW sold 75,858 units in the United States alone in 2021, making it the brand’s most well-liked car in this country.
The BMW X3 last underwent revision in when?
The X3 had its most recent facelift in 2018 and will mostly remain unchanged in 2020. It is currently available as a plug-in hybrid, which combines the two liter four cylinder engine with an electric motor, and is available in rear wheel drive, all wheel drive, all wheel drive four cylinder, and all wheel drive six cylinder configurations.
The BMW X3 received a facelift when?
The next fourth-generation BMW X3 is being tested on the road for the first time, and it appears that the mid-size SUV will have a completely new look. Along with all-electric versions, we anticipate it to be the last X3 to include an internal combustion engine.
Compared to the existing X3, this test vehicle has a wider kidney grille and slimmer headlights up front. The new BMW 7 Series and X7’s split headlamp styling appears to be abandoned in the headlight design. The BMW badge, which is ridged in the bonnet and shared by the M3, i4, and XM, was also visible.
The wheel arch contour and upswept window line to the rear pillar, which creates the company’s renowned “Hofmeister kink,” are comparable to those of the present model. We anticipate that the rear lights, which are heavily camouflaged in our spy photos, will be two independent pieces rather than a single light bar. There are currently no distinguishing elements on the lower bumper, but the roof spoiler at the back appears to have gotten bigger.
The next-generation X3 received a redesign in June 2021, thus it’s unlikely that it will be unveiled until the end of 2023, with a 2024 release date. The timing of this arrival is tricky for BMW because the X3 would barely miss the introduction of the “Neue Klasse” platform, which is slated to debut in 2025.
It implies that the entirely electric iX3 (based on the current X3) will continue to be produced well into the life of the future X3. The redesigned CLAR platform from BMW, which is compatible with mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure-EV powertrains, will likely serve as the foundation for the next X3.
The majority of the range is anticipated to be made up of a combination of four-cylinder gasoline engines and six-cylinder gasoline engines with electric assistance. The current BMW X3 M employs the same 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six engine as the M3, so don’t be surprised if the X3 M does too. We’ll see the introduction of hybrid technology in a M automobile with the next BMW XM.
Although we haven’t yet seen inside the new X3, the infotainment system will undoubtedly be based on the company’s OS 8 operating system. It should appear on a curved display that combines a 12.3-inch infotainment screen from the iX with a 14.9-inch digital instrument cluster.
When the new BMW X3 goes on sale in the UK in 2024, it’s anticipated to inch closer to a PS50k entry price tag, once again competing against premium rivals like the Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLC, with the present BMW X3 starting at PS45,585.
How frequently does BMW update the X3?
[UPDATE: The story has been updated with images of a different prototype that, based on the smaller-diameter wheels and the concealed exhaust pipe, looks to be the base-spec X3. We also catch our first glance of the dashboard, which is comparable to the current BMW lineup and features a fully digital cockpit.
A disguised prototype of the SUV, which our undercover photographers captured for the first time as it was being transported, serves as proof that BMW is already working on the next-generation X3.
The prototype appears to be sporting the production body of the fourth generation of the X3, which is apparently still in the early phases of development. The new car has similar-looking headlamps and a well-known windowline to the previously unveiled 2023 BMW X1, giving it the appearance of a bigger sibling.
It’s reassuring to see that BMW’s iconic linked kidney grille doesn’t appear to be much larger than the current X3; in fact, we think it might even be a little bit smaller, at least on this early prototype. The shape is still recognizable, but it now features smoother surface, more pronounced front and rear fenders, and slightly boxier wheelarches comparable to its forerunner. A fresh set of alloy wheels with a more intricate variation of the traditional five-spoke design can also be seen.
The model’s distinctive LED taillights are concealed by what appear to be false taillights at the rear. We anticipated them to resemble the angular design of the X1 but be smaller than in the current X3. However, the quad round exhaust tailpipes and the enlarged rear spoiler give away the presence of a performance-oriented derivative. In this regard, according to our sources, the prototype shown is the M40i model, a scaled-down version of the X3 M.
We don’t know the new X3’s specs, but we assume that it will be similar to the 3-Series in terms of architecture. Similar to the existing model, the SUV is anticipated to be sold in ICE-powered, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric (iX3) varieties, albeit with cleaner and more effective powertrains. This is consistent with BMW’s approach of providing a wide range of alternatives for each model, however we anticipate this will be the final X3 to be powered by an ICE before the Bavarian carmaker switches to an all-electric lineup.
The BMW X3’s current third generation was unveiled in 2017 and underwent a facelift in 2021. This indicates that a new model could debut in 2024 at the earliest, possibly as a 2025MY, thereby completing the regular seven-year lifetime for BMW goods. Along with the performance-oriented M-branded cars, which will undoubtedly survive to the next generation with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, a coupe-style BMW X4 will probably come soon after the X3.