BMW reveals details of refreshed X3

BMW X3 has been redesigned and re-engineered. And before its Paris debut, BMW has already reveled a lot of official details about this second-generation X3. This car will be available to the market in January 2011 and is expected to match the sale of its previous counterpart released in 2003.

The price will be close to the outgoing model. Its design will incorporate many of the old X3’s features but will be larger in many ways, more details are not yet revealed on its design. Rest assured it will definitely look like an X3 upon first sight.

The dashboard and trim will be made of quality materials, unlike the previous X3 which remained low cost. Interior accommodation has also increased significantly.

The customer can choose from four engines when sales begin. BMW is also working on an ActiveHybrid version but will most likely be available in 2012 or even later.

The BMW X3 xDrive20d will come with a standard Getrag-engineered six-speed manual gearbox. For the first time in BMW cars, the ZF’s latest eight-speed automatic with automatic stop/start will also be combined and applied to this model. A standard four-wheel-drive applies, but a rear-wheel-drive version X3 sDrive28i is also in the works.

A ThyseenKrupp developed mechanical-electric steering system will be applied to the X3. Variable damping control will be provided to offer three levels of damper stiffness — normal, sport and sport plus which will also affect the dynamic traction control.

Overall, BMW is confident that the new X3 will also attain success in the market, just like how the outgoing model did.