BMW X3 2011

BMW has revealed its all-new second-generation X3. The all-wheel-drive “Sports Activity Vehicle” gets a new top-end model, the X3 xDrive35i. The X3 will be built in BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina, plant and will be on sale at U.S. dealerships by year’s end.
The entry-level X3, the xDrive28i, has BMW’s 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that makes 240 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque. BMW says the magnesium/aluminum power plant is the lightest six-cylinder engine in its size class in the world.

BMW X3 2011

BMW X3 2011

The top-end X3, the new xDrive35i, has a new turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 with direct fuel injection, twin-scroll turbo and Valvetronic. It makes 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. The top X3 has a 0-60-mph time of 5.5 seconds and, with the optional Sport package, is electronically limited to 150 mph. The engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, which replaces the previous six-speed.

BMW X3 2011

BMW X3 2011

The 2011 X3 is a half-inch taller, 3.4 inches longer and 1.1 inches wider than the outgoing model and features flared wheel arches and other more aggressive design cues. The revised suspension is a combination of a double-joint spring-strut suspension at front and a multilink at the rear. BMW’s Electronic Damping Control technology is optional and includes Driving Dynamics Control with three settings — Normal, Sport and Sport Plus — accessible from the center console, to adjust shock firmness, throttle response and shifting characteristics.

BMW X3 2011

The interior gets an 8.8-inch high-resolution screen — the largest onboard screen in the segment, says BMW — and an optional navigation system with BMW’s fourth-generation iDrive technology in the central display.