BMW has very recently launched its X1 compact SUV in India. However, the company also has the 2011 X3 ready in the international market and the vehicle is due for a replacement in India as well. To be honest with our readers, we had not seen the pictures of the 2011 X3 and still had the picture of the current generation X3 in our mind. So when we received the pictures of this 2011 X3 caught on test by our eagle eyed reader K. Suryanarayanan in Chennai, we were somewhat confused as it didn’t quite match with any of the existing BMW vehicles.
As we saw the pictures of the 2011 X3, everything became crystal clear. The new, 2011 X3 is, indeed landing onto our shores as a replacement to the current model. The new X3 is less boxier and more fluidic in design that the current generation model and is slightly bigger as well.
The X3 is BMW’s answer to Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLK and the latest version took the game up a few notches to match its younger nemeses. The new X3 seems to have increased in size for more cabin space and has a more X5-like styling. In additional to the new exterior styling, the X3 will also be feature packed to taken on the competition from Audi and Merc head-on. The night vision Head-Up display, for one, currently found on the X6 may make its way on the X3’s features list.
From the inside, the X3 now has a raised seat for more convenient ingress and egress and a more commanding view of the road ahead. The centre console with the iDrive is asymmetrical, accentuating BMW’s focus on the driver. The luggage space has been increased and the rear seats are 40:20:40 splittable.
Engine options for the X3 in India will remain unchanged and the new version will come with a 2.0-litre diesel and a 2.5-litre petrol as already available. The engine will be mated to an eight speed auto transmission along with an auto stop-start tech as part of BMW’s efficient dynamics tactics.
You can have a detailed look at the interior and exterior features of the new X3 in the videos below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5dwt1g7ZxM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Lt7QiQ1FSI?