BMW has announced the launch of a revised X3. The new range features the most powerful diesel engine ever to power a production BMW in the UK, as well as two new petrol engines.
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Due to go on sale in the UK in September, the X3 now comes powered by a total of five different engines – two petrol and three diesel units.
The headline-grabbing powerplant is a twin-turbo 3.0-litre diesel with an output of 286hp and 580Nm of torque that has been developed from the engine used by the BMW 535d. Such power places the X3 3.0sd into the realm of sports car acceleration with a zero to 62mph time of 6.6 seconds and a 149mph top speed.
BMW says that What sets the X3 3.0sd apart from previous X3s is that it comes equipped with the same twin-turbo technology that has already been showcased in the BMW 535d. By using two turbochargers, one smaller one larger, the X3 3.0sd offers high levels of low down pulling power as well as top end performance, BMW claims.
It can do this because the smaller turbo boosts at low revs for instant, smooth and swift acceleration, but as engine speed builds the larger turbocharger comes into play to continue the rapid progress. The result is an engine that develops peak torque from just 1,750rpm through to 2,250rpm, but is capable of continuing to rev up to 4,400rpm – an unusually high limit for a diesel.
Aside from that powertrain development, the revised X3 is little changed from the previous one. At the front a larger kidney grille sits above a redesigned front bumper and spoiler. And on the new car a colour-coded spoiler with vertical uprights is positioned below the bumper, while the front foglights are now incorporated into the main section of the bodywork.
The X3 3.0sd rides on 18-inch light alloy wheels as standard while larger twin exhaust pipes protrude from under the rear valance.
The new rear light clusters feature rods of LED lights.
