The new generation G01 BMW X3 is just days away from its official unveil. After being developed for the last two years, the successor of the successful F25 X3 is going to be an important car for BMW in the ever growing SUV segment. And with the X3 bringing a lot of new tech to the table while being cheaper than the X5, it is bound to keep its crowd favorite status once the new version comes out.
The standard X3 line-up will be joined by a proper M model too once ready, a premiere for the BMW midsize SUV. This will be the first time a BMW X3 M will be offered and fans of the brand and this particular model will surely be excited to see it finally materialize after years of waiting. The X3 M will actually be late to the game as its rivals from Audi and Mercedes-Benz already have performance versions out, in the shape of the Audi SQ5 and GLC63 AMG.
However, just like it is the case with other comparisons between BMW’s M offerings and Mercedes’ AMGs, the mill under the hood of the Bimmer will be smaller in size by comparison. The BMW X3 M will use the same S55 3-liter twin-turbo engine of the M3 and M4 models, possibly tuned to make 450 HP. This will put the M model at a disadvantage compared to its AMG rival which uses a 4-liter twin-turbo engine making either 469 HP or 503.
The advantage of the X3 M lies in the lightweight constructions methods. The X3 M will be light on its feet for a car its size and it will most likely perform better both on and off the track due to this advantage. As you can also see in the video below, the X3 M doesn’t seem to lean too much into corners which hopefully means that it will be a true driver’s car once it comes out. Since the standard X3 will be launched on the market later this year, expect the M model to come out early in 2018.
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