Even though the 2018 BMW X3 has been unveiled for quite some time now, nobody has taken delivery of the new SUV so far, as the market launch is set for late autumn. However, BMW is already letting us know that just after the car will start reaching dealerships, customers will get two more engines to choose from, to make the offerings more attractive. Starting this December, the BMW X3 range will be completed with the addition of the xDrive20i and xDrive30i models.
The BMW X3 xDrive20i will be using a 2-liter four cylinder petrol engine making 184 HP and up to 290 Nm (214 lb-ft) of torque and will be hooked up to BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system as the name suggests. As standard, the car will come with an 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox. 0-100 km/h (62 mph) takes 8.3 seconds while the Germans claim that this model will sip between 7.3 and 7.1 liters per 100 km (33.1 to 32.2 mpg) with CO2 emission levels of 168 to 163 grams per km.
The BMW X3 xDrive30i will in turn use a more powerful B48 2-liter 4-cylidner mill making 252 HP and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque. This one will also come with xDrive all-wheel drive and the ZF Steptronic 8-speed gearbox as standard. The xDrive30i will be 2 full seconds faster than the xDrive20i model to 100 km/ (62 mph) doing it in 6.3 seconds. Combined fuel consumption is between 7.3 and 7.2 liters per 100 km (32.2 to 32.6 mpg) with CO2 emission levels of 168 to 164 grams per km (figures as per EU test cycle, depending on selected tire size).
These two models are definitely aimed at the US market, as the European market also has the xDrive20d and xDrive30d models to choose from. However, up until the announcement of these two new models, US customers were bound to buy just the M40i model as it was the only petrol-powered model revealed so far.
