New BMW X3 Gen 3 – G01 Madness...!
BMW’s mid-size SUV… er… they call it SAV for “Sports Activity Vehicle” (semantics) is now available for public consumption.
The “G01” in BMW geek-speak (a factory production code) is the third generation of the X3, which first debuted in 2003. The first generation was frankly a bit of an ugly duckling both inside and out, but sold well regardless. Gen 2 represented a substantial improvement aesthetically as well as a notch above in engineering quality. Gen 3 appears to be fairly evolutionary on the exterior design changes, but further develops interior design and build quality in good ways!
Slightly larger in size (no third-row seating here) but
lighter in weight, the X3 will initially come with two gas-fed motors in the States. The base X3 is propelled by BMWs ubiquitous
2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged powerplant, exuding 248 horsepower and
scooting to 60 mph in about 6 seconds. A
step up the performance ladder takes you to the X3 M40i specification and adds
2 more cylinders. Power climbs to 335
ponies and yields a 60 mph sprint in 4.6 seconds...!
Zippy…!
An eyeball scan of the exterior reveals a substantially
larger rendition of BMW’s trademark twin kidney grill, which will likely be the
remodel’s most polarizing feature. Headlight
and aero treatments are evolutionary, and the side profile and rear design
notes are a touch more athletic in appearance.
The interior is where my retina is most impressed. Cleaner and more current in flow and
appearance, the design manages to include all of the latest tech gizmodery that
BMW saw fit to include. This includes
the newest iteration of iDrive, complete with a 10.25-inch touchscreen and the
usual wheel and button controls, not to mention available gesture-control.
Woohoo..!
You also can opt for the latest safety nannies, including
adaptive cruise control, cross-traffic alert, collision mitigation, coffee
spill assistance… (kidding on that last
one!)
Overall, I give a thumbs up to this 3rd
generation 3 of the X variety. If it
drives as well as it looks, BMW will have a straight hit on its hands…! This buggy should compete well with Benz’s
GLC, Audi’s Q5 and any other mid-size luxe-ute you care to name.
Prices have not been set, but expect the usual bump over the
outgoing model. The G01 X3 will populate
US showrooms in November…
Marty Feldmann, The Connoisseur, is the
highly sought after consultant who assists businesses and individual clients
with the acquisition of the finer things life has to offer. Whether you are planning a weekend getaway to
wine country, selecting audio equipment to outfit your home, planning your
dream vacation or purchasing your ultimate transportation, Marty is your
personal connection to the good life…
Marty can be contacted at: 916.952.9529 Marty@ConnoisseurCorner.com