The new BMW X3 – Dawn of a new era
The new BMW X3 – Dawn of a new era
By Lawrence Minnie
When car manufacturers launch a new or updated model it’s usually a run-of-the-mill introduction. A new power plant, new bumpers or perhaps new headlights are the usual changes, but the new BMW X3 arrives with quite a bit of fanfare, and not only because it is a new car inside and out, rather because of what it brings to, and means to our local automotive landscape.
Local Content
The new BMW X3 will be manufactured at three locations worldwide; Spaartenburg, North Carolina in North America, Shenyang in China, and Rosslyn in South Africa, with each factory being responsible for their continent or global wedge, as it were. South Africa’s Rosslyn plant will produce BMW X3 derivatives for export to all of Africa and will beef up production for other centres as well, when demand is high.
This represents a significant investment for BMW and has required a lot of talks with all local bodies linked to the assembly plant. From the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), to the unions representing workers, the roll-out plan has been inching forward including a complete rework of the facilities at Rosslyn.
With so much at stake, BMW have been very thorough in securing the production capability at Rosslyn and have invested much time and money into training of technicians and the facility itself. With planned production numbers running towards 70 000 cars a year, BMW are planning to conquer the market locally and beyond.
The Car
The new BMW X3 isn’t a radical departure from the previous model, it is however, a much more refined vehicle with a multitude of new technologies handed down from BMW’s model ranges higher up, with a bold new exterior that borrows styling traits from those same models. The X3 is a good-looking car and with the host M Sports and Luxury options available, takes the X3 to whole new level.
We had three model variants on launch, the M40i, xDrive30d and xDrive20d with M Sports options fitted. The 2nd half of 2018 will see Rosslyn go into full production of the entire X3 line up which will see new engine derivatives expand the current offerings that are available.
The options fitted to our test cars ranged from brakes and suspension, to optional wheel designs in 20- and 21-inch sizes on the outside, and, on the inside various interior designs and driver assistance packages.
xDrive20d
The xDrive20d was the smallest and lowest spec derivative on launch and despite that, was actually the most comfortable and would be the best drive for daily use. While not as shouty as the M-offering, delivering only 140kW and 400Nm, the 20d was the perfect balance of power, sports and comfort with an excellent return of fuel economy and a compliant, yet sporty feeling chassis and suspension.
The 20d would be my pick of the litter, returning a miserly 5.6l /100km from the four-cylinder diesel. It was very spritely off the line when we had to jump onto main roads, and worked well with the suspension and chassis to make even the most mundane gravel road seem like a Dakar stage.
M40i
The M40i was an absolutely exhilarating monster to drive with 265kW and 500Nm on tap. It handled the gravel sections surprisingly well, despite the 21-inch M Sports wheels and a Sports mode so tight it should be called RACE. It was, as can be expected, at home on the sweeping tar roads of the Oudtshoorn to Knysna mountain passes.
The burble and crackle of the Sports exhaust on the downshifts through the twisties was pure heaven, but as Newton’s first law states, there were consequences. Any thoughts of fuel economy went out the window with the M40i returning 14.5l/100km after a bout of spirited driving through a particularly beautiful mountain pass, shrouded in mist.
Final thoughts
The X3 has always been the middle-child of the BMW X range and as such has often had many criticisms leveled against it. It is probably my favorite of the X series, and I, for one, am hoping that the local production element from Rosslyn and the new technologies and styling will drive more drivers towards the X3.
The new X3 is a pretty package with a lot to offer and with new engine derivatives coming next year, it is going to be the marque to watch in the segment.
Models and Pricing (Models at Launch)
| BMW X3 M Sports xDrive 20d | R 735 300 |
| BMW X3 M Sports xDrive 30d | R 918 100 |
| BMW X3 M420i | R 991 100 |
(Pricing is for unspecified base model)
All new BMWs sold in South Africa include a 5 year/100 000 km Motorplan maintenance contract.