July 25, 2017, 02:16
Until the fall, the new premium crossover of the year will not be sold even in the United States, where it will be produced at the Spartanburg plant, but the German brand's engineers do not waste time and continue to test pre-production prototypes in the vicinity of the production site. Naturally, photo spies are not sleeping at this time, and today for the first time we can see a new product with the M Sport package.
Choosing this package of options, the future buyer of the new X3 2018 will receive an exclusive aerodynamic body kit, including a front bumper with larger air intake areas, wider side skirts in profile, and a false diffuser in the rear. Instead of chrome, crossovers with the M Sport package will have black moldings around the perimeter of the side windows. The list of equipment also includes 19-inch rims, which can be replaced for a surcharge with 20-inch ones.
Unfortunately, the spies weren't able to peek into the interior of the car, however, we already know from official information from BMW that the M Sport versions will get a leather-wrapped steering wheel, interior door sills with the M logo and a SensaTec upholstered front fascia.
For a surcharge, buyers can also get the M Sport suspension, which is standard on the M40i modification, in addition, adaptive M active dampers can be ordered. Four-piston M Sport brake calipers are painted blue, and an optional exhaust adds sound tuning options and tailpipes in black chrome.
Recall that Russian dealers have already started accepting orders for. The starting price of the crossover will be 2,950,000 rubles for the xDrive20i modification. The top M40i with a 360 hp power unit. will cost 4,040,000 rubles. For Russia, the novelty will be assembled in Kaliningrad.
The BMW M Performance service area is expanding: following the release of these parts for the BMW X4 and X6 crossovers, as well as for the recently launched 2-Series coupe, the updated crossover also received its portion of M Performance parts. Modification xDrive35i flaunts a stylish update, but without changes in the internal content. An interesting feature of the factory styling was the use of several details "from the outside." Next up is the BMW X3 xDrive35i M Performance.
Upon external inspection of the crossover, you immediately notice the appearance in the trim of the corporate colors of the M division: they are complemented by the vertical bars of the radiator grille, the BMW nameplate on the front fender and aluminum inserts in the thresholds. The appearance of the BMW X3 M Performance is defined by stylish alloy wheels, a contrasting two-tone paint job with a black roof and similar inserts in the door mirror caps.
As for the details from the outside, we are talking about a completely different front bumper, prepared by the Aplina tuning studio. Also, a third-party manufacturer and shiny chrome tailpipes: they flaunt the inscription Kelleners. The interior features elegant leather seats with contrasting stitching, a sports steering wheel and pedals. The fact that this BMW X3 belongs to the M Performance division reinforces the special decor package.
The engine under the hood of the BMW X3 xDrive35i M Performance has not changed - it is a stock 3.0-liter turbo V6 that develops 300 hp. and paired with an eight-speed automatic. The all-wheel-drive Bavarian compact crossover sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds – similar to the BMW xDrive 35i without M Performance parts. The price of the BMW X3 with M Performance Parts varies by option and country.
Photo BMW X3 xDrive35i M Performance
The BMW X3M is the most powerful SUV among the X3s.
BMW has not only shown what the third-generation X3 crossover model will look like, but very soon it will start selling the new product in all the main car markets on the planet. It's time for a powerful M-version of the urban off-road vehicle, which will soon appear on the market, following the civilian model.
How does the BMW X3M differ from other charged versions of compact crossovers based on the X3? Including a charged version of the SUV, the sale of which has already begun, X3 M40i. 
According to the assurances of the automaker itself, the X3M promises to become an analogue of the real “M” version of the BMW third series model among luxurious, luxury crossovers.
Translated from the language of BMW marketers into a universal language, this means that maximum performance, handling, sportiness, along with spaciousness, are provided to this car. In addition to the above benefits, the engineers from Bavaria say that this crossover will weigh less than its closest competitors, which will further improve its handling in the class.
Photo spies managed to get close enough to the camouflaged X3M prototype during testing and took several photos both outside and, for the first time, inside the interior.
In connection with this new incoming data, several additional questions can be answered that were previously shrouded in pitch darkness.
Will this crossover look different than other X3s?
If you mean, can you recognize the “M” version among the regular X3s, the answer is yes, of course you can! If the question involves looking for a model among other X3s with an “M Sport” body kit, including the X3 M40i, then we'd say finding the most powerful model is harder once you pay attention to the details.
Modern "M" models these days are getting a more subtle approach to styling, making it difficult to distinguish one version from another. A fashionable body kit (bumpers and side skirts) is available even for regular versions of the X3, it won’t tell you anything specific. Additional clues - the X3M has quad exhaust pipes, bespoke large wheels, blue painted brake calipers, and the "M" version is additionally painted in a special "sporty" color scheme.
Unfortunately, many of the distinctive elements are simply not visible on the prototype, but nevertheless, you know, they are there. 
The BMW M uses the same styling principles in its interior as well, with a revised “M Sport” kit ready to show off new details here and there. As you can see in the pictures, compared to the X3 M40i, the main difference of the more powerful new item is the new M-shifter in the style of an inverted "L" with red accents, which also continues on the adjacent suspension change buttons and other control buttons. All this can be found in the new M5. 
Aside from the digital instrument cluster, we suspect BMW will give the new X3M sporty crossover a red start button, just like on the M5.
M3 in the guise of an SUV
Dealt with appearance. Particularly big changes BMW decided not to carry out for its new crossover. The more interesting! But where are the most significant changes hidden? The answer is obvious - under the hood. There we'll find the next iteration of BMW's high-performance 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbocharged engine.
The code name for the product is S58, but in fact it is based on a variant of the B58 engine, which in turn is installed on the X3 M40i model where the engine makes 355 hp. (360 PS) and 500 Nm of torque. The upgraded block, which will be used in the next versions of the M3 and M4 models in addition to the crossover, will develop a minimum of 460 horsepower in the novelty. 
Paired with a standard 8-speed automatic transmission and a specially tuned xDrive all-wheel drive system based on the distribution of torque mainly to the rear axle, the X3M should be able to accelerate from zero to 100 km / h in 4 seconds. By comparison, the new X3 M40i does this exercise in 4.8 seconds.
Top speed will likely be electronically limited to 155 mph or 250 km/h, but some markets may get an optional performance package that will increase speed to around 170 mph or 275 km/h.
To improve handling, the X3 M will get a modified double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension, as well as larger diameter wheels (possibly 21 inches) and a high-performance braking system with heavy-duty brake discs. Electronic driving assistants and modes will also be upgraded by BMW M-Performance engineers.
When will it be available for purchase?
We don't have a specific launch date at this time, but BMW is expected to begin production of the X3 M at its North American plant in Spartanburg, SC in the second half of the year. In any case, the minimum cost of the model is clear – $70,000.
What if I can't wait for X3M?
Well, lucky for you, there are plenty of options in the premium high-performance compact crossover segment. For starters, if 355 hp. and the dynamics of acceleration from 0 to 100 km per hour in 4.8 seconds sound tempting - X3 M40i is your choice worth 4.180.000 rubles!
If you are in dire need of more horses or you do not like the style of BMW, you can look at other competitors, it is a pity that not all of them are available on the Russian market:
- Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifolgio 505 hp
- Porsche Macan Turbo 400 hp and Macan Turbo w/Performance Package with 440 hp
- In a couple of months, Mercedes will present the AMG GLC 63 AT 469 hp. and GLC 63 S for 503 hp.
