Remember when the X5 M and X6 M first debuted and everyone was like, “huh?”
The notion of putting the M badge, a sacrid nomenclature reserved only for the best performance laden cars at BMW, on two SUV’s was upsetting for some, confusing for others and blasphemy for M purists. But BMW shut us all up by essentially making the M SUV’s perform as if they were performance cars. It’s quite mind boggling, but BMW was able to do it.
Now it seems BMW would like to test their luck once again by introducing an M version of the newly redesigned X3. Currently, only an M package is available which is mostly stlying and suspension tweaks but the X3 M is expected to boost power output. Displacement is expect to go from 3.0 to 3.2 with a triturbo to go along with that inline six. Yes, you read that right, three turbos. There will be two exhaust driven units and one electric turbocharger. As a result horsepower is said to be in the 450 to 500 range.
Given the brilliantness of the X3’s bigger brothers that are injected with M blood, I think it’s safe to say that the new X3 M will not fail to deliver. No pricing has been announced yet, but expect a starting price of around $80K
[Car Magazine via Auto 123]
