NEW BMW X3

BMW India has been moving from strength to strength and after having started with a small production run in their first year, the plant in Chennai is already being scaled up to handle 10,000 units this year. It isn’t just luck or a strong brand following that has lead to this phenomenal growth; for a lot of the credit goes to strategic planning and product roll out. BMW India has kept the momentum going by keeping a steady pace of new introductions to the market and the latest to join the bandwagon is the BMW X3, which promises to take the game a couple of notches higher in the premium small SUV category.

The last time that BMW brought in the X3, it didn’t really cut the market for it was too boxy, the rear was not very inspiring and on the whole it didn’t look proportionate. It also looked too narrow for a BMW and it didn’t have that inspirational touch that gave you the notion of power, speed and handling. The BMW X3really didn’t cut it in terms of looks and despite the fact that it was well appointed on the inside, it didn’t find any space in the Indian automobile market.  Not ready to accept defeat, BMW India pulled the plug on the X3 and decided to wait for the 2011 edition as this new version surely had incorporated those missing elements.

They were right. Waiting for the new X3 is a gamble that is destined to reap rewards. The new BMW X3 is a stunner. It borrows a lot of its design cues from its larger sibling, namely the X5, however the designers have managed to stretch the sheet metal and carve a well proportioned, stylish SUV that boasts of the quintessential BMW genes. It has a strong muscular stance, sits well on its wheels and has a wide purposeful sporty look. The chiseled bodyline, BMW kidney grille, large 17-inch wheels and the signature BMW headlights all come together to create the perfect picture. Then there is the rear. Luckily, designers at BMW didn’t look at a cardboard box for inspiration this time around, and have sculpted the rear along the lines of the X5s back end. It’s got curves, some chiseled edges and a neat taillight cluster which works well with the rest of the vehicle’s design and sums up the picture quite well.

The interiors are typical BMW in terms of offering high quality materials, an impeccable fit and finish and a host of gizmos and gadgetry. The dash is well crafted and finished in a two tone look that is separated by a wooden insert. Apart from the driver information console that also houses the multifunctional display unit, the X3 also comes with the state of the art iDrive infotainment system. An asymmetric centre console hints at this being a driver’s car, like most BMWs, and the overall feel of the interiors stays in line with the brand’s philosophy. The 8.8-inch high-resolution screen of the iDrive featured in the new BMW X3 also happens to be the largest on-board monitor in its segment.