BMW has tinkered with the hottest variant of the X3 - do uprated looks and improved torque help the model stand out in a competitive performance SUV market?
, which has a lower rotating mass, meaning the engine should rev more freely. Additional cooling is taken care of in this facelifted model thanks to an extra engine oil radiator and a separate one for the transmission.
Visual changes on the outside run to larger kidney grilles , but the most striking aspect is the new “vertically arranged and elongated side air intakes”. I wouldn’t say they’re a pretty addition, but they certainly increase the aggression. Even without the standard sports exhaust , people are going to notice you.
Inside, Android Auto now works with the X3’s operating system and the carbonfibre trim is standard. Anything that reduces the amount of piano-black plastic on display can only be a bonus. One thing: you will know if you’re in the facelifted X3 M by where the starter button is. Next to the gearlever? That will be the latest version.The twin M buttons remain on the steering wheel, so you can configure everything from the throttle response to the steering weight, suspension and stability control, with three settings in each. It’s a good job there are the configurable M switches, otherwise the vast majority of every journey would be spent setting the car up.
Like the previous version, the X3 M is still an impressively fast machine. I can’t say that I noticed the quicker 0-62mph time, but it’s reactive and focused in all the ways that you would want it to be.