2018 BMW X3 REVEALED, including 355bhp X3 M40i – in the UK November 2017

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The new BMW X3 has been revealed as BMW replace their best-selling SAV. Includes a new X3 M40i with 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds. Arrives in the UK November 2017.

Last week we revealed that the new BMW X3 would be revealed today and now, bang on time, the German firm has taken the wraps off its replacement for the best-selling X3 SAV (that’s BMW-speak for what everyone else calls an SUV).

With more than 1.5 million X3s sold so far, BMW has gone out of its way to make the new X3 look like a minor evolutionary design, so there’s no mistaking the new car for anything other than an X3.

Built on the new CLAR Platform (the same as the 5 Series), the new X3 grows in size but still manages to shed up to 55kgs from its weight, and the X3 now looks even more like a baby X5, with its new kidney grill and squared-off bonnet, and more curves than before.

To kick things off in the UK, it’ll be a starting point of the X3 xDrive 20d with a 187bhp diesel, xDrive 30d with the 262bhp diesel and the M Performance take on the new X3 – the X4 M40i – which gets 355bhp. Later additions will include a 20i and, at some point, a proper M model and a hybrid.

Entry-level trim will be the X3 SE with 18″ alloys, Climate, Leather and Sat Nav, and the next up the tree – the X3 xLine – will get butch additions to make it looks like a roughty-tufty X3 – with skid plates and butch bits, and the M Sport comes with sporty bits bolted on.

Inside, the X3 gets more grown-up, and looks quite a bit like the new 5 Series with improved material quality and plenty of tech, including (some optional) heads-up, bog panoramic glass roof, gesture control, Active Cruise, 12.3″ digital instrument display, 10.2″ infotainment.

The new BMW X3 will arrive in the UK in November 2017.