New BMW X3 (2011): Official

The 2011 BMW X3 - Official

BMW has released details of the 2011 BMW X3 ahead of its debut at the Paris Motor Show. Includes prices and photo gallery.

When even BMW were releasing ‘Spy’ shots of the 2011 BMW X3 it was a fair bet that the real deal was not a million miles away. And nor was it. BMW has spilled all the official info on the new iteration of its middle sized SAV /softroader.

This 2011 BMW X3 isn’t a radical style departure for BMW, more a nip, a tuck, a tweak and a bit bigger. BMW say the new X3 will be “…the lowest-emission four-wheel drive model in the sector, the first to have start-stop with auto transmission, unparalleled agility, significantly upgraded cabin and a raft of sector-first technology“, which is setting the bar quite high.

In terms of style BMW seem to have taken cues from the X1 and X5 for the new X3. And taken a few lessons from the Porsche 911 school of car design. The new X3 is certainly evolutionary, not revolutionary.

The nose has a bigger, more upright kidney grill; there’s a defining crease down the side running from the front wheel to the rear; the lights front and back get a tweak and the increase in size – 78mm longer, 4mm wider and an extra 15mm in the wheelbase – has made for bigger back doors and a larger luggage capacity.

On the inside BMW say that the trim quality is now distinctly Premium, with everything on a par with the 3 Series. Which is very welcome, and much overdue. The interior also gets the latest generation iDrive, with 6.5-inch screen as standard. The 8.8-inch high-res screen of the SatNav in the Professional Multimedia package featured in the new BMW X3 is the largest on-board monitor in its segment. All good.

In terms of price, BMW are trumpeting the BMW X3 xDrive20d SE which at £30,490 is actually £115 cheaper than the old X3. BMW are also offering a set of upgrade packs at sensible money, such as the Business Advanced Media package at £2,165 which includes Business Nav (what’s ‘Business’ Nav?), Bluetooth telephone preparation with USB interface, voice control and telematics and BMW Assist.

There’s a whole heap of new BMW X3 photos below for your perusal and you may as well have a shufty at the 2011 BMW X3 press release for the nuts and bolts.

Looks much improved in all the right areas.