German Engineering At Its Best

For a company that was founded on building high-end luxury sports cars, it’s surprising to discover that for every three cars that leave the BMW factory, one of them is an ‘X’ version.

- Robert Stedman

BMW’s X models are the company’s line of SUVs and crossovers – or what BMW refers to as Sports Activity Vehicles. Whatever you like to call them, BMW’s engineers and designers are throwing their best efforts into getting the X series perfected. The new version of the X3 is a big step up from the first, which was really not well thought out as a high-end SUV. However, the latest X3 is a totally different story.

Still, BMW’s new X3 has to go up against some stiff opposition – Mercedes GLC for comfort, Audi Q5 for refinement, Jaguar F-Pace for handling and space, and Porsche Macan for all-round chassis excellence and stunning good looks.

The latest model of the X3 has gotten a bit bigger; in fact, it is slightly larger than the first-generation X5. Its larger size makes it a little more difficult to maneuver in the city or when nipping around country roads, but on the highway, this SUV moves like greased lightning.

The new X3 uses an adapted version of BMW’s latest straight lineengine and components set. That makes it a more modern platform than the BMW 3 Series. New construction techniques have allowed BMW engineers to shave away about 55kg, despite the bigger vehicle size. The X3 buyer also has access to some very advanced electronics systems. It’s safe to say that the X3 is one of the most sophisticated SUVs out there today. There are so many electronic features like forward, rear and side sensing, self-parking assistance and lane awareness control on the X3.

With all these gadgets you’ll soon realize where it’s all heading – a self-driving vehicle. BMW has made another departure too: They have added a petrol engine to the lineup. It seems that petrol, not diesel, is the way forward, at least in the near future.

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