BMW has been spied testing the facelifted X3 in M40i guise and while it will only receive some minor modifications, they should be enough to keep shoppers interested in the SUV. This particular prototype features camouflage across both the front and rear fascias and despite BMW’s best attempts to hide some of the new design elements, we are provided a relatively good look at the refreshed X3.
The front of the facelifted X3 includes
new headlights with tweaked LED daytime running lights. In addition, our
eagle-eyed photographers note that the X3’s front kidney grille will go
relatively unchanged and will continue to feature vertical slats. By
comparison, a photo that shows the X3 LCI alongside a facelifted X4 reveals the
latter will have a diamond-pattern grille design.
Minor modifications will be made to the
rear of the X3 and can be expected to include new taillights with a distinctive
lighting signature. As this is an M40i variant, it is rocking a set of sporty
two-tone alloy wheels and has red brake calipers.
Few, if any, changes are likely to have
been made to the X3 M40i’s powertrain. As such, it will remain a 3.0-liter
turbocharged six-cylinder that pumps out 382 HP between 5,800 and 6,500 rpm,
while also churning out 495 Nm of torque between 1,520 and 4,800
rpm. A plethora of other variants will be offered in facelifted X3 form. These
should include the entry-level xDrive20i as well as the xDrive30i, sDrive30i, xDrive20d,
xDrive30d, M40d, and of course, the flagship X3 M and X3 M Competition models.
