The redesigned BMW X3 will arrive at U.S. dealerships later this month and it will also have a starring role in the Rebelle Rally. The competition challenges teams to navigate the old fashioned way without smartphones or GPS. While that might not be too hard on short trips, the Rebelle Rally will see competitors travel 2,500 km across deserts in California and Nevada. Those aren’t exactly forgiving conditions, so the X3 M50 has been given an off-road focused makeover.
The updates are fairly limited, but the
premium crossover has been equipped with custom skid plates and Rotiform wheels
that are wrapped in Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires. They’re joined by a Front
Runner Slimline II roof rack, Wolfpack storage boxes, and auxiliary lights from
Rigid Industries. The X3 has also been ceramic coated and wears a satin paint
protection film.
The automaker didn’t release interior
pictures, but said the model has custom “storage solutions fabricated by BMW
Manufacturing Talent Factory students.” The team can also expect to find a BMW
Curved Display, although navigation is persona non grata. Like the standard
model, the modified X3 M50 has a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six and a 48V
mild hybrid system that sees an electric motor integrated into the eight-speed
automatic transmission. This setup gives the crossover 393 hp and 580 Nm of torque. That’s enough to allow the regular variant to
accelerate from 0-96 km/h in 4.4 seconds, before hitting a top speed
of up to 250 km/h.
The soft-roader will be driven by Rebelle
Rally veteran Rebecca Donaghe. She’ll be joined by navigator Syndiely Wade and
they’ll be competing in the X-Cross class.
