Geneva Live: 2015 BMW X3 (facelift) unveiled

04/03/2014 - 20:53 BMW X3, BMW, 2014 Geneva Motor Show Karthik H

BMW has unveiled the facelifted X3 at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. It is distinguished by new bumpers, a revised grille and redesigned headlamps. The crossover also gets new exterior colors, redesigned mirrors and restyled alloy wheels.

The SUV also sees the debut of an all-new 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine along with a new generation of all-aluminium 2.0-liter diesel engines. A total of four petrol models and four diesel models are available on the X3.

First up are the xDrive18d and xDrive20d that are powered by the new generation turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel engines. On the xDrive18d, the engine makes 150 hp at 4,000 rpm and peak torque of 360 Nm between 1,500 and 2,250 rpm, while on the xDrive20d, the same engine makes 190 hp at 4,000 rpm and peak torque of 400 Nm between 1,750 and 2,250 rpm.

Both models get a 6-speed manual transmission as standard while an 8-speed automatic gearbox is offered as an option.

The X3 in its xDrive30d avatar is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder diesel engine that produces 258 hp at 4,000 rpm and peak torque of 560 Nm between 1,500 and 3,000 rpm. The same engine produces 313 hp for the range-topping xDrive35d at 4,000 rpm and peak torque of 630 Nm between 1,500 and 2,000 rpm.

Both models get an 8-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

Coming to the petrol models, the base sDrive20i and the xDrive20i are powered by the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder twin turbo petrol engines that make 184 hp between 5,000 and 6,250 rpm and peak torque of 270 Nm between 1,250 and 4,500 rpm. The base xDrive20i gets a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard, with an 8-speed automatic offered as an option, while the xDrive20i gets the 8-speed box as standard.

The same 2.0-liter twinturbo four-cylinder petrol engine powers xDrive28i where it produces 245 hp between 5,000 and 6,000 rpm with peak torque of 350 Nm between 1,250 and 4,800 rpm. The top-end xDrive35i gets a 3.0-liter twinturbo six-cylinder petrol engine that makes 306 hp between 5,800 and 6,400 rpm and peak torque of 400 Nm between 1,200 and 5,000 rpm.

Both models get the 8-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

The X3 measures 4,657 mm in length, 1,881 mm in width, 1,678 mm in height and gets a wheelbase of 2,810 mm.

BMW India assembles the X3 at its Chennai plant and we see them continuing the same production strategy when the facelift enters India perhaps in the second half of the year.