These new pics from China show BMW’s facelifted 2022 X3 is looking forward to a bright future. The mid-sized SUV might have dropped its camouflage but from the look of that grille it’s now wearing a pair of sunglasses like some Hollywood actress trying to avoid the gaze of the paparazzi – that or Bavaria’s version of the ‘Thug Life’ meme. And once you’ve seen those glasses, you can’t unsee them.
It would be hard not to make out the shape of a pair of sunnies just from the outline of the new conjoined kidney grille. But the fact that those kidneys are filled with what looks like a pair of tinted lenses rather than BMW’s usual vertical grille vanes, only adds to the effect.
This burgundy car is wearing a smooth grille rather than a traditional slotted version because this is the all-electric iX3, which isn’t sold in the US, but is available in other markets like Europe and China. And this particular version is the Chinese-market Brilliance iX3 made locally by Brilliance and BMW.
But to all intents and purposes, this is the facelifted X3 we’ll be able to buy in Western dealerships this summer. We’ve already had a sneak look at the side of the refreshed car thanks to a leak by BMW Spain, but these pictures give us our first close-up of the revised grille, lights and bumpers.
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Chinese-market 2022 BMW X3 facelift or LCI
The grille doesn’t actually look much bigger, but removing the flash of body color between the kidneys has a dramatic effect on the presentation. And of course, while the iX3 seen here has a smooth grille, gasoline and diesel versions will get a more traditional slotted version.
The bumper of this M sport model swaps the gaping side air intakes of the old car for a shorter, wider central opening flanked by narrower, upright vents. Together they give the new X3 a sleeker, more raked appearance.
The updated rear of the electric 2022 BMW ix3 for China
And at the back there are new tinted light units, plus a re-profiled bumper and diffuser. The old car’s horizontal reflectors move from the body-colour section of the bumper to the black lower portion, there are some new (almost certainly fake) vertical vents beneath the lamp units, and the old circular tailpipes are squared off.
We’re still waiting to get a complete look at the interior, but while it’s likely to get a new gearshifter and an iDrive update, we’re not expecting to be dazzled by the changes.
Do you think this sunglasses grille is an improvement, or should BMW have gone full Jackie-O and given the SUV the same giant kidneys as the X7? Let us know in the comments.
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