BMW’s next generation X3 was spotted by our spy photographers hitching a ride on a transporter late last month, but this time it’s been spied getting in some road miles of its own.
Make that they’ve been getting in some road miles. Last time out we got a look at one single example of the SUV in what appeared to be M Sport trim. But this time there were two for our photographers to train their lenses on. One had big wheels and M-Sport brake calipers, while the other was fitted with regular stoppers and smaller rims.
Confusingly the bumpers of the two versions appeared to be identical, but then both X3 prototypes were wearing not just a swirly vinyl wrap disguise but physical camouflage panels over the top of the fenders, doors and bumpers so it’s difficult to draw any firm conclusions there, though we know from decades of BMW spotting that the sportier variants will get more aggressive plastic bits all around.
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The next combustion-powered X3 seen here is believed to be sticking with the older CLAR platform while the iX3 EV will switch to the firm’s new Neue Klasse architecture that’s designed to work with EV powertrains.
BMW has already shown a couple of Neue Klasse sedan concepts to prepare us for how radically different the first 3-Series to take that platform will look, but it seems like the ICE X3 is sticking to a more familiar design theme. Its overall proportions are the same as those of the current car, the only modern touches we can spot being the flush door handles already seen on its X1 little brother. It also looks like the rear LED signature is very similar to the one seen on current X3s.
We can’t get a clear look inside either SUV but we know from previous sightings that both will be rocking a version of BMW’s latest curved digital dashboard display that combines a digital instrument pack and infotainment touchscreen under one massive slab of glass. And under the bonnet we can expect a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with hybrid assistance to power most models, though BMW should still offer six-pot muscle in M versions.
