BMW announces the X3 & X4 facelift

Following the appearance of the refreshed BMW X3 on Chinese patent pics around a month ago and an official teaser posted shortly after that, the Bavarian automaker has finally unveiled the new X3 and X4 together with their M counterparts.

The headlights become slimmer, the nostril grille now looks more like a single unit, the taillight patterns have been revised, and new finish options have been added to the catalog. Both bumpers and the wheel, which still come in sizes from 19 to 21 inches, have been revised, too.

The 10.25-inch central display and the 12.3-inch digital dashboard stay the same, but drivers now benefit from an assist package called Professional. It is essentially an active cruise control system capable of accelerating, decelerating and providing steering assistance.

In Germany, all modifications will ship with 48V electric starters. The diesel lineup received these back in 2020, but the gasoline engines only follow suit now. Power ratings vary from 184 to 360 metric horsepower (181 – 355 hp; 135 – 265 kW).

The X3 M and the X4 M are gone from the German market. The Competition spec with its 3.0-liter six-pot turbo remains on offer and keeps its usual 510 PS (503 hp / 375 kW) while raising torque from 600 to 650 Nm (443 to 4789 lb-ft). This puts it on par with the M3 and M4. As a result, the Competition SUVs now sprint 0.3s faster than before (0-100 km/h in 3.8s). Opting for the M Driver’s Package lifts the speed limiter from 250 km/h (155 mph) to 285 km/h (177 mph).

The full-fledged live premiere is expected at the Chengdu Auto show in August and the IAA Mobility 2021 in September. Pre-orders should open in late summer.