PIMS 2014: BMW Unveils Their First Ever X4 And Facelifted X3 (With Complete Specifications)

Asian Carmakers Corporation has been releasing a plethora of vehicles this year, notably the BMW 4 Series Coupe and Gran Coupe, facelifted 5 Series Sedan, the all-new BMW X5, and last weekend at the Philippine International Motor Show, they unveiled two compact crossover SUVs. The facelifted BMW X3 and the all-new BMW X4.

BMW X3

Let’s start off with the refreshed BMW X3. The BMW X3 is BMW’s answer to the customer’s desire for a compact crossover that offers an unparalleled level of athleticism, only outmatched by the newly-released Porsche Macan. To the untrained eye, the BMW X3 looks almost exactly like the pre-facelift model, but BMW fans will easily spot the redesigned front and rear bumpers, and the new pair of Bi-Xenon HID headlamp design, which are now incorporated with the X3’s larger pair of kidney grilles, now a trademark BMW design language.

Inside, the BMW X3 almost remains unchanged, except for the addition of a few chrome and piano black trim along the cabin, which are incorporated with some of the wood trim inside the as well. An updated BMW iDrive system with a newer graphical user interface rounds up the interior updates of the BMW X3.

Part of BMW’s “Lines” customisation program, the BMW X3 can now be purchased with the xLine design package, which includes a set of satinated roof rails, tailpipes, and window surrounds, a set of aluminum air inlets, front & rear bumper garnish, kidney grille, and side sill covers. The xLine also adds the high-gloss black B and C-pillar design elements for a classier finish.

The BMW X3 is powered by a BA7D20 2.0 liter diesel engine in two different states of tune. In the X3 sDrive 18d, the engine produces 148 hp @ 4,000 rpm and 360 Nm of torque @ 1500-2250 rpm. On the other hand, the X3 xDrive 20d xLine’s engine produces 188 hp @ 4,000 rpm and 400 Nm of torque @ 1,750-2250 rpm. Power is distributed either to the rear wheels in the sDrive model, or all 4 wheels in the xDrive model, both of which are mated exclusively to a ZF 8-Speed Automatic Transmission.

BMW X4

The true star of the BMW booth at the Philippine International Motor Show is the BMW X4, the sportier and more sensual version of the BMW X3. The BMW X4 is the vehicle for customers who want the coupe design of the BMW X6, but prefers the more compact dimensions of a BMW X3. Whenever it comes to building vehicles that fill every possible niche in the market, you certainly can never go wrong with the German brands, especially BMW.

Up front, it really looks very similar to the X3, but from the A-pillar onwards, the X4 sets itself apart through a smaller ride height, a more rakish A-pillar, and of course, who would ignore the coupe-like sloping roofline of the BMW X4? It’s immediately the most noticeable difference from the BMW X3. The M Sport variant on display adds a set of sportier 19 inch alloy wheels, a more aggressive body design, and a sports suspension set up in order to improve handling.

Inside, the BMW X4’s cockpit seems to look very similar to the X3’s. The center stack and iDrive display remains almost unchanged, even the shape of the whole dashboard. What is noticeable though is the lower sitting position for all occupants in the BMW X4, giving it a sense of sportiness to the car’s occupants. The BMW iDrive in the BMW X4 is the latest version that includes a touch pad on top of the iDrive controller, making address and telephone inputs easier. Navigation is also equipped as standard in the xDrive 30d M Sport variant.

The BMW X4 is powered by a pair of diesel engines. For the X4 xDrive 20d, it is powered by the same 2.0 liter diesel engine from the X3, producing 188 hp @ 4,000 rpm and 400 Nm of torque @ 1750-2250 rpm. The X4 xDrive 30d M Sport, meanwhile, is the model to go for. It is powered by an N57D30 3.0 liter TwinPower Turbo diesel engine, producing 256 hp @ 4,000 rpm and a whopping 560 Nm of torque @ 1,500-3,000 rpm. Both are mated to a ZF 8-Speed Automatic Transmission through BMW’s xDrive AWD system.

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