MUNICH: With China as the No. 1 auto market in the world, foreign car makers are bending over backwards to cater to the peculiarities of this country.
Doing China-only extended wheelbase models is a common way to appeal to customers in this nation of over 1.4 billion people.
BMW did it with the BMW 5 Series and i5 and added exclusive features to the cars last year.
There has never been a long wheelbase X3 - until now. Again, the bigger X3 is meant only for China offering more legroom and a particularly comfortable driving experience in the rear. BMW did not disclose the pricing in its press statement.
It comes with plenty of standard equipment and exclusive digital services for that market.
The new SUV is fitted with the BMW iDrive system based on the BMW Operating System 9 for Chinese customers.
The X3 is built at the Lydia plant in Shenyang, the newest plant of the BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) joint venture.
It has the largest dimensions in its class with an exterior length of 4,865mm and width of 1,920mm. The wheelbase is 110mm longer than global models, offering more space and comfort inside.
Design features include dynamic roofline, BMW Iconic Glow contour lighting on the kidney grille and 5 metallic paint finishes.
The interior is modern and luxurious with BMW Curved Display, Interaction Bar and standard Veganza comfort seats in 3 two-tone colours. Optional "Crafted Clarity" glass applications and panoramic glass roof with skylounge lighting add to the premium feel.
Under the bonnet is a 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol engine that's in two states of tune. Customers can either choose the 188hp/310Nm version or the 244hp/400Nm. Both versions get a 8-speed automatic and are all-wheel drive.
The new X3 was the best selling BMW model in the world before and accounted for 40% of all X models in China.
The new X3 for China is set to launch in early January 2025, and prices would be announced then.
BMW said that with its new design, more space and digitalisation, the fourth-generation X3 is expected to win over Chinese customers and keep its position in the biggest car market in the world.
