2011 BMW X3 SUV Teased on Official Site

BMW has released the very first teaser shots of its next X3 SUV on its official website(s). Even though the 2011 X3 is due to make its public debut at this year's edition of the Paris Motor Show in early October, it is certain that BMW will publish a full set of photos and initial details of its new SUV model much earlier.

These pictures show the 2011 X3's more sculpted bonnet which is similar in styling to the the facelifted 3-Series and new 5-Series, as well as a sneak peak of the tail lights and the SUV's profile.

If you want to see more of the new X3, click here to check out a revealing walk-around video filmed by a Youtube user who found the SUV parked on the road. We'll update our story on the next generation X3 as soon as BMW comes out with something new.

Scoop Video: Up, Close and Personal with the 2011 BMW X3

For obvious reasons, unlike New York, a parked BMW dressed in swirly camouflage doesn't cause a bomb scare in Munich (click here to read about the NYC incident). So, instead of notifying the authorities, this Youtube user took out his camera and shot a two-and-a-half minute long video that walks us around the new 2011 BMW X3 crossover.

The video after the jump gives us a pretty good look of the Bavarian automaker's new crossover that appears to be more stylish as well as a bit bigger than the current X3.

A range of four- and six-cylinder diesel and petrol engines will be available on the new X3, ranging from a 2.0-litre four-banger to the firm's recently revised 3.0-litre turbocharged straight six turbo with 306HP. A new gasoline-electric hybrid powerplant may also be on the cards.

The second generation of the BMW X3 is expected to make its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in October.

Thanks for the tip Timo!

Camouflaged BMW X3 Prototype Sparks Bomb Scare at NY Museum

There's no such thing as bad publicity, as BMW intends to prove. After a variety of recent bomb scares, man-made catastrophes, and natural disasters worldwide, a cleverly oblivious test driver left an X3 prototype parked and running in front of the American Museum of Natural History...so he could go for a walk in the park, according to the New York Daily News.

The end result is just what one would expect: the bomb squad showing up Hurt Locker-style, busting in through the rear window, and making sure the swirly-wrapped SUV (sorry, SAV) was no longer a threat. Oh, and now everyone's talking about BMW. Word of mouth is the best marketing, after all.

Driver Martin Birkmann explained, "It's a misunderstanding...I was test-driving it." Clearly you were NOT, sir; bomb squads don't show up to defuse cars when people are driving them...nor are tickets for idling issued.

The second-generation X3 debuts later this year. Thankfully, Mr. Birkmann didn't have any scores to settle with museums and the prototype was not deemed a threat. Whether or not it will be a threat to the X5's or X1's sales, however, is yet to be determined.

By Phil Alex

Via: NY Daily News

Thanks a lot, X6: BMW is Contemplating a Smaller X4 Crossover

Could a smaller Sport Activity Coupe (SAC) be coming from BMW? According to Autocar, the answer is "yes". Fans of the X6 should be pleased. Everyone else? Sorry.

Said to be called the X4, it would be to the X3 what the X6 is to the X5: a four-door, four seat coupe-ish thing based more around style than functionality.

Considering that the X4 would share the X3's platform, expect similar power trains to the X3. That means the most recent versions of BMW's inline-sixes: naturally aspirated, turbo'd, and (hopefully) diesel.

The fact that this is being discussed begs the question: with the X4 a possibility (due to the "success" of the X6), could an X1-based X2 coupe be far behind, and if yes, what are your thoughts? Have your say in the comments section below.

By Phil Alex

*All photos: BMW X6

Bavarian Cops Testing BMW X3 Police Car

The Bavarian State Police has begun testing a prototype version of the BMW X3 fitted with all the necessary equipment to patrol the German highways. The all-wheel drive X3 police car is powered by a 218HP turbocharged six-cylinder diesel engine and comes equipped with more LED lights than a Las Vegas Christmas tree show. You can check out the rest of the pictures right after the jump.

VIDEO: All-New 2011 BMW X3 Spied with Less Camoluflage

With the European market launch of the new X1 small SUV, BMW is now rushing the second-generation of its larger X3 SUV towards production.

Spied here testing on the streets of Germany, the video reveals that the new X3 gets a more sloping front hood and larger front air intakes, while the crossover's profile is cleaner and resembles the crossover's smaller brethren.

It also appears that the new X3's dimensions have grown a bit allowing some breathing distance between itself and the X1.

Based on the next 3-Series platform architecture, the new X3 will come with all-wheel drive, though it is possible that the Bavarian automaker may also offer rear-wheel drive only variants of the compact SUV.

Depending on the market, engine options will include four- and six-cylinder diesel and gasoline units topping out with the 306HP 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six petrol. A new hybrid version is also expected to be on offer.

The new X3 will be produced alongside the X5 and X6 models at BMW's Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, with sales expected to start in 2011.

Video via: Bimmerpost