2025 BMW X3 (G45) will premiere at the end of the year, can it land in Malaysia next year?

Recently, the brand new generation of BMW X3 was officially launched. As a replacement model (fourth generation) with body code G45, the car has undergone significant upgrades in terms of appearance, size, interior, intelligence, and power systems. Various power systems including gasoline, plug-in hybrid and diesel will be available, with the power of the gasoline version improved and all equipped with a 48V mild hybrid system. According to the official statement, the brand new BMW X3 plans to go on sale first in Europe and North America in the fourth quarter of 2024, and then gradually go on sale worldwide from 2025. The right-hand drive model is expected to debut in Thailand in 2025.

Let's take a brief look at the past generations of BMW X3 (2003-2024)

First Generation BMWX3 xDrive30i (E83)

Before talking about the brand new BMW X3, let's take a look at the past generations of BMW X3. The first generation of BMW X3 was born in 2003. It was the second SUV issued by BMW (the first SUV was the BMW X5, launched in 1999), and it was also the first model equipped with the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system, which pioneered the luxury midsize SUV segment.

Second Generation BMW X3 (F25)

The second-generation BMW X3 was launched in 2010. It was equipped with BMW's latest inline six-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine and ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. The  0-100km/h acceleration time was 5.7 seconds, and it significantly upgrading the driving fun and won numerous awards, including the design field's "Red Dot Award"; "2021 Best Car Award", "Off-Roader of the Year" and "Most Valuable Compact SUV".

Third Generation BMW X3 xDrive M40i (G01)

The third-generation BMW X3 was launched in 2017, it retained the original design and driving enjoyment. Moreover, for the first time, the third generation BMW X3 introduced the M high-performance model, attracting many performance enthusiasts.

2023 BMWX3 xDrive30i M series

Since its inception in 21 years, the BMW X3 has sold over 3.5 million units worldwide, with the third-generation BMW X3 being the best-selling. At the same time, the BMW X3 is also the best-selling SUV model of BMW, which shows the important position of BMW X3 in the BMW brand. Every time it changes, it can set off a wave of enthusiasm and lead the market trend. So can the latest fourth-generation BMW X3 continue this glory? Let's take a look together.

Highlights of the all-new BMW X3 exterior

In terms of appearance, the all-new BMW X3 has undergone a radical change. It switched to the latest family-style design style, inheriting classics while integrating elements of the new era trend. For instance, BMW's signature "double kidney" grille is inherited and continued, but its size is larger and internal shape is more dynamic, just like other BMW models. The grille panel is filled with vertical and diagonal lines to create a visual effect of geometric space. At the same time, it is also equipped with a ring-shaped luminous grille which, when lit, is more recognizable and also quite reminiscent of a new energy vehicle style.

In addition to the grating style, BMW's upgrade focus, the design of the two sides of the headlight group has also become the focus of consumers. The new BMW X3 uses a double "L" shape daytime running light, which is similar to the mid-term modified model of the previous generation BMW 5 Series.

Overall, the new BMW X3 front face is more stereoscopic and heavy, also it looks more upscale and atmospheric, with a strong new energy vehicle style. And the current model, the front of the car is more flat and low, the lines are also more abundant, showing a strong sense of movement.

On the side, the new BMW X3 adopts a more simple design, the wheel arches are integrated with the body, the window silhouette line slightly rises in the rear door area, creating a stronger sense of motion visually. At the same time, it also adopts a semi-hidden door handle design that is similar to the style of Xiaomi SU7. It also replaces a new style wheel hub, standard 19-inch alloy wheels, and offers 20-inch and 21-inch options, enhancing recognition and freshness.

The rear design is also very simple. It is equipped with a new style of tail lamp group. The double L-shaped light band echoes the front headlights, but doesn't have as significant three-dimensional feel as the current model. A spoiler is equipped on the top of the car, and the central horizontal bar creates a similar feeling to a small ducktail, enhancing the visual width of the rear of the car. In addition, aside from the M50 xDrive model, which uses a four-outlet exhaust on both sides, other versions all adopt hidden exhaust design, making them look more like new energy vehicles. The new vehicle can optionally be equipped with trailer qualification, with a maximum towing load of 2500 kg.

It is worth mentioning that the all-new BMW X3 has taken into account aerodynamic design in its styling. Its drag coefficient is only 0.27Cd, for comparison, the current BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC all have a drag coefficient of 0.29Cd, and the Audi Q5 has a drag coefficient of 0.30Cd.

In terms of body size, the all-new BMW X3 has a length, width, and height of 4755/1920/1660mm respectively, and a wheelbase of 2865mm. Compared to the current model, the body length has increased by 34mm, the width by 29mm, the height has decreased by 25mm, and the wheelbase has increased by 1mm.

The interior uses a dual-screen layout

The interior is also brand new. It adopts the latest family-style design language, and is equipped with a one-piece floating curved screen composed of a 12.3-inch digital instrument and a 14.9-inch central control display, using a hidden air conditioning outlet design. At the same time, the steering wheel also adopts a new design, with a standard version offering a dual-spoke design, while the M Sport version is a three-spoke design, and a small size shift paddle has been replaced.

In addition to the new design, the materials have also been upgraded. The new interior material is used for wrapping, and a strong sense of wrapping is created by the atmosphere light decoration strip decorated with crystals at the central control area and door positions. The control buttons on the door panel are replaced with touch controls to enhance the texture.

In terms of configuration, the all-new BMW X3 will be equipped with the 9th generation BMW iDrive operating system, and it supports QuickSelect, voice control, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto mobile phone interconnection mapping, online navigation and other functions. At the same time, it will also be equipped with ambient lighting, wireless mobile phone charging, Harman Kardon audio, front seat electrification, heating, ventilation, memory function and rear seat heating.

Offer petrol, plug-in hybrid and diesel power options

In terms of power, the all-new BMW X3 will offer a variety of power combinations such as gasoline, hybrid and diesel in overseas markets. Among them, the fuel version is equipped with a 2.0T four-cylinder engine and is equipped with a 48V light-mixing system, which is tuned for high and low power, with a maximum power of 208 horsepower for 20 xDrive. The 30 xDrive has a maximum power of 259 horsepower, which is an improvement over the current model. The transmission system matches the 8-speed manual-automatic gearbox, and the latter accelerates to 100 km/h in 6 seconds.

Meanwhile, the M50 xDrive is equipped with a 3.0T inline six-cylinder engine and a 48V light-hybrid system, with a maximum power of 398 horsepower. The 0-100km/h acceleration time is 4.6 seconds, and the top speed limit is 250km/h. Additionally, it is equipped with adaptive M Sport suspension, variable sport steering, and M Sport rear differential and other functions. This model is equivalent to the current M40i.

As for the plug-in hybrid version, it uses a combination of a 2.0T engine and an electric motor, with a maximum system power of 299 horsepower and a peak torque of 450 Nm. It will also be equipped with a 19.7 kWh battery pack, providing a pure electric range of 81-90km (WLTP).

The innovative design of the all-new BMW X3 has drawn significant attention in the Southeast Asian market. Especially for key right-hand-drive vehicle markets like Thailand, the plan to introduce the localized version in 2025 has sparked the enthusiasm of potential buyers.

The all-new X3 xDrive30i's 259-horsepower power output has outperformed the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 (258 horsepower) in the same class. Its 48V mild hybrid system can provide an additional 14-horsepower assist during start-stop phases. In congested traffic conditions, the vehicle's fuel consumption is only 9.2 L/100 km, an 11% reduction compared to the previous generation. The M50 xDrive model can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds, setting a performance record in its class.

The 9th-generation iDrive system will integrate real-time traffic conditions of Southeast Asian maps for the first time and support the recognition of mixed voice commands in Thai and Malay. It's worth noting that the connection stability of the wireless Apple CarPlay function under the local operator's network has been improved by 40% compared to the European version, solving the pain point of frequent disconnections for previous users. The 14.9-inch central control screen has a new high-temperature mode, which automatically switches to a high-contrast display solution in direct sunlight.

According to BMW Thailand’s sales director, the plug-in hybrid version of the X3 will target the corporate customers, taking advantage of the Thai government's tax exemption policy for plug-in hybrid vehicles. The gasoline version, on the other hand, focuses on private users and offers a five-year free maintenance package. Intriguingly, although the ground clearance of the new vehicle has been increased to 201 mm, it still lags behind the 210 mm of its main competitor, the Lexus NX. This may be the main reason why it doesn't emphasize off-road performance.

Conclusion

Overall, the new BMW X3's upgrades in size, intelligence, and power are relatively easy to perceive, which can enhance its market competitiveness. However, the design of the appearance and interior varies from person to person, as design itself is a subjective art, and everyone's aesthetic concept is different.

In recent years, whether ordinary brands or luxury brands, their products seek to innovate and break through in the design of appearance and interior when they are replaced. However, they often exert too much force, and the effect is counterproductive, and the market feedback is far from expected. Therefore, the replacement of models faces great risks. As for whether the new generation BMW X3 can further consolidate its market position, this can only be left to the market and time to answer. We can only look forward to the arrival of its right-hand drive models and expect more surprises.