谍照记者最近在美国拍的了正在测试的2017款宝马X3 M40i。从照片看，宝马正在打造全新后驱SAV车型，新车比老款车略大以便扩大X3与X1之间的距离。不过，由于新车采用了CLAR平台，因此车重不但不会增加，反而会降低100公斤。这辆早期原型车采用了临时前大灯，连车身面板很可能都与最终量产版不同。该车采用的双排气尾管取自X4 M40i，同时其搭载的引擎也来自这款车。在X4 M40i上，这台3.0升直列六缸涡轮增压引擎功率265千瓦/355马力，扭矩465牛米，预计在X3 M40i上功率和扭矩也将保持这一水平。至于性能，预计该车百公里加速时间在4.6-4.7秒，而X4 M40i为4.9秒，最高时速仍为250公里。除了引擎，该车很可能还增加一款长轴距版，这款车很可能仅供中国市场。宝马已经宣布将在美国南卡罗莱纳州和南非Rosslyn生产新一代X3。宝马可能在今年10月巴黎车展或明年1月初的北美车展发布全新X3。

 

2017 BMW X3 M40i spied in United States

Spy photos reveal BMW has commenced testing in United States of a hot M40i version for the third-generation X3 (G01).

 

As the attached spy images show, BMW is making its brand new rear-wheel-drive Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) a little bit bigger to distance it from the now larger front-wheel-drive X1. That won’t bring a weight penalty because the new X3 will ride on the CLAR platform and this is expected to come with a weight loss of around 220 pounds (100 kilograms). Seen here is an early prototype of the warm M40i model featuring provisional lighting clusters and most likely not all the body panels are final.

 

Those dual black exhaust tips are essentially sourced from the X4 M40i from where the hot X3 will borrow the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine. The motor is rated at 355 horsepower (265 kilowatts) and 343 pound-feet (465 newton meters) of torque in the X4 M40i and chances are these output figures will remain the same on the X3 M40i.

 

In terms of performance, the performance SAV will probably run the sprint to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) in 4.6 - 4.7 seconds taking into account the heavier X4 M40i needs 4.9 for the task. We expect the top speed to be electronically capped as usual at 155 mph (250 kph).

 

Another derivative on the agenda is a long wheelbase model, but that one could end up being sold exclusively in China where rear legroom is very important for customers, regardless of segment.

 

BMW has already announced the next X3 will be built not only at the Spartanburg factory in South Carolina, United States, but also at the Rosslyn assembly plant in South Africa.

It remains to be seen when BMW will show the all-new X3, either in October at the Paris Motor Show or in January 2017 at the North American International Auto Show.