X3/X4 [Official] 2011 BMW X3

[Mr Robert]

Maybe it's because I paid a huge amount of money for my X1, but the new X3 has many X1 design elements in and out AND that brings the X1 more into the premium line of things IMO.

I think so too. The fact that this car looks a lot like the X1, especially from the rear, gives the X1 design credit. It was good enough for the X3 - the model I think will prove to be the best seling SUV in BMW's range.

 

[Sunny]

Looks much better here.

 

[Mr Robert]

Agreed, the front is by no means a weak spot for this model.

 

[Merc1]

The M-pack pics a while back loop pretty good too.


M

 

[VroomVroom]

Woow, its errr...

 

[Potential]

Woow, its errr...

Not an Audi? This car is conservative in every sense of the design language of Audi, which centers around conservatism. Reproach for one is a taint on the other, so it is either you just don't like BMW, which would solve a lot of problems instead as you pretend to be impartial to BMW and yet are reproachful to every recent model they produce. It could also simply be that your dissent is deeper in that you don't like the design direction of Audi? Which one is it?

 

[Centurion]

With the introduction of the X1 and this revamp of an old classic, I think BMW have overtaken MB in the quest for SUV dollars. They now inargubly have the strongest SUV lineup of any premium car maker, and I smell an X4 making it to your local BMW showroom if Land Rover is to successed in selling big volumes of the up coming LRX.

 

[Potential]

I think the BMW board will be very reluctant to go ahead with a niche model like the X4 with the current economic conditions and the continuing uncertainty in the world markets. Prudent management in minds eye would be investing strongly in making the bread and butter i.e. the 3 Series and to a lesser extent, the upcoming 1 Series, as 'perfect' as possible to maintain sales and profit. The 5 Series seems to have achieved this for BMW so far, but they shouldn't just leap into low volume, low profit niche models.

But I'm no economist so I'm sure they know what they're doing better than I do...

 

[Centurion]

I think the BMW board will be very reluctant to go ahead with a niche model like the X4 with the current economic conditions and the continuing uncertainty in the world markets. Prudent management in minds eye would be investing strongly in making the bread and butter i.e. the 3 Series and to a lesser extent, the upcoming 1 Series, as 'perfect' as possible to maintain sales and profit. The 5 Series seems to have achieved this for BMW so far, but they shouldn't just leap into low volume, low profit niche models.

But I'm no economist so I'm sure they know what they're doing better than I do...

A niche model would be an X7 in the size of the GL. The market for such a large people mover is limited to the US market. In Europe few people have the need for such a huge SUV. With the regards to the X4 they can play the wait and see game, enjoying the popcorn while the sales figures of the LRX tells them what to do.

Audi are trying their luck with the A5 sportsback which is in the same price bracket as the LRX. The auto industry is very much a "follow the leader market" where everyone will ape who ever is going things "right". BMW pushed out the X6 three years after the CLS, so I would be expecting an X5 next year. Naturally there will need to be some research made into the sustainability of these lifestyle products, especially along side successful models like the X3. I'd say an X4 based on the X3 is a better cash cow than a 3er GT.

 

[PHYBENZ]

Wow, looks like BMW went with the plastic trimmed A-pillar on the inside instead of having the cloth trim from the roof. . I fear the day MB does this, luckily they haven't yet, but looks like BMW caved into some cost cutting measures. You see that on lower end cars, covertables (to weather the elements) and lexus' was hoping not to see it from the Germans.

 

[SCOTT27]

The A Pillar has always been plastic in every BMW unless you specify Alcantara like for an M-model or M-Sport Package or Leather from BMW Individual. It is not an issue.

 

[Potential]

It has been that way since the advent of curtain airbags if I remember correctly?

 

[PHYBENZ]

The A Pillar has always been plastic in every BMW unless you specify Alcantara like for an M-model or M-Sport Package or Leather from BMW Individual. It is not an issue.

You're wrong. There has always been a cloth cover no matter how thin on the a pillars. It has not been exposed plastic except for the convertibles which has actually been a more vinyl-like material. This is a cost cutting move.

 

[bum-man]

You mean these wheel arches the GLK copied (along with the rest of the side treatment) from a Subaru?

So I guess that makes it alright for the X3 then...I see way more in common between the X3 wheel arch and GLK then I do the Forester and GLK. So much insecurity flying around.

And Oh dear another can of worms.

 

[Potential]

You're wrong. There has always been a cloth cover no matter how thin on the a pillars. It has not been exposed plastic except for the convertibles which has actually been a more vinyl-like material. This is a cost cutting move.

Looks the same as the X3 to me? There is an option for the alcantara roof lining that replaces this with a much higher quality finish.

 

[K-A]

BMW's usually have some kind of fuzzy/vinyl/cloth substance instead of a hard plastic cover on the A-Pillar I'm sure. I would have noticed if that wasn't the case. Cheap cars from non Luxury brands will put a hard plastic cover on the A's, I'm not positive about, but I'm sure I would have noticed if they had done that same thing on the E60 I used to drive around in.

 

[RikfromBelgium]

wow, you guys surely are focusing on the good stuff ...

 

[PHYBENZ]

BMW's usually have some kind of fuzzy/vinyl/cloth substance instead of a hard plastic cover on the A-Pillar I'm sure. I would have noticed if that wasn't the case. Cheap cars from non Luxury brands will put a hard plastic cover on the A's, I'm not positive about, but I'm sure I would have noticed if they had done that same thing on the E60 I used to drive around in.

You're exactly right, that's exactly what I was saying. This X3 looks like it has taken the cheaper route of a hard plastic pillar instead of having material over the plastic.

 

[K-A]

wow, you guys surely are focusing on the good stuff ...

True car enthusiasts focus on the small details that do matter, as well.

 

[Potential]

Went down to the garage in my building, E90 and E60 - both pre-facelift - have plastic there instead of cloth... Previous generation E Class also has this.