High-performance SUVs take the fight straight to the Mercedes-AMG GLC63 and Porsche Macan Turbo with new six-cylinder turbo engine.
Are these the Bimmers teased in camouflage last year?
Yes they are. These are the first official pictures of the showroom-ready BMW X3 M and X4 M which were first teased in disguised prototypes last year.
This is the first time the Munich luxury carmaker has given the full-fat performance treatment to its mid-size SUVs. The X5 and X6 were the first off-roaders to get the M models.
In the typical M fashion, the pumped-up X3 and X4 receive sporty touches on the exterior with the most notable signature being the four tail pipe design.
Their interiors have been spruced up with racy lines, as well, and feature distinctive bucket seats.
So the engine is newer than the one in today’s M3 and M4?
Yes it is. Dubbed S58, the 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine is an evolution of the S55 unit, seen in the M3 and M4 producing between 431-460hp.
Power in the X3 M and X4 M is rated at 480hp to take the fight straight to the Mercedes-AMG GLC63 and Porsche Macan Turbo.
BMW has also announced the Competition variants with 510hp. Go-faster models of the GLC63 and Macan Turbo are called S and Performance Pack respectively.
Both the X3 M and X4 M does 0-100kph in 4.2sec; Competition cuts the time by 0.1sec.
The X3 M and X4 M employ eight-speed torque-converter automatic driving all four wheels. There’s no rear-wheel-drive mode for drift masters, although the AWD system is shared with today's M5.
AWD makes sense in SUVs. Will it come to Thailand?
That merely depends on demand. But given current trends, the X3 M and X4 M might not be on the radar screen of the Thai BMW office.
High-performance SUVs sell in very small numbers here especially when their prices go as high as 8-10 million baht.
That’s why Mercedes doesn’t sell the GLC63 on an official basis in Thailand. However, the milder GLC43 is being assembled in the country in Coupe form retailing for less than five million baht.
BMW also has the second-from-top M40i outfit for the X3 and X4, but they aren’t sold in Thailand.
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