X3 oiler launched
BMW has launched another diesel onto the unsuspecting Aussie public. Far from the diesels of old, the new X3 3.0d is claimed to outpace its petrol stablemates and deliver better fuel consumption...Joining a growing number of European counterparts, BMW has launched yet another diesel-powered variant on the local landscape.
Hot on the heels of the 530d sedan and building on the prodigious success of its big brother X5 3.0d (more than 50 per cent of X5s sold in Oz are diesel!) the X3 3.0d arrives with promise of petrol-beating performance and miserly fuel consumption.
Priced from $75,400, the X3 3.0d features BMW's new all-aluminium 3.0-litre DOHC 24-valve inline six-cylinder intercooled turbodiesel. Peak power is a claimed 160Kw at 4000rpm. Headlining, however, is the engine's torque peak -- a V8-beating 480Nm from 1750-2750rpm.
BMW claims a combined fuel consumption stat of just 8.6lt/100km for the mid-size SUV. Performance should be lively, however. Coupled with BMW's six-speed steptronic auto trannie (no maunal is offered Down Under) the X3 3.0d accelerates from rest to 100km/h in 7.9sec, 0.2sec quicker than its 3.0-litre petrol stablemate.
Standard equipment includes the usual suite of driver and safety aids including Automatic Stability Control and Traction (ASC-X), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC-X), Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), Automatic Differential Brake (ADB-X), Hill Descent Control (HDC) and Cornering Brake Control (CBC). Goodies include 17-inch, double-spoke alloy wheels, front and rear Park Distance Control (PDC), skibag, luggage compartment net and roof rails.
Look out for CarPoint's test of the new diesel-powered midsizer in the New Year.
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