BMW has made a stylish SUV. The automobile company released more details about the 2018 X3 M40i before its intended launch to car dealers next month.
The new BMW M40i will have a starting retail price of $55,295. It will be the first BMW unit from M Performance in the X3 line.
The upcoming M Performance model sports a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine under its hood. This setup is said to provide 360 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The car marker's newest unit can go from zero to 62 miles per hour (mph) in 4.8 seconds with a top speed clocking in at 155 mph.
Labeled as the X3's most prized model, the 2018 X3 M40i will also have a new, bigger and more powerful M Sport brakes with 19-inch wheels, which is a bit larger than its usual wheels of 18 inches. The newest unit will also be equipped with a sturdier suspension and steering calibrations.
According to CNET, when drivers toggle the 2018 X3 M40i into its Sport Plus mode, the car transforms into a more aggressive machine and its adaptive suspension settings take over, giving more life to its engine. The downside of the Sport Plus mode though, is it makes the car ride bumpier when it passes over ditches and potholes. Steering the vehicle also becomes heavier.
It was also noted that the 2018 X3 M40i's gearbox can swiftly shift between manual and automatic modes.
On the other hand, MotorTrend compared the new unit to its predecessors, noting the improvements and new interiors too. The publication noted that the 2018 X3 M40i has a better-looking and sophisticated interior that boasts of rich colors and exquisite materials. It also has top-of-the-line hardware in the dashboard and switchgear which are heavily borrowed from BMW's more luxurious lines.
The 2018 BMW X3 M40i is set to go on sale on Saturday, Nov.11.
