BMW Rumored to Debut X4 Sports Activity Coupe at Detroit Motor Show

We were aware that BMW is readying a smaller brother to the X6 since the beginning of the year when the brand's CEO Norbert Reithofer confirmed plans for the X4 while also stating that it will be built at the automaker's Spartanburg plant in the States.

Now we come to hear from Autoweek magazine that the (supposedly) sporty looking crossover will debut in near-production form as a thinly disguised concept at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show in January, before it hits global markets the following year.

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Spy Shots: 2014 BMW X3 Crossover to Receive a Subtle Mid-Life Makeover

Most mainstream BMW models have a life span of approximately seven years with the Bavarian automaker releasing a mid-life cycle facelift in the third or fourth year after a car's introduction onto the market to keep buyers interested.

The same appears to hold true in the case of the second generation of BMW's X3 crossover (also known by its internal codename F25), that went on sale in 2010.

Our photographers captured a lightly camouflaged prototype of the updated X3 while engineers were testing the crossover model in Europe.

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BMW Launches New Entry Level Rear-Wheel-Drive X3 sDrive18d

It’s true that, while most car companies turned to a cheaper and more space efficient front-wheel drive configuration for their vehicles, BMW has stuck to rear-wheel drive (RWD), while also offering all-wheel drive as an option on several sedan, coupes and station wagons and standard on most of its SUV models. Read more »

Hartge Muscles Up Diesel-Powered BMW X3 xDrive35d

While not available in all markets, the most powerful version of BMW's X3 crossover series isn't a petrol but a diesel model.

The X3 xDrive35d sports a 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six diesel capable of delivering 309hp (313PS) at 4,400 rpm and a maximum torque of 630Nm (465 lb-ft) from 1,500 to 2,500 rpm, allowing for a zero to 100km/h sprint time of 5.8 seconds.

Not too shabby, especially if you consider that it also delivers a combined fuel consumption of 6.1lt/100 (equal to 38.6mpg US or 46.3mpg UK).

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2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i with 2.0L Turbo Priced from $37,995

BMW's new 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger continues to trickle down the range. Following its introduction in the Z4 sDrive28i, 528i and the all-new 328i, the force-fed four-pot is now replacing the 240-horsepower 3.0-liter straight-six in the X3 xDrive28i.

The German automaker announced U.S. pricing today for the four-cylinder X3 xDrive28i, which arrives in showrooms this April as a 2013 model with the same MSRP of $37,995, including $895 destination and handling, as the outgoing six-cylinder 2012 xDrive28i.

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BMW Wins Another Contract to Supply Munich's Police with Patrol Cars

For the past 50 years, the BMW Group has been providing patrol cars to the German city of Munich and this tradition continues with a new contract that will see the automaker supplying several hundred vehicles a year to the Bavarian Police.

Under the new deal, BMW will produce specially modified versions of its new 2012 3-Series sedan and its upcoming Touring sibling, along with the 5-Series sedan and Touring models, and for the first time ever, the X3 crossover as well.

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BMW Announces New X3 Drive28i with 2.0L Turbo, X5 M Sport Edition and More for 2012

It seems that BMW has entered a non-stop process either revealing completely new models or updating its existing portfolio.

Just to get an idea of what we're talking about, in the last 30 days alone, BMW has introduced these new models: 320i Turbo plus the 316d and 318d; the 125i Turbo, 125d, 116d ED and 1-Series M Sport Packages; the M550d, X5 M50d and X6 M50d; the X6 and X6M Facelift, the market launch of the ActiveHybrid 5; and of course, the M6 Coupe and Convertible.

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New BMW X3 Tops while Range Rover Evoque Flops Consumer Reports' Tests

Just like a Rotten Tomatoes review can make or break a movie’s reputation and its box-office success, Consumer Reports’ road tests have the potential to boost a vehicle's sales or in some cases force a an automaker to run back to the drawing board.

The latest batch of vehicles tested by CR include two SUVs that even though different in size, will compete in the premium segment: the second iteration of the BMW X3 and the brand-new challenger in the category, the Range Rover Evoque.

To sum it up, the BMW X3 xDrive28i scored an 80 in CR's road test and received the “Recommended” tag, while the Range Rover Evoque managed a test score of 60 score and was placed near the bottom of its class.

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