2011 BMW X3 Crossover SAV to debut in Mid 2011 at INR 41.2 Lakhs: Official Word Out!

It’s been more than nine months after we first reported on ICB that the 2011 BMW X3 Crossover SUV, or it that SAV, will debut in India in May-June 2011. True to our words, BMW India will indeed launch the 2011 BMW X3 Crossover in May-June this year and we have official word on that.

2011 BMW X3 Crossover SUV

Even as launch party of the 2011 BMW 6 Series convertible is on full swing at the Leela Kempinski star hotel at Udaipur beside the stunning Lake Pichola, BMW India officially has released prices of the BMW X3 Crossover. To be available in two engine options, the xDrive25i petrol and the xDrive20d diesel, the X3 Crossover will be priced at INR 41.2 Lakhs and INR 42.2 Lakhs for the petrol and diesel respectively.

2011 BMW X3 Crossover SUV

The pricing looks extremely competitive considering the fact that BMW will now have to shell out 30% duty for the CKD kits that the carmaker will assemble at it’s Chennai plant. Talking of which, the 2011 BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle, BMWspeak for a Crossover that drives like a Sedan with the ground clearance and the all weather drive of an SUV, will be assembled at it’s Chennai plant beginning from the middle of this year through CKD kits.

2011 BMW X3 Crossover SUV

We’re pretty surprised at the fact that BMW has chosen to retain the engines of the current X3 for the new model, which is very surprising. The 2.5 liter petrol engine is a six pot unit producing 210 Bhp and 246 Nm of torque, good enough to endow the X3 with a top speed of 210 kph and a 0-100 sprint under 9 seconds to shame many a sedan. The 4 cylinder, 2 liter diesel engine will be the bigger seller due to it’s combination of frugality and performance.

2011 BMW X3 Crossover SUV

So, power and torque ratings of 175 Bhp and 350 Nm from the diesel engine will ensure that the Diesel X3 manages 205 kph and a 0-100 time just over nine seconds. Add the traditional diesel frugality and it isn’t too difficult to figure out why the X3 Diesel will outsell the petrol model many times over. With this, the 2 liter, four pot BMW diesel engine is being used in the fourth BMW car in India, which speaks volumes about the flexibility, refinement and frugal performance of the engine.

2011 BMW X3 Crossover SUV

Coming to why BMW India seems to be using the same engines of the current model on the new 2011 BMW X3, it may due to the fact that the Government has increased CKD duty rates from 10% to 30% on pre-assembled engines and gearboxes making it too expensive for BMW India to bring the new engines for the 2011 X3 and also pricing it competitively. So, that in a nutshell is all about the 2011 BMW X3 Crossover SUV which will be launched in mid 2011.