PRETORIA – Two decades after redefining the premium midsize SUV segment, BMW’s fourth-generation X3 has arrived with a sharper design, advanced electrification and a strategic production push at its South African facility in Rosslyn. Importantly, this facility is building the X3 for global export and the hybrid version as the sole production facility for world consumption.
Unveiled this week at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn, the latest iteration of the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) blends dynamic styling, upgraded digital interfaces, and a diversified powertrain lineup, signalling the brand’s commitment to flexibility in an era of shifting consumer demands.
Check out this extensive listing of BMW X3 offerings
The new X3’s exterior adopts a minimalist yet assertive aesthetic, emphasising monolithic surfaces and precise lines. At 4 755 mm in length – 34 mm longer than its predecessor – and 1 920 mm in width, the SUV’s proportions project a planted stance, aided by a 25 mm reduction in height. The redesigned front fascia features a prominent kidney grille with optional contour lighting, while adaptive LED matrix headlights now integrate overlapping L-shaped elements for a distinctive daytime signature.
Rear design updates include flush-mounted glass, a roof spoiler, and T-shaped LED clusters. Notably, the standard models conceal exhaust pipes within the bumper, reserving visible quad tailpipes for the performance-focused M50 variant. Eight metallic paint options, including the new Dune Grey finish, complement the SUV’s crisper silhouette, with Spartanburg-built models offering additional matte and bespoke hues.
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Inside, the X3’s cabin merges sporty functionality with digital innovation. A curved 12,3-inch instrument cluster and 14,9-inch central touchscreen form the core of BMW’s Operating System 9, featuring QuickSelect for menu navigation without submenus.
The redesigned cockpit introduces a contrasting LED accent strip spanning the dashboard and doors, framing ventilation controls and rugged X-model door handles.
Sustainability features take centre stage, with standard Econeer seats using recycled materials. Optional Vegan leather upholstery and a Luxury instrument panel crafted from recycled polyester with a knitted texture mark BMW’s push towards circularity. Practicality remains intact, with boot space ranging from 570 litres (460 litres in the plug-in hybrid) to 1 700 litres when rear seats are folded.
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The X3 lineup now spans combustion, hybrid and high-performance models. The headline plug-in hybrid X3 30e xDrive pairs a 2,0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, delivering 220 kW and an electric range of 81-90 km (WLTP). Equipped with 11 kW AC charging, it supports smart home charging integration. BMW South Africa reports 10% of local orders are for this PHEV variant, correlating with a 45% monthly increase in hybrid sales nationally.
For traditionalists, the 145 kW X3 20d diesel accelerates to 100k m/h in 7,7 seconds, aided by 48V mild-hybrid tech. The range-topping X3 M50 xDrive debuts a 293 kW 3,0-litre inline-six petrol engine with a 48V system, hitting 100 km/h in 4,6 seconds. All variants feature standard xDrive all-wheel drive and an eight-speed Steptronic transmission.
BMW Group Plant Rosslyn, which began X3 production in October 2024, has reintroduced a third shift to meet demand, with 110 units planned per shift. The facility now manufactures combustion and plug-in hybrid models on the same line, including the 30e and 40d xDrive variants exclusively for global export. This follows a R4,2-billion investment in digitisation and electrification upgrades.
“Producing both ICE and PHEV models here underscores our agility,” says Ernst Kohlmeyer, BMW Group South Africa’s General Manager of Quality. “Customers want choice, and Rosslyn is equipped to deliver.”
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The expansion safeguards 1 200 direct jobs and thousands more in the supply chain, with extensive staff training ensuring readiness for hybrid-specific assembly processes.
Standard equipment now includes three-zone climate control, acoustic glazing and a semi-automated Driving Assistant with lane-keeping and collision mitigation. Parking Assistant adds a reversing camera and trajectory memory. Optional upgrades include a smartphone-controlled Parking Assistant Professional and augmented reality navigation.
The latest iDrive system supports over-the-air updates and third-party apps via BMW Digital Premium, including gaming platform AirConsole. BMW’s Digital Key Plus, compatible with iOS and Android devices, allows phone-based vehicle access.
With global SUV sales growth slowing, BMW’s diversified approach aims to capture both traditional and eco-conscious buyers. South Africa’s initial uptake of the PHEV model suggests shifting preferences, though combustion variants still dominate. The Rosslyn plant’s export focus – particularly for diesel models to European markets – hedges against fluctuating domestic demand.
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Analysts note the X3’s role as BMW’s best-seller in 2023 provides a strong foundation, but competition from Mercedes’ GLC and Audi’s Q5, both offering full-electric options, looms large. BMW’s decision to prioritise plug-in hybrids over BEVs for this generation reflects a calculated bet on transitional technologies.
As production ramps up, BMW South Africa confirms the 40d xDrive diesel will join Rosslyn’s output from May 2025. With 90% of the plant’s vehicles destined for export, the X3’s success remains pivotal to South Africa’s automotive export economy. For local buyers, pricing is from R1 250 000 for the 20d xDrive to R1 850 000 for the M50 xDrive.
In balancing heritage with innovation, the new X3 encapsulates BMW’s broader strategy: evolve core models incrementally while preparing infrastructure for an electric future.
As Anuk Maharaj, Rosslyn’s X3 Project Lead, notes: “This isn’t just a new car – it’s a blueprint for sustainable, flexible manufacturing in uncertain times.”
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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