BMW is adding a four-cylinder engine to the 2013 X3, and has now announced pricing for the revised SUV. Bases prices for the 2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i start at $37,995 (including a destination charge), while the six-cylinder X3 xDrive35i will start from $43,595.
The 2013 X3 xDrive28i has BMW's new N20 engine, a 2.0-liter turbo-four that already has debuted in the Z4 roadster, 528i sedan, and 328i sedan. The N20 produces 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, helping accelerate the X3 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. The new mill is said to be significantly more fuel-efficient than the engine it replaces, a 3.0-liter inline-six with 240 hp and 221 lb-ft. The car's base price of $37,995 is unchanged from that of the less-efficient 2012 X3 xDrive28i. Fuel economy estimates will be announced at a later date.
Pricing for the more powerful X3 xDrive35i also is unchanged at $43,595. That model continues to employ the N55 engine, a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six offering 300 hp and 300 lb-ft. Both versions of the X3 are fitted exclusively with BMW's eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
New equipment on the 2013 BMW X3 includes an engine stop-start system. Chrome exhaust tips, 18-inch wheels, and a power liftgate are now standard on the xDrive28i model (they were previously optional on the xDrive28i, but standard on the xDrive35i). A new Driver Assistance Package includes Lane Departure Warning, while the M Sport package gains 19-inch wheels.
The 2013 BMW X3 starts production in April at the company's factory in South Carolina, and will reach dealerships nationwide by May.