d stands for diesel and both American's and Canadian’s need not apply.
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - Sept. 4, 2010
The hyper-efficient 2011 BMW X3d has an American Connection.
The 2011 X3d Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) is now being exclusively built at BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina production facility.
In early 2008, BMW revealed that it would invest $750 million in the South Carolina plant, its largest investment in South Carolina to date. This commitment paved the way for construction of a new Assembly Hall built exclusively to produce the BMW X3 along with a significant expansion to the existing Paint Shop. This 1.5 million square foot addition increases the plant's total footprint to over 4.0 million square feet.
Over the last 7 years, the first-generation BMW X3 has been an extraordinary success story for BMW with over 600,000 vehicles produced. With the model change, production of the X3 is now entirely completed at the Spartanburg plant alongside the X5 and X6 models. The addition of the third model to the plant's vehicle mix has created several hundred new jobs and increased BMW's total investment in South Carolina to $4.6 billion since 1992.
X3 Overview
The new BMW X3 is a continuation of the formula for success of the first X3. With enhanced agility, additional driving comfort, more space and innovative equipment options, it should suit just about anybody interested in a fuel efficient SAV while offering the very latest in driving pleasure (BMW just loves to use that word for some reason
) and infotainment possibilities.
The X3 launched in 2004 with intelligent four-wheel BMW xDrive, class leading handling characteristics and a uniquely variable interior. As a result, the vehicle established benchmarks in the field of driving dynamics within the compact and mid-sized luxury on/off-road vehicle segment.
The interior cargo capacity can be increased from 19.4 with the rear seats up to 56.5 cu. ft. with them down. In addition, 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats allow the largest amount of space and at the same time the highest level of utility in its segment.
On a more high tech note, innovative equipment features including driver assistance systems and mobility services from BMW ConnectedDrive are unique. As an example, the new X3 is the only model in its class to offer the option of a Heads-Up Display and native Internet access within the vehicle itself.
Drivetrain
While the US and Canada will only see the BMW X3 xDrive35i equipped with a fuel sucking straight six with Twin Turbos, direct injection and VALVETRONIC, it’s the European’s that will receive the powerful fuel miser in the form of the world renown 2.0L diesel with power applied through BMW’s xDrive. An inline four-cylinder turbo diesel with aluminum crankcase and high pressure Common Rail direct injection has power output rated at 184 HP @ 4,000 rpm with a maximum torque of 280 lb-ft @ 1,750 – 2,750 RPM.
That level of output allows the X3d to be propelled to 60 mph in just 8.3 seconds while still offering 42.0 mpgUS combined on the NEDC or approximately34 mpgUS combined on our own 08 EPA. This from a 4WD equipped, small SUV with a super diesel that we will never see
Linear Mode
