The new SUV launching in South Africa very soon

A new SUV is coming to South Africa very soon, and it’s arguably one of the biggest car launches of the year.

The next-gen BMW X3 is set to launch before the end of the year, ushering in a new chapter for one of the country’s favourite automakers.

This is because the SUV is one of a handful of cars built right here in South Africa, as BMW has a facility in Rosslyn, Pretoria that has been producing vehicles for over 50 years.

A big deal for BMW and South Africa

The fourth-generation X3 will be the newest car to be built in South Africa after the Ford Ranger and VW Amarok, which were introduced in late 2022.

BMW has already announced the pricing and model line-up for the popular SUV, comprising five derivatives at launch at a starting rate of R1,136,417.

The five units will feature one of three different engines, starting with the 20d – a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel plant with 145kW and 400Nm.

This is enough to give the premium high-rider a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.7 seconds and a top speed of 215km/h.

The mid-range 30e drivetrain is particularly interesting, as it is a brand-new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system that will be exclusively made in South Africa for local and export markets.

It consists of a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, which is paired with an electric motor to produce a combined 220kW and 450Nm.

With this added power, the hybrid units can sprint to 100km/h in a faster 6.2 seconds before hitting the same top speed of 215km/h.

Of course, the main benefit of the PHEV is that it comes with a 17.9kWh battery, which allows owners to travel for 90km on just electricity at speeds of up to 140km/h.

For those who are interested in performance, the flagship M50 might be what you’re looking for as it boasts a 3.0-litre turbo-petrol block with a healthy 280kW and 540Nm.

Naturally, it’s the quickest of the group with a 0-100km/h time of 4.6 seconds and a higher max speed of 250km/h.

Regardless of which variant you go for, you can also expect the brand’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system and an eight-speed automatic gearbox to be fitted as standard.

Since it’s a new generation, the X3 has seen a pretty substantial rework to its appearance.

The iconic kidney grille is now flanked by a pair of adaptive LED headlights and L-shaped daytime running lights, and the body looks more athletic thanks to new flared wheel arches, a roof spoiler, side skirts, and alloy wheels that range from 19 to 20 inches in size.

Plenty of attention has been given to the interior as well, starting with a dual-curved display for the driver and infotainment systems, the latter of which comes with an interaction bar that replaces the traditional climate control switches.

The BMW is also rocking a flat-bottom multifunction steering wheel wrapped in supple leather with paddle shifters, and Sports seats covered in Econeer fabric as part of the automaker’s ongoing sustainability push.

That being said, customers can upgrade to artificial or genuine leather upholstery if they prefer.

Other standard equipment on the SUV includes keyless entry and start, three-zone climate control, ambient lighting, a wireless charger, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, cloud-based navigation, cruise control, front-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-change warning, speed limit info, speed limit assist, front and rear parking sensors, and a reverse camera.

If this is not enough, buyers can choose to install things like heated and ventilated seats, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, a parking assistant, and a panoramic sunroof.

Each purchase will also be covered by a 2-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and a 5-year/100,000km maintenance plan, and the hybrid units will receive an additional 8-year/100,000km battery warranty.

The new BMW X3 will go on sale in South Africa before the end of the year, but the public will likely be able to see the car in person very soon, as the carmaker is hosting its highly anticipated M Fest this week at Kyalami Grand Prix circuit in Midrand, Gauteng.

The X3 is bound to be the star attraction of the show, alongside other upcoming models like the new 1 Series and the M3.