Today’s X3 flagship M50 screams sheer driving pleasure
We’ve been spoilt by BMW in the past month or so. We’ve had three of the four made in SA X3s to drive in that time and to be honest, we have become pretty big fans of the variant. While we’ll leave the woke to decide which of the plug-in hybrid or exceptional diesel is better, there’s no argument about the flagship M50 xDrive M Performance that closed off our little triad.
A proper BMW in good old Sheer Driving Pleasure style, it packs the most powerful straight six-cylinder yet fitted in an M Performance model, they say. The 3-litre M TwinPower six gets a 48V mild hybrid set-up in its eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission to help it to a heady 293 kW and 580 Nm. Aided and abetted by a Sport Boost function. And it puts all that down via BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive.
BMW calls X3 M50 the beast. We cannot disagree.
Bespoke chassis technology includes M Sport suspension, variable sport steering and brakes along with an M Sport differential. Add a lighter yet more rigid shell, enhanced kinematic and elastokinematic double-joint spring strut front and a five-link rear axle. To deliver what BMW promises to be best yet agility, cornering stability and long-distance comfort. We cannot disagree.
Pessimistically, as always, Munich claims100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. It’s actually ten percent quicker in the Auto Test. In fact 4.2 seconds to 100 is nothing short of supercar performance. All wrapped up in a superb BMW SAV cocoon. Of all things. Power is fat and healthy, creamy and full. So much so that you miss any rising peak as it thunders down the road.
BMW X3 quotes a long and confusing line of fuel and carbon data. Which we think means it will do around 8 litres per hundred. We generally managed far better. But then with a car like this its way to easy to get carried away for the least sensible reasons. And then it’s just mad. Wild. Beautiful.
A brilliant Bavarian cocoon
Enough of that already. What about that fine Bavarian cocoon? BMW calls its new X design language bold and monolithic with distinctive BMW X model proportions and generously surfaces offset by crisp creases. To be honest, this is far and away the best looking X3 yet. 34 millimetres longer at 4,755 millimetres, 29 mm wider 1,920 mm but 25mm lower, it certainly is more powerful and sporty.
The large BMW kidney grille is emphasised by contour lighting. It sits between L-shape DRL blue detailed adaptive non-dazzling matrix high beam M Shadowline LED headlights. Some things are just not easy to explain! And M50 is set apart from the rear by visible exhaust tailpipes BMW X3 xDrive. A splendid machine faced M light-alloy 20-inch wheels.
BMW calls the cabin robust. It splits opinion. Some of us love it, others don’t. Either way, it’s a sumptuous driver-focused cockpit. We love how BMW uses material on elements like the dash. The recycled high-class knitted polyester dash is called Luxury. If that’s not enough, they call the new Individual Merino leather clad power heated sport seats Econeers.
X3 M50 even pulls a 2.5-ton trailer
As ever, it’s also supremely tech laden space. We’d still prefer more buttons. But this latest system is a little easier to understand and operate. The boot expands from 570 to 1700 litres and there’s even a retractable hitch good to tow a heady 2500 kilogram braked trailer. You can tow horses and racecars with that.
Anyway, I am at present writing a book on the history of South African saloon car racing. I’m at the part where BMW came back with Tony Viana and others racing the M535is, BMW’s second local era in the early 1980s. Not long after Eddie Keizan’s dominance in the original 530 in the mid’70s. Life was simpler then. But BMW already ruled on road and track.
I remember so well how damned impressive that M535i was. Yes, it seems archaic now, but that straight-six rear-wheel drive family sedan was at another level altogether. If anything, this straight-six turbo all-wheel drive 2025 BMW reminds me most of that M535i in this mad world of M cars and exaggerated everything.
X3 M50 isn’t over the top. And that’s so cool
All considered, we were expecting a far loftier price for all of this. Yes, one and a half million rand seems mad to most. But for what you get, versus what else is out there, tt still seems a bargain. Then, of course, the BMW X3 is proudly built right here in Pretoria. And Made in SA in our book, is hugely important when you consider your next car.
Yes its smart, luxurious, spacious, versatile and supercar fast. But the current BMW X3 range-topping M50 xDrive isn’t at all over the top. And that’s just makes it so cool. – Michele Lupini
Images & testing: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: BMW X3 M50 xDrive
Engine: 293 kW 580 Nm 2-litre turbo petrol I6
Drive: 8-speed automatic AWD
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 1.89 sec
0-100 km/h: 4.23 sec
0-120 km/h: 5.86 sec
0-160 km/h: 10.14 sec
400m: 12.5 sec @ 178 km/h
80-120 km/h: 2.80 sec
120-160 km/h: 4.27 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 250 km/h
Fuel: 8.2 l/100 km
CO2: 187 g/km
Range: 800 km
Warranty/Service: 2y unl./5 y 100K km
LIST PRICE: R1.54M
How does it compare?
Find out with Auto's Test Data right here