| BMW, the world's largest premium | | | | 2005, the X3 3.0i won the Canadian Car |
| carmaker, will build the next-generation | | | | of the Year Best New Sport Utility |
| X3 mid-size sport utility vehicle in its | | | | Vehicle award. |
| U.S. plant in Spartanburg, South | | | | It was earlier reported that the X3 will |
| Carolina, the company said on Tuesday. | | | | not get the R6 until the all-new BMW X5 |
| "We will expand the production capacity | | | | is released this year. The X5 will |
| of our U.S. plant in Spartanburg in the | | | | feature the R6 engine amongst other |
| medium term from the current 140,000 to | | | | newer engines. The X3 will receive, |
| well over 200,000 vehicles per annum," | | | | however, redesigned monochromatic front |
| Chief Executive Norbert Reithofer said | | | | and rear fascias to substitute the flat |
| in a drafted speech to be delivered at | | | | black bumpers. Also, the 2.5i variant |
| BMW's annual general meeting. Reithofer | | | | will no longer be sold in the U.S., as |
| confirmed the group's vehicle sales and | | | | buyers tended to go more for the 3.0i |
| earnings forecast for this year, which | | | | model. |
| foresees an increase in pretax profit | | | | Aside from other revolutionary auto |
| adjusted for last year's one-off gain on | | | | parts like BMW brake pads, the new X3 is |
| a Rolls-Royce exchangeable bond and | | | | equipped with a special version of the |
| sales of over 1.4 million units. | | | | 'M' technik bodykit as standard. The |
| In mid-March, Reithofer was quoted | | | | difference being in that the U.S. cars |
| saying that the group needs to build up | | | | had unpainted wheel arches and door |
| its production volume in Spartanburg to | | | | sills. The U.S. spec Sport Package |
| roughly 200,000 units or more in the | | | | features the 'M' bodykit available in |
| next two to three years to help hedge | | | | the rest of the worldwide as a BMW |
| against currency fluctuations. In 2006, | | | | accessory. |
| the plant built just 105,000 vehicles in | | | | Under the hood of the 2007 X3 is the |
| Spartanburg last year. Partly as a | | | | 3.0si engine which is capable of |
| result, the company suffered adverse | | | | generating 260 horsepower and 225 torque |
| forex headwinds of 666 million euros or | | | | at a lower rpm. Additionally, the front |
| $902 million last year and another 677 | | | | and rear facia are modified, more |
| million in 2005 given the strong euro. | | | | resembling the X5 SUV. Other fabulous |
| Last year, the German automaker sold | | | | changes include all-new LED lights and |
| 31,291 units of the X3 in the United | | | | interior upgrades. The available Cold |
| States and that number is a marginal | | | | Weather Package will include heated |
| gain over the 30,769 delivered to | | | | seats in the front and the rear. |
| purchasers in 2005. Overall, BMW sold | | | | Adaptive headlamps and a panoramic |
| 114,000 units of the X3 last year | | | | sunroof are available, as well as |
| worldwide, a gain of three percent. | | | | upgraded dashboard components and |
| The X3, which was first introduced to | | | | leather seating. The vehicle is now on |
| the market in January 2004 and refreshed | | | | sale in the United States. |
| in September of 2006, is assembled in | | | | In regard the next-generation BMW X3, |
| Austria by Magna Steyr - a unit of | | | | nothing much is known about its features |
| Canadian car parts giant Magna | | | | except its place of production. |
| International. The compact luxury | | | | Spartanburg plant in South Carolina is |
| crossover SUV, also called Sport | | | | also building the current E70 BMW X5 is |
| Activity Vehicle (SAV), is based on the | | | | being built. |
| BMW 3-Series automobile platform. In | | | | |