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