NEW BMW X3 M50

Our intro to the new X3 saw us reconnecting with BMW’s delicious three-litre straight-six. Of course, it’s a unit petrol unit for the X3 and the creamy six is turbocharged to produce nearly 400 horses in M50 guise. You never tire of firing up this engine; the four tailpipes broadcast a proper bark and it idles with urgency. It’s also partnered by a 48V ISG to smooth the edges of every trip. The powertrain makes light work of shifting over two tons in a hurry with zero to one hundred dispatched in 4.6 seconds. But just as impressive is the effortless nature of the performance. And let’s not forget that cherished straight-six character…

So we’ve established that the engine is a headline act but how about the upgrades and dynamic tweaks for the X3, the all-wheel-drive ‘SAV’ that sells its socks off globally? Well, this fourth-generation X3 has grown slightly in size (it’s 34mm longer and 29mm wider) and looks a little sleeker thanks to a fractionally lower roofline. We’re becoming accustomed to brash grille designs so no eyebrows were batted by the sight of the large upright kidney grille with its LED light wrap (but no chrome surround). It certainly looks purposeful from any angle and is possibly at its best viewed in profile. The design could not be mistaken for anything but a BMW SUV although some observers may confuse X3 and X5.

Interior space seems on a par with its predecessor but the cabin environment instantly feels more modern. There’s plenty of fancy (customisable) lighting inside, which makes driving at night an event if you wish to dial up the ambience. A curved twin-screen dominates the cockpit and you can still work the infotainment via a rotary controller on the console. Beside it sit the small transmission lever and drive mode selector, which we frequently employed to engage Sport. The leather sports steering wheel is a chunky number with excellent physical controls and the seats offer all the comfort and support you would expect, including side bolster inflation up front.

You might need all that support because the dynamic potency of this M50 variant is greater than ever thanks to increased body rigidity, sport suspension and steering, upgraded brakes and an electronic rear diff. Cornering, body control and composure at speed are all top-drawer on flowing country roads and the grip from staggered tyres on 21-inch wheels is outstanding, although we never encountered a wet road in a full week of fast, memorable motoring.

We’re advised that a full-fat X3 M is on the horizon but, after this performance, we wonder whether this M50 might be all the X3 we truly desire.