Photo by Diana B. Noche
A company not known for restraint when one talks of coming up with uncompromising new levels of technological expertise and exemplary quality on its cars has done it again.
Through its arm in the country, the SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp., a wholly owned Filipino company under San Miguel Corp. chaired by Ramon S. Ang, appointed by BMW in 2017 as its importer, distributor, and services provider, took the covers off the new BMW X3 xDrive20d M Sport and the BMW X3 xDrive20d XLine models.
The launch once again trumpets a major event in BMW’s long history of creating striking impact on the country’s motoring map, incorporating innovations and other possibilities while perpetuating BMW’s originality.
It is difficult not to sound breathless about the new BMW X3. Both models were designed to breathe into them a new kind of vitality and motion, at the same time, give the driver the kick of sporty playfulness with radiator grille and characteristic 19-inch light-alloy wheels. The face maybe familiar but take another look. It has a five-centimeter longer wheelbase, long bonnet and has short front overhang which creates a 50:50 distribution of weight between the front and rear axle. The front end has a “three-dimentional” kidney grille treatment and fog lamps. At the rear end, the three-dimentional LED light clusters on a downward-sloping roof spoiler and twin-exhaust tailpipes give the new BMW X3 a machismo overtone.
Justifiably renowned for its fastidious craftsmanship, the driver’s comfort has not, of course, been neglected. The seats, standard-fitted with full Vernasca leather upholstery, décor stitching and interior trim strips, have been exceptionally contoured to offer absolute ease and support. The lighting above the trim strip in the instrument panel and ambient lighting give the interior a sense of luminescence that makes the driver feel like being cradled in warmth and luxury. Both models come with new features their predecessor lacked. Embodied are three-zone automatic climate control for separate temperature controls for the rear compartment, driver, and front passenger. The windscreens are fitted with acoustic glazing greatly lessening noise levels even at high speeds. The rear back rests are also adjustable.
There’s more. In addition to the standard BMW iDrive system, the Navigation System Professional opens up the touchscreen and gesture control. The 10.25” touch sensitive central display instantly summarizes most important information while on the road. The Gesture control allows various infotainment system and telephone functions by using finger and hand gestures. The Parking Assistant estimate spaces and helps the driver steer, accelerate, brake, select gear to position the car into parallel and lateral parking positions. The two models come in traffic-stopping colors: orange, lilac, mint, bronze, blue, and white and are available to anyone with fondness for cars approaching perfection and opulent money to drop. The BMW X3 xDrive20d xLine goes for P4.390M and the BMW X3 xDrive20d M Sport, P4.590M.
The BMW X3 launch exemplified any car owner’s illusion of the perfect car into reality. The launch would linger in the head long after the next day’s cups of coffee.
