X marks spot for 3-Series four-paw

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

BMW is looking to expand its lifestyle four-wheel-drive range to include 3-Series and 7-Series derivatives.

The carmaker isn't saying much yet but reports in the United States say both models will be built alongside the X5, the first sports utility vehicle to wear the BMW badge.

The X5 is one of a number of models being built at the company's Spartenburg, South Carolina, factory. It will be launched in New Zealand in the next few months.

Based on the 5-Series platform it will be aimed at competing against the Mercedes-Benz M-Class and Lexus 470.

The X5 will also become the third genuine rival for the blue-blood Range Rover now that BMW has sold the British off-road specialist to Ford.

There has been speculation for some time that BMW would build a 3-Series X5-type vehicle, if only to capitalise on the appeal of its 3-Series range.

The 3-Series is by far the most popular BMW model, consistently capturing more than half of the carmaker's annual sales worldwide.

The German company has always made much of its family of vehicles, with their distinctive kidney-shaped grille and similar design cues.

Vehicles such as the X3 and X7 would be a natural progression in the order of things, like the past development of high-performance 3-Series variants like the M3 sedan, coupe and M Roadster and 5-Series derivative the M5 sedan, the best four-door driver's car in the world.

Already the talk in America is that the X3 will comes with a choice of two diesel and two petrol engines. The entry-level diesel will be the 320d and the top-line oil-burner will use the 330d motor, highly praised in Europe in the 3-Series sedan. The petrol engines will be the 323i and 328i.

The X7 will be the flagship of the X-Series fleet, probably powered by a choice of V8 petrol and diesel engines and BMW's new V12 petrol powerplant, the one it had planned to use in the new Range Rover.