The 2020 BMW X3 M is now not only practical but is also quick, thanks to the modifications done by the M division. One of the best things that the new X3 M has is the engine, the new S58 3L Twin-Turbo inline-six engine is quite powerful. It makes 473 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. What this means in simple words is that if someone asks you how fast it is, the answer to that is it's 0-60 mph comes up in 4.1 seconds. If you own the X3 M competition, then 60 MPH comes up in 3.3 seconds flat, thanks to the slight bump in power to 503 horsepower. The torque figure remains the same in both configurations.
The new engine is also paired with a new Steptronic Eight-speed automatic transmission designed by the M division, and alongside you get the intelligent xDrive system. The transmission features Drivelogic that allows you to choose between relaxed shifts or aggressive shifts depending on the kind of driving situation. You can change gears via the paddles present behind the steering or the gear lever. In its standard configuration, the SUV tops out at 155 MPH.
Models
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2020 BMW X3 M
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2020 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63
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2020 Porsche Macan Turbo
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2020 Jaguar F-Pace SVR
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MSRP
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$69,600
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$70,800
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$83,600
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$80,600
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Engine
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3.0-liter Twin-Turbocharged Inline-6
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4.0-liter Twin Turbocharged V8
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2.9-liter Twin-Turbocharged V6
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5.0-liter Supercharged V8
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Drivetrain
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AWD
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AWD
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AWD
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AWD
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Transmission
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8-speed automatic
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9-speed automatic
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7-speed automatic
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8-speed automatic
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Power
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473 hp @ 5,950 rpm
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469 hp @ 5,500 rpm
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434 hp @ 5,700 rpm
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550 hp @ 6,500 rpm
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Torque
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442 lb-ft @ 2,600 rpm
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479 lb-ft @ 1,750 rpm
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405 lb-ft @ 1,800 rpm
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502 lb-ft @ 2,500 rpm
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0-60 MPH (sec)
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4.0
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3.8
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4.1
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4.1
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Quarter mile (sec)
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11.6
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11.8
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13.6
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12
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Top Speed (MPH)
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155
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155
|
167
|
176
|
The supercharged Jaguar has the most amount of power on offer, but the fastest to 60MPH is the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63, covering it in 3.8 seconds. It manages to achieve this, thanks to its high amount of low-end torque. But once the Bimmer charges up, it lets itself loose on the quarter-mile and overtakes the GLC 63. Porsche comes with a smaller V6 engine and is underpowered, but given Porsche’s expertise in aerodynamic trickery and handling characteristics, it offers almost similar performance as that of the X3 M.
How well does the 2020 BMW X3 M handle?
The 2020 BMW X3 M focuses more on being a hardcore track machine, which hardly a few X3 M owners will use it for. Others will mostly use it for regular drives, which means it will face rough roads, speed bumps, and potholes, and when it does that, you will find yourself bouncing around in the seat. To counteract the body roll on high-speed corners, BMW equipped the X3 M with a stiffer suspension setup.
While there are numerous settings for the drivetrain, transmission, and suspension, all of them prove to make it more suited on the track where it performs excellently. It has its way of showing you that you’re testing the limits as it starts to twitch in corners. But once you get the hang of it, you can slide it through corners and keep it under control and use its potential to set the fastest lap times on your favorite circuits. While the X3 M excels on the track where it would be rarely used, but as a daily driver, you will find it tough to handle it.
Braking Performance
Brakes have also been tuned keeping in mind the changes made to the engine and suspension. To control a 5,000 pound SUV, BMW has equipped the 2020 X3 M with big 15.6-inch rotors up front and 14.6-inch rotors at the rear. While these 4-piston brakes act more like a piece of necessary equipment, they, however, are quite aggressive, and at slow speeds, they do tend to be more grabby which results in uncomfortable stops.
Models
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2020 BMW X3 M
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2020 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63
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2020 Porsche Macan Turbo
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2020 Jaguar F-Pace SVR
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Brake Rotors: Front (inches)
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15.6
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15.4
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15.4
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15.5
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Brake Rotors: Rear (inches)
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14.6
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14.2
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14.0
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15.6
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Curb Weight (lbs.)
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4,620
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4,550
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4,430
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4,395
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60-0 MPH (feet)
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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Jaguar is the lightest and has the biggest brakes, which means theoretically it should have the least stopping distance, but braking distance figures are not available any concrete outcome. BMW X3 M is the heaviest, but the added safety tech and brakes might do wonders for it. However, the AMG Performance brakes on the GLC 63 have our money as they are the best in business.