The 2012 BMW X3 is available to consumers in 8 colors and starts at a price of $37,100. Colors include Deep Sea Blue Metallic, Space Gray Metallic, Mineral Silver Metallic, Black Sapphire Metallic, Titanium Silver Metallic, Vermilion Red Metallic, Sparkling Bronze Metallic and Blue Water Metallic. There are also four wheel options available. They are Star Spoke aluminum alloy wheels, aluminum alloy V-spoke wheels, Y-spoke 18” aluminum alloy wheels and double-spoke aluminum alloy wheels. The front end and grille look just like that of any BMW sedan, except this Sport Activity Vehicle has an SAV (SUV) body. The BMW X3 is also equipped to handle all your vacation needs. It even has an included bike rack/carrier, capable of transporting up to 3 full-size bikes on the back of the vehicle. The bike rack can also serve as a table, with an attachment for outdoor picnics and breaks on long, tenuous drives. For those times when conditions are just plain miserable, the X3 has heated power mirrors, to ward off sleet, snow and fog. Rain-sensing wipers automatically detect precipitation on the windshield and wipes it clear, before the driver even notices.

Once inside the cabin of the X3 consumers will find authentic leather seating, heated seats and steering wheel and a variety of color schemes to choose from. The steering wheel has controls for Bluetooth, audio and cruise control settings. The Bluetooth connectivity allows the driver to communicate to callers through a microphone in the cabin. The driver is able to listen to callers through the vehicle’s sound system.

There are two models of the X3 currently available to the public. The BMW X3 xDrive28i has a 3.0-liter Dual Overhead Camshaft V6 engine, with 240 horsepower and the ability to obtain 25 MPG on the highway and 19 when cruising around town. The second model is the xDrive35i. This model has a 3.0-liter Dual Overhead Camshaft V6 engine, with 300 horsepower. It gets 26 MPG highway and 19 in-town. It also boasts a MacPherson strut front suspension, coupled with a multi-link rear suspension, for performance handling and cornering. Front and rear stabilizer bars are also included.

Four vented anti-lock disc brakes, a plethora of airbags and three-point seatbelts are just the beginning of the stunning array of safety features demonstrated by the 2012 BMW X3. Electronic Stability Control and Traction Control help give this Sport Activity Vehicle elite capabilities, even in the most hazardous terrain. As with all modern BMW cars, the X3 has xenon headlights that turn as the wheels turn. This technology enables the driver to see what’s around the next bend much sooner than standard lights would allow. Front and rear head restraints greatly reduce the risk of whiplash during a collision. If a serious collision does occur, technology infused into the X3 will automatically cut off the power to the engine, unlock doors and turn on the hazard lights. This is all part of BMW’s goal to manufacture some of the safest, most reliable automobiles on the market.