BMW hails 'year of the X' as new locally made sports activity coupes set to roll in

German premium brand BMW is calling 2018 "the year of the X," with the arrival soon of its locally made third generation BMW X3, and BMW X4 and X2, to join its international product lineup.

The China-made mid-size all-new X3－expected to roll off the production line this summer at BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd's Dadong plant in Shenyang, capital of northeastern Liaoning province－will feature a standard wheelbase.

Beyond delivering the usual premium driving pleasure, many upgrades will be tailored for Chinese bimmers, including an extra-large panoramic moon roof, a PM2.5 air filter, and extra thick rear seat cushions. The Sino-German joint venture's Dadong plant will be one of three production bases for the all-new BMW X3, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the other two in the United States and South Africa.

"We are driving the biggest model offensive in the company's history and as availability ramps up in the course of the year, this will continue to come through in our sales results," said Pieter Nota, member of the board of management of BMW AG, responsible for sales and brand.

As BMW introduces more exciting new models, like the all-new X2, and increases supply of the X3 in the second half of this year, Nota said he is confident it is the start of another record year for the company.

Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association, said at a forum in January that global automobile brands were taking action to capitalize on Chinese market trends to grab a bigger slice of the market. "International automakers use to be slow in meeting Chinese preferences, but now they are accelerating sport utility vehicle offensives in China," he said.

The Munich-headquartered carmaker's measures this year also consists of a world premiere in the coming Geneva Motor Show for the new BMW X4－a new edition of the first SUV coupe at the premium end of the mid-size segment, which sold more than 200,000 vehicles worldwide.

The new model will come with enhanced equipment including M Sport suspension, variable sport steering and M Sport brakes－besides two BMW M Performance models with six-cylinder in-line engines and M Sport differentials in the line-up.

The show premiere in Switzerland will also feature the new BMW X2: a compact sports activity coupe with standalone design that combines sporting elegance with the rugged character familiar from the existing BMW X models.

The compact SUV will be powered by an efficient engine featuring a six-speed manual gearbox, seven-speed dual-clutch Steptronic transmission or an eight-speed Steptronic transmission.

The model offers the latest BMW ConnectedDrive Services, a wide range of driver assistance systems and a BMW Head-Up Display with projections onto the windscreen available as options.

Ahead of the production ramp up of the new BMW X3 through the second half of the year, the BMW X1 and X6 were the major contributors to the major growth enjoyed by the BMW X family last year, through into January this year.

The global monthly sales volume of the BMW X1 jumped in January by 10.6 percent on the same month last year to 22,185 units, while the BMW X6 realized 5.8 percent year-on-year growth to 3,128 units.