BMW has revealed it will delay the United States launch of its next-generation X3 SUV. The all-new X3 was expected to hit the market in late 2010 as a 2011 model, but the revised SUV won’t surface in BMW showrooms until early 2011.
A launch delay of the 2011 X3 has been rumored for several weeks now, with BMW North America president Jim O’Donnell confirming those reports on Monday. O’Donnell revealed to AutoWeek that the delay is linked to a new custom ordering system BMW is launching with the X3.
Under the new ordering system, most X3s will be custom tailored to a customer’s specifications. BMW will still allow dealers to order vehicles for stock, but will limit options to the top 10 most popular. If the program proves successful, BMW will expand the program to the X5 and X6, with customer orders expects to account for more than 70 percent of all sales.
The delay will also allow BMW to launch the X3 with several engine options. The X3 was originally scheduled to launch with just one engine offering – a gasoline-powered inline-six – but the compact ‘ute could now launch with up to four engine packages. A diesel engine will be part of the mix, although BMW has yet to decide if the X3’s oil burner will be a four or six-cylinder engine.
Despite the U.S. delay, the next X3 is still on schedule to hit the European market in late 2010. Production of the 2011 X3 will shift from Austria to Spartanburg, South Carolina.
11/16, 5:30 PM
posted by:
anyclearer
An ordering system wouldnt delay the launch a year. Something else is up!
11/16, 5:39 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM is an idiot
Oh well the first one was ugly to begin with.
11/16, 5:49 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Maybe BMW should take a page from Acura and Honda and only make their cars with 2 option packages unlike the nightmare that is ordering a BMW today. Make everything standard and have two option packages would reduce the cost of the options, raise the average price of the cars closer to their market value and cause less leftovers to sit on the lots at the end of the year due to poor packaging.
11/16, 6:00 PM
posted by:
KarLoveBoy88
Heres a theory….delay every BMW planned for the US. That way we wont have to be plagued by sub-par quality and design that they give us.
11/16, 6:29 PM
posted by:
CiNO
Hope to see some style borrowing from its bigger brother X5.
11/16, 7:27 PM
posted by:
Rafa LL
KarLoveBoy88
Go back to your diamond earrings online shop and leave…
BMW is pretty good, X3 and X1 are not par with other models.
11/16, 8:08 PM
posted by:
Borat
It is not delay for a year. It is a delay for 3-5 months. In US X3 is not an expensive vehicle, in Europe it is. What BMW is trying to do is customer tailored cars. Those of us who don’t like packaged options, i.e. slush box, sunroof packaged with stereo upgrade and dvd will be pleased.For dealers and majority of consumers it is probably a headache.
11/16, 10:16 PM
posted by:
85ZingoGTR
*shrugs* Thanks @$$holes. Now I have to wait till 2012 for the X1. WTF??!! Now they are doing the same sh*t that Lexus is doing. Showing you all these pretty options available but guess what…”Oh. they’re not available in your area unless you special order them and wait months for your car.” Luxury car my @$$. Big dissapointment BMW.
11/16, 11:38 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
i’ll second that, jake…especially perusing used car listings it helps to know what you’re getting if there are just a few option packages to track…take a mini, for example, they’re a nightmare…so many individual options you never really know what a particular mini has unless you get full disclosure and pics of the interior to verify…few folks really document that thoroughly, though, in their ads…
11/17, 12:40 AM
posted by:
jcbeeno
LOL, you just cannot rush PERFECTION!
Russ
http://www.online-privacy.at.tc
11/17, 10:08 AM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Good to see the SRX has BMW rethinking it’s strategy. It’ll be impossible to match the quality, reliability and performance along with the good looks.
Really, I don’t understand why BMW doesn’t just pack it up and go home like good little nazos. Cadillac has already exposed the inferiority of BMW at the performance end and Buick is exposing the inferiority in the luxury end. Sh1t, Chevrolet and the rest of General Motors have already exposed BMWs inferiority in quality, reliability and dependibility. What’s left for them to try and compete with? They are the laughing stock of the auto industry!
Pack it up. Go back to Germany where you belong. Get the f*ck off our shores where you don’t belong
Be American. Buy American. Buy GM. It is your patriotic obligation
11/18, 9:56 AM
posted by:
tiM3
Could have something to do with falling short of the contracted number of units through Magna.