The BMW X3 M is fast. The current generation offers up to 503 horsepower in stock trim, enough to fire the SUV to a top speed of around 160 mph. That’s when the limiter kicked in, but the X3 M featured in this Autobahn AutoTopNL test was unavailable. Not only is the limiter missing, there’s about 150 extra horsepower to play with. The result is a black rocket that may surprise more than a few people on unrestricted sections of the highway.
That’s where this video takes place, but it’s not just a top speed show. We were treated to some full-throttle pull, and the X3 M did not disappoint in both acceleration and sound. There’s no mistaking the tune that BMW’s 3.0-liter inline-six engine creates, and with the help of two turbochargers, the video claims no less than 660 hp under the hood. All four wheels take advantage of this power, so that when the throttle is pinned at a slower speed, the acceleration immediately looks wild.
At the start of the video, the small SUV goes from 90 kph (56 mph) to 210 kph (130 mph) in just 10 seconds. Keep in mind, though, that the vehicle’s weight and frontal area aren’t quite as speed friendly as, say, a Porsche 911. Another strong tug in the later clip sends the X3 from 81 kph (50 mph) to 226 kph (140 mph) in 13 seconds. We can see the aerodynamics working against the Bimmer at this point, but there’s a lot more to give.
The video says the modified X3 M has a top speed of 300 kph (186 mph). We didn’t see that figure hit during this Autobahn session, but the driver got closer to 287 kph (178 mph). Perhaps more impressive is that the SUV still pulls steadily in the upper speedo range. With more time to train the needle, getting to 300 seems reasonable.
The new BMW X3 is currently in the testing phase. We’ve seen testing of undercover prototypes, but the current model almost certainly marks the end of the combustion-powered M variant. Reports say the next X3 M could only be electric.
