Filed under: SUVs, Etc., Government/Legal, BMW

The K-9 unit in Hilliard, Ohio is completely funded by donations from local businesses and organizations. The latest firm to give something to the K-9 team is BMW Financial Services, which provided a specially modified BMW X3. The $50,000 SUV was given to the department in honor of the unit’s second birthday and its stellar arrest record. The X3 was kitted out by BMW and other suppliers with a light bar, canine cage, remote controlled door latches, and it touted as being dog and criminal ready. In Hilliard at least, a dog’s life has gotten just that much easier.

Thanks for the tip, Oss!

[Source: Auto-Talk]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossovers/CUVs, BMW

The arrival of the X6 is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to BMW’s impending onslaught of CUVs. We mustn’t forget one of the CUVs that started it all for the Munich-based automaker - the smallish X3. Though just refreshed, the current X3 is awkward looking, something BMW hopes to fix when the 2010 X3 arrives in late 2009. Shown here in resplendent rendered speculation (click the Read link to see the full version), the next X3 will adopt a front end inspired by the BMW CS Concept that debuted at last year’s Shanghai Motor Show. It would appear the concept’s flaired nostrels have made their way to the X3’s nose, while those split air intakes on the lower bumper are shared with the new X6 and will also likely become a future design cue for BMW activity vehicles. Of course, all new BMWs are getting the ubiquitous but excellent twin-turbo 3.0L inline six-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower, and we expect the X3 will be no different. That’s a good thing, as Dan Roth discovered the current 260 HP 3.0L six in the current X3 gets winded pulling around the vehicle’s 4,100+ lb. curb weight.

[Source: egmcartech]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, SUVs, BMW, Lifestyle

Click above for a full resolution image

The closest BMW has ever come to having an off-road vehicle was sticking its V8 engines into Range Rovers. Even it’s “Sport Activity Vehicle”, the X5, rarely sees time off the pavement and sticks to hauling kids to school and soccer practice. Hartge has set out to change that with an off-road program for Bimmer SUVs, the latest of which is an X3 dubbed the “Hunter”. The Bavarian tuner gives the mini-ute increased ground clearance with longer springs and shocks as well as spacers up front. An underbody stainless steel skid plate, shortened axle ratio, and automatic differential locks on both axles improve its exploring capabilities. All-terrain tires are a must, and they are mounted on Hartge’s lightweight 18-inch “Classic 2″ wheels. For the true enthusiast, Hartge offers washable seat covers and a “green look” interior. We doubt Land Rover and Jeep owners will be flocking to their local BMW dealership for a trade-in, but it’s definitely one of the more capable off-road BMWs we’ve seen. The press release is after the jump, and you can view the X3 Hunter in action in the gallery below.

[Source: Hartge]

Continue reading Hartge goes off-roading with the X3 “Hunter”

Permalink | Email this | Comments