Driving the BMW M340i helped me appreciate the benefits of treading the fine line between practical luxury and high-performance luxury. To me, it's the perfect car this side of a crore perfectly blending practicality, luxury and performance. BMW has now introduced the X3 M40i which is based on the same concept but in the arguably more practical SUV body style.
Besides the M40i badging on the boot, the bigger 20-inch alloys and a blacked-out grille, there aren't any instantly apparent visual differences between the M40i and the M Sport variants of the X3. A closer inspection of its exterior reveals a few more differences including the M Shadow Line lights that offer a dark tint around the headlamps, aerodynamically friendly rearview mirrors and red brake calipers. Step inside and the all-black theme draping the cabin announces the X3 M40i's sportier nature. There's faux carbon fibre trim on the dashboard and the steering wheel and seat belts get M colour stitching to highlight the involvement of the M division in the development of this variant. Based on the range-topping M Sport trim of the regular X3, the M40i too gets a long list of comfort and convenience features including a panoramic sunroof, 3-zone climate control, Harman Kardon audio setup, wireless charging, wireless Android Auto/ Apple CarPlay support and plenty more.
This story is from the August 2023 edition of Auto Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2023 edition of Auto Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
New kid on the block
There's a new Pulsar in town, and it's called the N125. Bajaj already has 15 variants of its most popular model on sale currently, and this one is meant to provide a balance between performance and practicality. So, does it? Where does it fit into the Pulsar range as a whole?
Turn on, tune in and drop out
The latest offering from Royal Enfield is a bobberinspired, mini-ape handlebar-equipped take on the Classic 350. It's for those who like to take it easy and look good while doing it
Racing gods summoned
India is a land of gods but the racing gods haven't blessed us often. The Indian Racing Festival attempts to change this with the promise of celebrating racing. Om Shukla tells you about it
Coming to grips
We recently received an invitation to visit the COASTT test track in Coimbatore to test Reise Moto's new steel radial tyres. What are these tyres all about and how well did they perform? Abhinav Jakhar put on some leather in search of answers
INTO THE WILD
We take to exploring the wilder side of things with the hugely popular Hyundai Creta. Abhinav Jakhar takes you to one of the most significant national parks in the country, Ranthambore
Minimal effort Maximum impact
The Magnite has been Nissan's sole product in India, up until the recent introduction of the X-Trail. To address its issues with premiumness, Nissan has brought a mid-life update to the Magnite
A revolutionary E-SUV for the family
Mahindra has created ripples in the Indian electric car market with the launch of the BE 6 and the XEV 9e. While the BE 6 is a compact SUV coupe, the XEV 9e is the larger one. Here is how the XEV 9e weighs up.
Bringing sexy back
Mahindra has just launched two new electric SUVs and we got a try out both. Here is how the smaller of the two, the Mahindra BE 6 fared
HERO OF THE FREESPIRITED
The Mavrick 440 has proved its mettle time and again with its unique approach to the roadster genre. But, there's more to Hero MotoCorp's flagship motorcycle
Martin crowned MotoGP champion
JORGE MARTIN has become the first independent team rider to clinch the MotoGP World Championship as he sealed his title at the Spanish Grand Prix.