BMW is introducing a pair of electrified vehicles at the Los Angeles auto show as the automaker fends off pressure from Tesla and other rivals.
The BMW X3 xDrive30e plug-in hybrid crossover will go on sale next month in Europe and reach U.S. customers in the first quarter of next year. Pricing has not been disclosed.
The X3 plug-in hybrid combines a 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and battery pack to deliver an electric-only range of nearly 20 miles (32 km). The all-wheel-drive crossover delivers 292 hp and can go from 0 to 62 mph (100 kph) in 6.1 seconds. It has a top speed of 130 mph (209 kph).
The X3 xDrive30e will be produced starting in December at BMW's plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina in the U.S. — alongside the conventionally powered model variants of the X3.
It is the first BMW model to be offered with a conventional combustion engine, a plug-in hybrid system, and an all-electric model variant, due to be added in 2020.
The redesigned BMW 330e plug-in hybrid has undergone a performance and range boost and now combines a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine with a motor to give a combined 292 hp.
The new model also gets a larger 12 kWh battery — which increases the 330e's electric range by more than 50 percent compared with its predecessor to 41 miles (66 km).
The model is already on sale in Europe and will arrive in the U.S. in the spring.
The 330e can go from 0 to 62 mph (100 kph) in 5.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 143 mph.
BMW is also introducing the M8 Gran Coupe, M2 CS and 2-series Gran Coupe at the LA show. Additional featured vehicles include the BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M crossovers, the refreshed BMW 7-series sedan and the BMW 530e plug-in hybrid sedan.
