xDrive? Much of this agility is clearly the result of this BMW technological breakthrough. The Bavarian automaker's 'intelligent' all-wheel drive system, virtually eliminates understeer and oversteer by infinitely varying torque distribution from front to rear, instantly responding to road surface irregularities to optimize performance, benefiting both safety and enthusiast concerns. This is no gimmick, but in my now educated opinion one of the most impressive driver enhancements since the inception of traction and yaw control.

Two engine choices will be available in North America for the X3, the 184-hp 2.5-L or the beefier 225-hp 3.0-L, both inline sixes. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

And it would otherwise be easy to get the SUV into trouble, what with its turbine-like smooth 2.5 or 3.0-L inline 6-cylinder engines. While European markets get to choose from a third 3.0-L turbodiesel variant that produces a formidable 302 lb-ft of torque, North American customers only have the option of the capable smaller displacement engine, producing 184-hp at 6,000 rpm and 175 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm, or the top-line triple liter unit, upping horsepower to 225 at 5,900 rpm and torque to 214 at 3,500 rpm. Unfortunately, being early production examples, no 2.5-L X3s were available at the time of the press launch, so we had to 'make do' with the larger motor.

At high speeds, the X3 displays exceptional stability during long sweeping turns as well as fast lane changes. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

The 3.0-L feels energetic at takeoff, much more so than as in the larger and heavier base X5 - the press kit shows 7.8 seconds to 100 km/h from standstill with the 6-speed manual and 8.1 seconds in the automatic that I was driving. The new SUV felt especially quick from about 80 km/h to 100, further validated by BMW's press info showing times of 7.7 seconds in the manual and 9.9 in the auto. It was at such high speeds where the X3 displayed exceptional stability during long, sweeping turns as well as fast lane changes.

The brakes are amazing too. No perceptible fade, fantastic pedal feel and immediate response to input allow an assertive driver the ability to push farther into the corner than possible in lesser SUVs. A sophisticated 4-channel ABS system is standard, but I never needed to engage it as the conventional 4-wheel discs, with a twin-piston swing-caliper front and single-piston swing caliper rear setup, performed stopping duties over and over without complaint.