BMW Might Skip the X3 M and Let Alpina Take Over

BMW took its time with the first proper X3 M. It only showed up in 2019, but when it did, it was serious. The F97 X3 M and M Competition weren’t just quick SUVs; they ended up shaping the next M3 as well. Same engine family, same attitude.

Now fast forward to the new G45 X3. It’s been out for a while, and still no proper M version. That’s a bit odd, especially since the last one set a pretty clear standard.

Right now, the top dog is the M50. It’s not slow. A 3.0-liter turbo straight-six with 393 hp and 428 lb-ft is more than enough for most people. But it’s not an X3 M. Not even close to the old one’s 473 hp, or the Competition’s 503 hp. It feels like a placeholder.

So the big question is simple. Is BMW even planning another X3 M?

Here’s where things get interesting. Instead of a trademark for “X3 M,” BMW recently filed for something called “XB3.” That points straight at Alpina.

If you know Alpina, the name makes sense. X for SUV, B for petrol, 3 for the X3. And now that Alpina is fully under BMW, this could be a shift in strategy. Instead of doing a classic M version, BMW might let Alpina handle the fast X3.

There’s also an “XB8” filing, likely tied to a future XM replacement, which follows the same logic. So this isn’t random.

Alpina has been here before, too. The XD3 from previous generations was their take on a performance X3, just with diesel power. The last one used a wild quad-turbo 3.0-liter diesel with 383 hp and a massive 568 lb-ft. It wasn’t sold everywhere, but where it was available, it stood out.

So now it looks like BMW might be changing direction. Instead of a sharp, aggressive X3 M, we could get a faster, more refined Alpina-style version.