2025 BMW X3 Reveals Production Headlights For The First Time

BMW has been testing the X3 in public since last year, but the latest spy shots suggest that the Bavarian automaker has just moved on to the next stage of its development. Our spies caught the latest X3 prototype wearing less camouflage, showing the production lights in the upcoming, redesigned model.

The daytime running lights (DRLs) are shaped like a boomerang, with two of these strips in each cluster in a simplified design compared to older X3s. Meanwhile, the taillights are reminiscent of the ones in the facelifted BMW X5, which have a Y-shaped split on the outboard edges instead of the rounded design on the current model.

The wheel design suggested the two prototypes are of different trims. The prototype with "4085" on the plate seems to be a lower grade between the two, considering it has a more straightforward wheel finish with standard brake calipers. In contrast, the other prototype with "4072" on the plate rocked M wheels with sporty-looking red brake calipers.

Curiously, neither prototype has visible exhausts, suggesting these may be base models with the sportier variant wearing the M Sport styling package. We know they aren't electric or PHEV (no warning stickers or E suffixes on the plates), but perhaps BMW is hiding tailpipes on non-sporting models. Contrarily, earlier this year, the facelifted BMW X3M prototype took on the Nurburgring with blacked-out wheels and a quad exhaust setup.

Propelling the prototypes should be an internal combustion engine; the all-electric iX3 counterpart - not sold in the US - will reportedly be switching to the Neue Klasse platform and will have its design adapted separately, perhaps in line with the new Vision Neue Klasse concept.

A BMW X3 with a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) powertrain is also expected to be in the works following the spy photos captured in Munich, Germany, last year.

The latest spy photos did not reveal the interior. But looking at previous spy photos, the new X3 could get a single glass housing on the dashboard that holds both the instrument cluster and infotainment screen.

The next-gen BMW X3 will likely debut late this year or early next and arrive in time for the 2025 model year. The iX3, underpinned by the Neue Klasse EV platform, should follow later.