I'd buy it!

Damn, that's very nice. Makes me want to do that myself. I would definitely buy that.

Tempting...in a girl-with-some-meat-on-her-bones, guilty pleasure sort of way.

Hell yes. Just be sure name it something like "Rallye-wagen" with some odd pseudo-english spellings.

Wow! The AMC Eagle isn't dead; it's just been living in Bavaria.

I do think they're on to something there. With it stretched like that it seems less high centered. It has a similar visual balance to a Magnum. Almost reminiscent of a big Merc G series as well.

As the owner of an X3, I can say that the elongated lines are great. BUT, the high roof of the X3 is SO nice when entering and exiting the vehicle and when putting a child in a car seat in the back!

It looks sweet though and I would still probably put one in my garage even if it had a slightly lower roofline.

What's modified about that E91? It simply looks jacked up, with fat tires and a roof rack.

@Tomsk: And yes, it's totally production-worthy. Call it the 3##xi Wanderlust.

Looks nice, please BMW leave it this way.

it kinda looks like a af.f gasser rake from the late 60's...or a cat heeling up before it strikes; either way, its a suv; therefore, it must die

@bobdobbs: Ah, flared fenders.

totally nicer. the current X3 looks hackneyed at best... I wouldn't even buy one for my woman! this body looks more spacious as well; the X3 interior is rather cramped.

@bobdobbs: Um... I believe those are the modifications.

I'm thinking more photoshop or crazy German backyard conversion than mule. It looks like it has some long, spindly trailing arms, maybe in the perverse mind of whoever 'shopped this BMW is going to move the X-series to live rear axles.

@Mad_Science: The BBW BMW.

Looks pretty cool. A bit of body cladding might improve even more; you know, Audi Allroad / Volvo XC wagon / Subaru Outback style.

allroad

So explain to me how an X6 would be better than this.

Wow... That is what the x3 should look like.

Count me among the "would hit, er, buy it" group.

Shoot, if they threw in a real transfer case with a low range, they could have a kidney too.

Somebody explain to me why it makes more sense to test the next X3's underpinnings under this than, say, a current X3.

Is it the slightest bit possible this is something different than an X3 test mule?

@beercheck: Is it the slightest bit possible this is something different than an X3 test mule?

What, you mean like some kind of fantasy Photo-chop for the artist own edification? Why would someone do that? It makes no sense!

Also, ditto.

Want. Now lets see the same in 5er style.

@beercheck: It's a test mule for the next Z4. Designed to throw us waaaaay off the scent...

Yep. This is what it should look like.

Why is it wearing a little hat?

So, the X6 looks like an AMC Spirit, this looks like an Eagle, what're the chances the next 1-series will look like a Gremlin or a Pacer?

@Rust-MyEnemy: Even that would stand up better to Occam's Razor than an "E91 3-series station wagon as next-gen X3 test mule" interpretation of this photo.

@Novaload: Perhaps to give it the same lousy CdA of an actual X3?

@Rust-MyEnemy: As long as we are all smoking crack out of foil pipes let me speculate that Cerebus is bringing back the AMC Eagle wagon and using a 3-series body on its test mule out of spite for BMW stealing the design from the AMC Eagle hatch for the X6.

I would have to say what is the point? The garden variety 328Xi wagon would have the same utility and drive better because of the normal ride height. The nice thing about the X3 is the cargo room gained from a taller greenhouse and even though you are not going to go rock crawling it has adequate off-road ability for most people who need to drive through a snow drift or down a rutted dirt road. Audi went down that path with the Allroad and they ended up dropping it. The 328Xi is a great car by the way. I got to drive one for a day and if they put the twin turbo in there I would be tempted to buy one for a daily if I didn't need to run over things and crawl over rocks.

@Picarso: Audi didn't drop the allroad. Give me ten minutes and I can walk to the local Audi dealership and take one for a test drive.

Hells yes!

better yet: give us an m3 coupe with that kind of a stance, with those big wheels....damn that would be crazy thing. crazy and wonderful

I always found it hilarious that the Porsche Cayenne - the ultimate yuppiemobile - features a low-range gearbox and locking differentials.

Even the X5 hasn't got either of them.

@no_slushbox: Yes. In hindsight, everythings been shit since the AMC Spirit 4x4....

@TheGuinnessTooth:
Not in the states. Check it out.
[www.audiusa.com]

@Spasticteapot:
Yeah silly, that's why I bought a Cayenne T over the X5.

that mule has been in spy photos for a while now. Does look good.

Comment on BMW X3 Powetrain Mule Probably Cooler Than BMW X3 How is no one comparing this to the Q7? Looks like a mini-BMW version.

...modified? this looks like an E91 on bigger wheels and a jacked-up suspension, no other changes. and, it looks better than the actual production X3, but it's still not that good looking.

my cousin drives an E91 328i, and i'd never say it to her, but her car is pretty ugly. BMW should start building all of their 3-series wagons and sedans with the E90 body, instead of just having an E90 M3.

@rimplestultskin: Huh? The E91 is the E90 body, with a hatch and roof rails.

What if this is an F3?

I call shenanigans -- the shading on the front left corner doesn't match up with the rest of the vehicle....it's too bright.

Photoshopped.

Lazy designer,just jack up a 3 series, not good enough!

id drive it!