The BMW X3 was redesigned for the 2018 model year and has been very well received. Compared to the old model, sales are up by 60 percent so the future is looking bright for the compact crossover. One common complaint, however, is the limited choice of engine options. In the US, there are only two trims available: the 30i, which is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine delivering 248 hp, and the more potent M40i, which has a 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder unit with 355 hp.

That will soon change, however, as we've known for a while that BMW is working on a plug-in hybrid version of the X3, as well as the fully electric iX3. If you've been waiting for BMW to launch a more economical version of the X3, we have good news for you.

BMW's CEO, Harald Kruger, has confirmed to BMWBlog that the first ever BMW X3 plug-in hybrid will arrive next year alongside the new plug-in hybrid X5. The plug-in hybrid will serve as an alternative to the fully electric iX3, which is expected to go on sale in 2020.

When it arrives, the X3 plug-in hybrid will use the same powertrain as the 330e plug-in hybrid sedan. That means it will have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with an electric motor positioned between the engine and gearbox producing a combined 275 hp.

The new X5 hybrid, on the other hand, will have a more powerful 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine under the hood and an electric motor delivering around 390 hp. The electric driving range for both models hasn't been confirmed, but BMWBlog claims it will be closer to 30 miles in real life scenarios, which will be a significant improvement over the X5 xDrive40e.