BMW

  • 2020 BMW 228i Gran Coupe Yearlong Test: A Quick Tale of New Run-Flat Tires

    Hard driving, aggressive tire wear, and a new set of non-OEM run-flats—the text came in from our test fleet manager, Erick Ayapana, describing the need to source new tires for the 228i xDrive because the current ones were worn beyond safe use. I told him I had recently driven the vehicle and hadn't seen any sort of excessive tire wear. He replied with a few photos of metal cords poking through the edges of rubber, which quickly squashed any debate.

     Some inquiring staff members revealed that an enthusiastic colleague in our photography department had worked on sharpening his driving skills while returning from a photo assignment in the mountains near Lake Isabella, California, and quickly found the end of the tread life on the OEM Bridgestone Turanzas. Although the tires wore out much sooner than anticipated, we thought replacing them would be a straightforward exercise. We were wrong. Pandemic-induced tire shortages are now commonplace across the globe, and the Turanzas were unavailable from every site we searched. Therefore, we dialed up Tire Rack for professional guidance and asked them to suggest a suitable alternative.

     The rep at Tire Rack suggested a tire from Bridgestone's Driveguard series. This series offers the benefit of pressure loss protection in case of a puncture for vehicles that didn't come with OEM run-flats when sold new. And although the 228i xDrive didn't come with run-flats, the supply shortage in its OEM tire meant switching to a Driveguard was a solid choice.

     

    With the new tires mounted, we took the 228i xDrive to our test track to see if the new rubber gained us any advantage. Indeed, with the new Driveguards installed, we shaved 0.5 second off the 228i xDrive's figure-eight lap time, although we saw 5 feet added to the vehicle's 60-0 braking distance. Some give and take there, but overall they seem like a fine replacement for the unavailable OEM rubber. If there's more to tell, we'll let you know in a future update.

    https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2020-bmw-2-series-gran-coupe-long-term-update
  • 2021 BMW M440i First Test: Not Just a Two-Door 3 Series (PHOTOS) 2021 BMW M440i First Test: Not Just a Two-Door 3 Series

    It drives better than it looks but doesn’t justify those M badges. Is that a bad thing?

    Mt. Baldy road is hardly more than an hour's drive from downtown Los Angeles, yet it evokes European alpine passes—those that lead from metropolises to epic vistas and crisp mountain air. Breaking off from the freeway, it crosses a quiet suburb before opening into long sweepers weaving up the hillside. In the final climb, it crinkles into tight switchbacks before terminating at a tiny rural ski resort. It's the type of road cars like the BMW M440i xDrive were made for.

    No longer is the 4 Series simply a two-door 3 Series. As that iconic sedan preserves its dynamic focus, the 4 Series evolves and now offers a blend of luxury and performance once reserved for BMW's highest-end models. It's a balance that'll leave some drivers in bliss and others wanting more.

    Is The M440i Quick? Yes...
    Behind those atrocious oversized kidney grilles is a smooth, turbocharged 3.0-liter I-6 making 382 hp and 364 lb-ft of torque, sent through an eight-speed automatic to BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system. It's a potent setup. Using the sportiest drive modes and a bit of pedal overlap, the M440i leaps to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds flat, and cuts the quarter mile in 12.6 seconds at 110.2 mph.

    Acceleration is the most M-ish thing about this car—to 60, it's as quick as an X3 M Competition and not far off the pace of the last-gen M3. Yet the M440i's engine is just as happy to calmly loaf about as it is to rush to redline. All the while it revs with a sweet (but perhaps digitally enhanced) growl.

    Swat the paddle shifters and gears change obediently, even if they aren't dual-clutch fast. Grab an upshift under heavy throttle, and the car replies with a nice little kick. Or, just leave it in automatic and cruise, letting its computers softly select the right gear.

    M-emblazoned brake calipers clamp ventilated rotors for a 109-foot stop from 60 mph. That deceleration splits other performance-oriented BMWs; the M340i stops in 111 feet and the M2 Competition in 106 feet. The brakes feel reactive and provide a linear buildup of stopping power. But pedal stroke is long, making it hard to gauge how much of a press is needed to get the desired effect. The reactivity makes them a bit grabby at lower speeds, while the long stroke didn't inspire confidence when approaching those mountain hairpins.

    With MotorTrend test boss Kim Reynolds at the wheel, the M440i posted a 24.7-second, 0.78g-average lap on the figure-eight course. On the skidpad, it stayed stuck up to 0.93 g. That's impressive when put into context against other sporty all-wheel-drive cars. The Quattro-packing Audi S4 lapped the figure-eight in 25.2 seconds at 0.75 g. The Mercedes C43 with AMG-ified 4Matic did the same in 24.8 seconds at 0.77 g. Both circled the skidpad at 0.91 g. After assessing the 4 Series, Reynolds called it a "very powerful car that's propelled fast to the next corner with modest tail-out drift exiting."

    ...But Is It Fun To Drive? Not Quite.

    True as that may be on the test track, don't expect the xDrive system to provide tail-happy hijinks without serious provocation. Drivers with sub-Reynolds skill levels will find it feels as all-wheel drive as can be. On Mt. Baldy's switchbacks the M440i was extremely reluctant to rotate, instead rounding the bends with staid neutrality. Going to throttle early just brought understeer with overly cautious stability control intervention. On sweeping curves it provided superb high-speed composure but little excitement. And this was in Sport Plus mode, in a car equipped with the "ZTK" cooling and high-performance tire package.

    Further undermining the numerous M badges is the paucity of steering feel. Like in the M8 Competition, the abject lack of sensation coming through the wheel results in a dilution of fun. It feels numb, insulated from whatever's going on under the front tires, not made better by its lightness and somewhat slow ratio. Sure, it's accurate, and the car goes where the driver wills it. But it's not quite agile, while the anesthetized sensations make grip levels vague. That mystical bond between driver and machine that BMWs were once known for simply isn't there.

    Also lacking feel is the ride—but that could be a good thing, because here the M440i feels more like a grand tourer than a sport coupe. Whereas 3 Series models with M Sport suspension hammer their occupants over every road imperfection, the M440i rides comfortably, effectively erasing cracks and chatter, only ever slightly rough over large potholes. Although it's compliant and not floaty, more feeling through the suspension would give a better sense of connection to the road during spirited driving. Any other time? It's luxe.

    Continent-cruising comfort persists in the cabin. The plush front seats feel like lounge chairs with side bolstering. In a real surprise the back seats are actually somewhat usable. There's a decent amount of space, and dedicated air vents, USB ports, and storage cubbies show that BMW didn't make the 4 Series' second row an afterthought. Faultless driver-assist technologies make highway driving a breeze.

    Although the 12.3-inch digital gauge display isn't as customizable as equivalents from German competitors, BMW's latest iDrive revision is more user-friendly, and its 10.3-inch touchscreen is bright and clear. Crisp, thumping sound pours out of the optional 16-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. Material quality is high, although the layout is essentially identical to any other current BMW, a mere evolution from the previous 4 Series. A more inspired interior seems warranted for a car that makes such a daring design statement outside. Then again, perhaps the austere cabin offers a refuge from the sight of that egregious grille.

    Is The M440i A Proper M Car?
    There's no doubt that the M440i drives better than it looks. Understand, though, that it isn't a 3 Series coupe. Like the finest GT cars, the M440i is capable but distances its driver from the machinery underneath. It's powerful, poised, and easy to drive fast. Yet there's incredibly little sensation of speed, and the feelings of connection and involvement that true driver's cars offer are all but absent. Maybe the M4 will fix that.

    Instead, the M440i feels more like a miniature 8 Series: a smooth, calm haven to cruise in that'll still indulge in full-throttle blasts. Like a proper grand tourer, it'll waft through town, tear across interstates, and oblige some corner carving—exactly as it did up Mt. Baldy road. Just don't be misled by all those M badges.

    Source: motortrend.com

  • 2021 BMW M440i xDrive Noses Away From Its Roots 2021 BMW M440i xDrive

    The M440i xDrive's spectacular inline-six can't quite make up for the rest of the car.

    Traditionalists will say the new 4-series maintains only a passing resemblance to a BMW, like an unlicensed rendering in a video game. They'll also note the attention-snaring vertically oriented grille. But what's most disappointing is that it's not as good to drive as we'd expect a sporty BMW coupe to be.

    The 4's redesign catches it up to the current G20-generation 3-series. Although the two cars share a 112.2-inch wheelbase, the coupe is an inch or two longer, wider, and lower and has a wider rear track. That growth brings a larger rear seat that's tolerable for average-size adults. In profile, the 4 looks almost like a scaled-down 8-series, yet unlike the 8, it doesn't look quite so much like a Ford Mustang.

    The update adds to the 4's curb weight. It's now basically a two-ton car in the top M440i xDrive trim, with our test car placing a substantial 53.8 percent of that mass on its front wheels. Even with 19-inch Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires (18s with all-seasons are standard), it managed only 0.91 g of skidpad grip, and understeer dominates. We've recorded more stick from the newest 3-series and even some family sedans, although our car did stop from 70 mph in a short 149 feet.

    The M440i's variable-ratio steering is short on tactility and has an almost rubbery buildup of force as you turn off-center. The rack's rather quick ratio only amplifies its artificial feel. Factor in the compliant ride from the adaptive dampers and the 4 has veered into grand-touring territory. It'll still happily hustle down a challenging road, but the experience isn't as satisfying as it used to be.

    The M440i xDrive is still quick—3.8 seconds to 60 mph—thanks to the 382 horsepower from BMW's awesome turbo 3.0-liter inline-six. A new 48-volt motor-generator adds some pounds yet contributes up to 11 horses to assist the engine before the turbo wakes up. Lag is nicely mitigated as proven by the fleet 4.6-second time in our launch-free five-to-60-mph test. Sadly, a manual is no longer offered, but ZF's ubiquitous eight-speed automatic swaps gears as sweetly as ever.

    This being our first turn with the new 4, we're hoping other versions offer a closer connection. Our hope is the four-cylinder 430i model, which comes standard with non-variable steering and passive dampers, will carry the BMW dynamics torch of yore. It is currently the only 4-series available with rear-wheel drive, though a rear-drive six-cylinder model will be added later.

    The fiery performance of the latest M3 and M4, both of which adopt similar vertical grilles, should help us acclimate to the controversial design. But the softer character of the M440i xDrive makes it tough to overlook the 4's new face.

    Source: caranddriver.com

  • 2022 BMW iX xDrive50 First Drive: A Glimpse at the Future 2022 BMW iX xDrive50 First Drive: A Glimpse at the Future

    BMW’s newest SUV previews our and its electric future.

    BMW is serious about going green. Forget about concept cars; starting in 2025 all BMWs will ride on what's for now called the Neue Klasse platform, a single electric vehicle architecture to rule them all. Board member and development CTO Frank Weber called the Neue Klasse "new new" and went on to describe it as "the most radical departure BMW has ever done." Until that time, the Bavarian automotive giant is launching all sorts of EVs on various other platforms, including the i4, an electric 5 Series presumably named i5, an i7, as well as a small SUV that will most likely be called the iX1. BMW already sells an electric X3 named—you guessed it—iX3, but not here in the U.S. However, the brand's most ambitious EV to date is the new iX. I just spent a day in the X5-sized electric SUV, specifically the U.S.-bound AWD 2022 iX xDrive50. How is it? Keep reading. 

    From a platform point of view, the iX rides on a highly modified version of BMW's CLAR platform. CLAR underpins the majority of BMW's lineup, including the 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 Series, as well as the X3, X4, X5, X6, and X7 SUVs. The Z4 and Toyota Supra, too. Perhaps a better way of explaining the iX's architecture is to say that it rides on a new high-strength steel, carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, and aluminum spaceframe platform, but one that relies heavily on CLAR componentry. Like suspension pieces, for instance. This allows the iX to be built alongside its gasoline-powered siblings at BMW's massive Dingolfing factory. As for the competition, there hardly is any. Both archrivals Audi and Mercedes-Benz have yet to build electric midsize SUVs. Jaguar does have the slow selling I-Pace, though its short range knocks it from most people's short lists. The Cadillac Lyriq will be a worthy opponent once it shows up in a year or so. That leaves the nearly $100K Tesla Model X, which makes the $84,195 iX seem like a solid deal.

    What Makes The IX?

    Powering the xDrive50 are two motors, one per axle, that combined spin out 516 horsepower and 564 lb-ft of torque. Stout numbers, no doubt, though come January, the even more powerful iX M60 bows with over 600 horsepower. Those 516 ponies puts the iX just below the output the current X5 M50i gets from its twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8, though the gas-powered X5 makes slightly less torque (553 lb-ft). BMW wants to show consumers there's no performance hit for choosing an EV, at least on paper. We haven't tested or weighed the iX yet, though the EV is much heavier. BMW is quoting an EU-specified curb weight of nearly 5,700 pounds.

    2022 BMW ix xDrive50 07
     Why so heavy? Batteries. Until something better comes along, electric cars, trucks, and SUVs will be using lithium-ion batteries, and, like bricks, they're heavy. At 105 kWh of usable capacity, the bmw ix has a fairly large battery, too. To give you some perspective, the Tesla Model S and X both have 100-kWh packs, whereas the Lucid Air uses a 113-kWh battery pack. In terms of range, before I set off with a 96 percent state of charge, the iX was telling me I had 351 miles (565 km) to go. That's a predictive range, based on several factors, such as driver (or, in my case, previous driver) behavior. BMW claims 380 miles of range on the EU cycle, and that will probably drop to around 300 miles on the EPA cycle. One thing that will upset existing EV fans more than new converts: There is no frunk. None at all. Seems like a mistake.

    That Face

    How about that grille? That's the new face of BMW. Hate it? Well, every human on Instagram seems to agree with you. That said—and yes, I'm obviously old, soft, blind, and on BMW's payroll—in person I thought the iX's face looked, dare I say it, good? There was something about the massive kidney grilles and the narrow, robot-like eyes that just worked. Almost like a second-generation Cylon from the Battlestar Galactica reboot. It's miles better than the grille on the new M3/M4, at any rate. Back to Instagram, the big question seemed to be, if there's no engine, why is there a grille at all? Aside from branding, the twin grilles (which are covered in self-healing skin) are cleverly stuffed with sensors, including two types of radar. As for the rest of the exterior, the hard side is nearly generic save for the floating roof. From the rear, the taillights look too skinny, and the body-colored bumper makes the iX's butt look fat.

    Inside The IX

    The iX's interior is an exercise in minimalism, at least for BMW. A massive, curved touchscreen dominates the cabin. In days past, BMW has angled the controls toward the driver. In an homage to days of yore, the screen (that contains the controls) bends toward the driver. The number of buttons has been reduced by 50 percent, what BMW considers the bare minimum. That said, if you look down at the lovely piece of wood that surrounds the iDrive knob, you'll see 12 buttons, not counting the controller itself (which does click down and in the X and Y axis) but including the volume wheel. The buttons that remain are logical, and there's a calmness and spaciousness to the interior that's new for the brand. However, there's also a sparseness that just doesn't scream premium luxury to me. And at nearly $85K to start, it ought to.

    Technically speaking, the iX is stacked. The latest and eighth iteration of iDrive is more powerful than ever. I know this because I sat through at least three iDrive workshops while I was in Munich. Three! Just know that if you say, "Hey BMW, take a selfie," the iX takes a picture of you. No, really. However, the selfie camera is there as a security feature. Did you leave your wallet or purse on the front seat? Just open your phone and have a look. Speaking of wild tech, meet Maneuver Assistant. Long story short, Maneuver Assistant records how you park the iX—say, in a tricky spot in your garage—like a macro. The iX will then repeat the maneuver whenever you tell it to. Said maneuver can be up to 200 meters long. The iX can store up to 10 such maneuvers. Here's the coolest part: The maneuvers can then be transferred from profile to profile. Meaning you could record the move and then transfer it to your spouse/your kid's profile. That's dang nifty, no?

    2022 BMW ix xDrive50 27

    But How's It Drive?

    First impression: Driving around Bavaria's gorgeous Berchtesgaden region that puts the verdant in verde, one is reminded why going green is so monumentally important. I want your kids to see what I just saw. Ahem. Pointed down the mountain with the iX xDrive50 in efficient mode, simply lifting off the throttle allows the iX to coast. The sensation is wonderful, as if the machine is suddenly free. I guess there's enough brake regen to hold the speed, but it feels like you're sailing. I know some EV enthusiasts (they exist, trust me) love huge levels of regen and one-pedal driving and all that, but I prefer to freefall. The iX is remarkably quiet, bordering on perhaps a bit too quiet. The BMW Group's other spaceframe products, Rolls-Royces, are in fact too quiet. What does too quiet mean? You can hear your own heart beating. The iX comes close.

    One area where the bmw ix struggles is that it doesn't sound or feel particularly premium. I know I'm sitting on leather, but the interior has been simplified so much that I feel like I'm in a device, as opposed to a luxury vehicle. I would love to see the (eventual, I hope) Alpina version of the iX, one that's generously slathered in leather. The xDrive50 is slick and high-tech, but there's a Tesla-like sparseness that doesn't connect with me. Plus, the spot that's normally a drivetrain tunnel is simply empty space. Like in a cargo van. Now, maybe that was the design team's intention? Maybe they said, "Look, Tesla is dominating the EV space, and we need to be more like it." If that's the case, then BMW really has succeeded in going minimum. Some customers might even dig it. Call it the Tesla Syndrome. But for my large hunk of cash, I'd like some more wood, metal, and leather. To me, the Tesla aesthetic doesn't work here.

    As for driving on curvy, fun Bavarian roads, it's fine. The iX drives at least as well as the Tesla Model X, and now that I'm thinking about it, quite similarly. That impression makes sense as both weigh about the same, have said weight located in the same spots, and make about the same power. To be clear, I'm talking about the last Model X I drove back in 2016 when the 90D version of the electric three-row SUV produced 518 horsepower from its two motors. For 2022 you now choose between 670 Long Range or 1,020 ponies in the Plaid. Like the equally heavy Tesla, the iX is betrayed by physics. This might be part of why this EV SUV doesn't necessarily feel premium. There's a minivan quality that's hard to get past. I'm not feeling the ultimate driving machine. I'm not feeling BMW as a brand in the way it tackles a road. It's quite like how I felt about the i3. Interesting car, interesting concept, but doesn't feel the way a BMW should feel when I close my eyes. The iX just feels like… an electric thing. That said, the noise the motors make (or is that coming from the speakers?) is quite cool.

    Let's Talk Range

    As far as range goes, I left the hotel at 96 percent charge, and 20 kilometers later the battery was still at 96 percent. I had been in Eco Pro mode most of the time and was pointing downhill. But still, that's impressive. Six km later, the battery was still reading 96 percent. Wanting to burn a little juice, I switched out of the efficient mode and into Comfort. In 4 km, it was still showing 96 percent. I was starting to think the computer was broken. Also, the range was telling me I didn't have to charge for 565 km (351 miles) and that I would arrive at my first destination in 28 km with 89 percent of the battery left. When I started, the computer said I'd make it with 88 percent remaining. The computer therefore doesn't account for downhill driving or elevation changes in the range estimates, so keep that in mind as I'm sure the opposite would be true going uphill. I made it to the first stop having consumed just 1 percent of the battery's juice. Not bad. As mentioned, the iX will probably be rated right around 300 miles of range in the U.S. Based on my driving experience, I predict BMW is going to have a Porsche Taycan situation on its hands, where the EPA rated the Turbo S version at 192 miles of range, but it's actually capable of over 250.

    2022 BMW ix xDrive50 16

    After my first stop, it was time for some freeway. Let me be the first to say that the bmw ix whips ass on the autobahn. This is a seriously quick EV, especially accelerating from about 75 mph to 105 mph. Let me be the billionth person to say, God bless unrestricted sections of autobahn. I took the iX up to its top speed of 124 mph (200 kph) just to check things out, and you can feel the computer shutting down the fun right when you nudge past 120 mph. However, I set the cruise at 170 kph (about 106 mph) and had a couple of realizations. The first is that moving this quickly in absolute silence (I had it in Eco Pro mode) is quite cool. There's hardly any wind noise—it's like being in a private jet. Second, the iX is aerodynamic enough (0.25 claimed Cd) that even well into the triple digits the range isn't affected too negatively. I travelled 30 km (about 19 miles) at 170 kph and used only 4 percent of the battery. Moreover, the adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist work as well as anything, save for Cadillac's impossibly good Supercruise. Once you're moving in a high-speed, straight line, the iX drives great.

    Conclusion

    The 2022 bmw ix previews many things coming down the automotive pike. Not only is it a glimpse into BMW's sustainable, electric, carbon-neutral future, but this type of machine—an electric carlike SUV-sized people mover—will become the dominant mode of first-world personal transportation within the decade. As a signpost pointing toward the future, I feel confident concluding that we're in good shape vis-à-vis the driving world to come. But as a BMW? I'm struggling here. For whatever reason, I want and expect all BMWs to drive better than other machines, or at least most other machines. This is probably an unreasonable expectation, but dammit, all BMWs used to have an X factor. I can still remember driving an ex's E39 540i two decades ago. The relationship went nowhere, but I got a memory that will last a lifetime. As for the all-new bmw ix when it arrives in Q1 of 2022, we Americans will have a fast, powerful, efficient, tech-laden yet minimalist SUV in a segment with few serious competitors. I just wish the iX were a bit more memorable.

    (https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2022-bmw-ix-xdrive50-first-drive-review/)

  • 2023 BMW M4 CSL Is Not for the Faint of Heart 2023 BMW M4 CSL Is Not for the Faint of Heart

    This ultimate M car is BMW's answer to the Porsche 911 GT3 and the upcoming Mercedes-AMG C63 S E-Performance.

    At an indicated 274 km/h (170 mph) on the Autobahn A94 Munich-Passau in the 2023 BMW M4 CSL, we muster the last crumbs of courage and stretch out the right foot all the way. Guess what happens? The thing downshifts into seventh. At a ludicrous 5800 rpm, a token 1400 rpm below the redline—ignoring the danger to the driver's ancient heart. At 300 km/h sharp (186 mph), it upshifts into eighth again, still accelerating, but now with the digital speed readout increasing by 1 km/h at a time. (It’s 5:30 a.m., and there's no traffic in sight, so the relative risk is at its lowest.) Theoretically, this ultimate M car is capped at 191 mph. But what looked at first like a barely noticeable kink up ahead in the freeway suddenly felt like A Very Serious Corner. "Never lift"? T-shirts rarely tell the true story, but the rearview mirror always does. And it showed the driver grinning from ear to ear.

    The M4 CSL is BMW's answer to the Porsche 911 GT3 and the upcoming Mercedes-AMG C63 S E-Performance. Like the hardest-core 911s, this BMW is strictly rear-wheel drive, and it shows, especially in the wet with Michelin Cup 2 R tires, which should only be legal in sunshine states, not in Bavaria. Compared to this beast, every other M4 is a kitten. For a start, the CSL is a claimed 190 pounds lighter than the base model. You can feel the weight savings, and you can also hear it. Stripped of its back seat, the rear compartment has mutated into a giant boom box. Some 24 pounds of removed sound-deadening material exacerbate the acoustic assault, with the carbon-fiber roof capping the resonance chamber, and the titanium exhaust designed to raise goosebumps. A whopping 53 pounds were saved by replacing the standard seats with carbon-fiber screw-clamps billed as sports buckets. Upping the pain coefficient of the seats is the lowered and stiffened suspension.

    The first 20 miles are an I-hate-this-car experience. The 275/35ZR-19 and 285/30ZR-20 tires wriggle along like a quartet of eels. The dampers in Sport Plus are devoted wholly to shock, not absorption. The steering is initially too light to be trusted. And every blip of the throttle strikes your nervous system like lightning. You never relax in the M4 CSL, but the initial angst eventually does recede as curiosity replaces it, followed by the first bouts of let's call it confidence. In Sport, with tire temperatures at last where they should be, we finally dare to dive into the car's deep talent pool and snorkel for all the revelations it harbors. Like more cornering grip than a gallon of Loctite and more poise than such a zero-tolerance setup should be allowed to muster.

    The CSL engine is the ultimate variation of the M division’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight-six. Its output is boosted from the base model's 473 horsepower and 406 pound-feet to 543 horsepower and 479 pound-feet. That's the good news. The bad news is the money thing. At a starting price of $140,895, one could buy two base M4s for the cost of a CSL with a few options. And BMW has closed the order books even before the first of the 1000 limited-edition models was delivered to a customer. Scarcity alone should make the striped-and-winged lightweight special an instant blue-chip investment—but is it? Although the CSL is exceptionally involving and outright faster than its siblings by some margin, our estimated zero-to-60 time of 3.3 seconds is eclipsed by the comparatively inconspicuous M4 Competition xDrive, which may be down 40 horsepower but has the same torque and hits 60 in 2.8 seconds, all for about $60K less.

    After just over 200 miles, we had to pit for fuel. The mileage? An OPEC-friendly 12 mpg. But what the hell? It finally stopped raining, and the winding route back to Munich promised a familiar Garden of Eden dotted with twisties and free of radar traps. Time to forget the tame preset M1 program and dial in the devil's own M2 composition instead. The preferred algorithm looked like this: engine in Sport Plus, gearbox in the S3 quick-shift setting, chassis in Comfort (compliance is control), DSC in MDM (M Dynamic Mode), steering and brakes in Sport.

    Despite certain NVH conspicuities, the CSL drivetrain epitomizes absolute seamlessness. Hard acceleration brutality beams you through time and space, accompanied by a howling, growling, barely filtered soundtrack. The initially explosive, then increasingly progressive forward thrust has its antidote in the simply stupefying carbon-ceramic brakes. There's no doubt about it: This car makes your eyes pop out in one take only to flatten the earlobes in the next. It quite simply redefines the Ultimate Driving Machine.

    Source: caranddriver.com

  • A refurbished BMW X3 is coming soon A refurbished BMW X3 is coming soon

    The current BMW X3 was introduced to the public in June 2017 (developed under the code number G01), it is based on the CLAR platform and is 55 kg lighter than its predecessor, while the coefficient of air resistance is 0.29.

    In terms of dimensions, the X3 is 4716 mm long, 1897 mm wide, 1676 mm high and has a wheelbase of 2864 mm. It should also be mentioned here that the volume of the trunk is 550 liters, or 1,600 liters with the rear seats folded down.

    Now, almost four years after its premiere, BMW has also prepared an updated version of it. This is confirmed by this first official image that was in the public eye, and which suggests that the Prime Minister is very close.

    In any case, the trimmed front part, modified bumpers, front and rear LED lights, new design of aluminum wheels, new green color, gloss black details, as well as a modernized interior are expected.

    There will most likely be no change in the engine range, so petrols with 184, 252 and 360 hp are expected, as well as diesels with 150, 190, 249 and 286 hp.

    Also, the M versions with 480HP and 510HP respectively will be updated later.

    As a reminder, the X3 M under the hood has a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology and 353 kW / 480hp and 600 Nm of torque. There is also a more powerful Competition version, which has 375 kW / 510 hp and 600 Nm.

    The BMW X3 M accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 4.2 seconds, while the 30HP more powerful Competition model does it in 4.1 seconds. In both cases the maximum speed is el. limited to 250 km / h but with the optional M Driver’s Package this limit is 280 km / h (for regular X3 M) or 285 km / h (for X3 M Competition).

    In addition, the plug-in hybrid variant X3 xDrive30e remains in the range, bringing a combination of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo petrol with 184hp, an electric motor with 109hp, lithium-ion batteries, an 8-speed Steptronic transmission and all-wheel drive. The total power is 292 hp and 420 Nm, acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h takes 6.1 seconds, top speed is 210 km / h, and it is possible to drive only on electric drive (up to 46 km per WLTP).

    Finally, the electric BMW iX3 will be adjusted, which in the current version has 210 kW / 286 hp and 400 Nm, and with one charge of lithium-ion batteries of 80 kWh exceeds 460 km (according to the WLTP standard). The Germans also state that 80% of the battery capacity can be charged in just 30 minutes with the help of a 150 kW charger. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h takes 6.8 seconds, while the top speed of this 2185 kg heavy vehicle is limited to 180 km / h.

  • An even more powerful BMW XM with 748 HP is coming An even more powerful BMW XM with 748 HP is coming

    BMW has released the first photo of the exclusive Label Red version of the new XM model.

    Label Red will make the XM the most powerful hybrid crossover on the market. As the nameplate says, the car will be recognizable by its matte black paint and plenty of red accents that aren't available on the standard BMW XM variant.

    BMW has also equipped the XM Label Red with distinctive wheels that combine gloss black spokes with bright red accents.

    A photo of the interior is not yet available, but the German manufacturer says that the red and black color combination extends to the interior, along with specific decorative details.

    Although BMW has not released all the technical details of the Label Red version, it has been confirmed that the drive system will be improved compared to the regular model, which has 653 hp (480 kW) and 800 Nm.

    Thus, this exclusive will have a hybrid drive that produces as much as 748 HP (550 kW) and 997 Nm of maximum torque. Accordingly, better performance compared to the standard version and its 0-100 km/h acceleration of 4.3 s are expected.

    The BMW XM Label Red will premiere in 2023, when we will have more information about this car.

  • Audi will phase out internal combustion engines by 2040, what about BMW? Audi will phase out internal combustion engines by 2040, what about BMW?

    Another Bavarian brand is currently working on several purely electric models that will debut in the next 10 years. However, the ambitions of the producers from Ingolstadt are much bigger. According to the head of the company, Marcus Disman, Audi plans to become purely "electric" in the next 20 years.

    In fact, it is a time frame that is conceived as necessary to complete the transition, write Vrele Gume. According to Disman, Audi is currently setting a deadline for the phasing out of current models with internal combustion engines. The cars in question will either become purely electric or will be euthanized.

    By the end of 2021, the Ingolstadt brand will have six purely electric models on offer, along with 12 plug-in hybrids. However, that is just the beginning. Audi wants to have twenty electric cars on sale by 2025, and if it succeeds in achieving that, it could become a manufacturer like Tesla sooner rather than later.

    However, it should not be forgotten that Ingolstadt announced that they will continue to develop internal combustion engines, in an attempt to make them as efficient as possible. So, regardless of the fact that Audi will start phasing out the SUS engine, petrol engines will still have their place in the portfolio. "Plug-in" hybrids are likely to serve as long-distance models, giving customers who frequently travel hundreds of miles "from the train" the opportunity to own usable vehicles. Those who are not outspoken "long-distance runners" will be able to rely on electric cars. At the moment, there are only four different electric models of Audi on offer, with two being actually model variants. The Audi e-tron, e-tron Sportback, e-tron S and e-tron Sportback S are currently the only ones of their kind in the Ingolstadt range. However, by the end of the year, the Audi e-tron GT and Audi Q4 e-tron will enter the scene, with probably a couple of new "plug-in" hybrids.

    Given all the above, the goal of the "four rings" brand to become purely electric in the next 20 years is not so unattainable. Will other premium manufacturers follow this matrix?

    BMWalso has ambitious plans when it comes to electrifying its models, although it seems that the latter has arrived "at the party". The BMW iX is the first true electric car from the Bavarian manufacturer since the i3, and it is not yet officially on sale. Although Audi’s e-tron models on the market rest on existing platforms, they are not just electrified versions of existing models, as is the case with the BMW iX3. The same can be said for the Mercedes-Benz EQC. Of course, Munich also plans to fill the electric offer in the near future, including the i4, the electrified series 7, the iX1 and possibly even the electric M5. BMW also wants to phase out internal combustion engines, although the deadline for achieving that process could be slightly longer than Audi's.

  • BMW 330e review BMW 330e

    Plug-in BMW 3 Series is an excellent, tax-efficient all-rounder 

     At a glance

    New price £40,440 - £51,145
    Lease from new From £475 p/mView lease deals
    Used price £24,905 - £45,360
    Used monthly cost From £622 per month
    Fuel Economy 156.9 - 217.3 mpg
    Road tax cost £145 - £480
    Insurance group 33 - 36How much is it to insure?
    New
    26.5 - 36.8
    Miles per pound (mpp)
     

     PROS

    • Up to 41 miles of battery-only range
    • Lovely steering and balanced handling
    • Great hybrid efficiency and performance

     CONS

    • Not as nice to drive as a standard petrol 3 Series
    • Lacks the sweet-sounding engine of a 330i
    • Reduced boot space compared with non plug-ins
     

    Is the BMW 330e any good?

    It won't exactly be news to you that the BMW 330e is very good indeed. It already accounts for 25% of all 3 Series sales in the UK thanks to the undeniable tax avantages of running the plug-in version on the company. But the good news is that this is not be the only reason for going for a 330e – it is a genuinely excellent all-rounder.

    For one, it's very good to drive. Not perfect, but very good. For another, the electric-only driving range is usable to the point that it will cover most owners' commutes. And finally, there's the XtraBoost feature that cranks the combined petrol/electric power output up to 295hp – if only for short bursts at a time.

    So, it's a plug-in that's rational and exciting – read on to find out just what it is that makes the 330e so special.

    What's it like inside?

    If you're familiar with the standard BMW 3 Series, then you won't find many surprises here, and it's business as usual. The boot space has suffered compared with the standard car, as you’ll find the floor is humped. The hump is actually the fuel tank, which has been moved from its usual position under the seats to make room for the batteries – overall effect is that the standard saloon packs away 480 litres of boot space, while the 330e has just 375 litres.

    The infotainment systems and digital dials gain hybrid-related display options, but aside from rearranging a few of the buttons on the centre console, this is the only difference in the passenger compartment.

    • Read all about the standard BMW 3 Series' interior here
    BMW 330e interior (2021)
     What's it like to drive?

    The 330e combines the same 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo petrol engine you’ll find in the regular 320i with an electric motor that’s neatly integrated into the eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. The petrol engine develops 184hp and the electric motor adds another 112hp. Very impressive, even if you can’t just add those two figures together to get the car’s total power output.

    So, the 330e’s official power output is 252hp, which rises to 292hp when you activate the XtraBoost function for short periods of time under full acceleration. There's no 'push to pass' boost button, it's just activated by flooring the accelerator in either the S or M transmission settings.

    On the road, the results are impressive. Floor it from the lights and the 330e springs forward with real vigour. The 0-62mph time is 5.9 seconds, but it feels faster than that, especially considering how on the motorway it builds speed quicker than a 330d. You only get 10 seconds of XtraBoost, but that's more than enough on UK roads.

    Handling

    One criticism we'd level at the 330e is that it just isn’t that much fun to drive. The four-cylinder engine sounds strained when worked hard and it feels less agile in bends, presumably as a result of accommodating the additional weight of the hybrid batteries.

    But it is still a car that devours bends without blinking. It’s just that a little of the fun has gone missing from the process, as exhibited by the slightly light and artificial feel to the steering (again, even in the heaviest Sport setting).

    BMW 330e charging port
     
    Range and hybrid driving

    The 330e is able to drive up to 41 miles on electric power alone, and there are an increased number of options to make the most of it battery. You can set a guide percentage of power pack life you’d like to retain and the car will do its best to manage this on your behalf.

    There is also an automatic setting, which works with the sat-nav guidance to choose the most appropriate points on your route to deploy the electricity. You can manually activate full electric mode up to 87mph and cruise there until the remaining range runs out.

    Fuel economy and charging times

    The official fuel economy for the 330e is a claimed 138mpg in the WLTP real-world test, with CO2 emissions of 39g/km (that’s 10% less CO2 than the last version). You’ll need to be using the electric power a lot and mostly doing short journeys to get close to those figures, however.

    You’ll also need to plug the hybrid part into the mains as many times as possible in between journeys; a full charge takes three hours and 25 minutes using a BMW i Wallbox, or five hours and 40 minutes using a plain old three-pin plug.

    BMW 330e (2021) rear view, driving
     
    What models and trims are available?

    As with the standard car, quality is right up there, but the interior design has arguably become a little too generic, and despite the size of the screens available, remains rather cluttered. The 330e is available in SE, Sport and M Sport specification, just like the rest of the UK range.

     
    BMW 330e (2021) side view
     
    Should you buy one?

    If you want a medium-sized plug-in hybrid family car, then this is the best you can buy right now. And as such, we can heartily recommend the 330e in either Saloon or Touring form – with the latter's additional practicality being an additional selling point for us.

    Rivals include the Mercedes-Benz C-Class PHEV (in petrol and diesel forms), the Peugeot 508 PHEV, Volkswagen Passat GTE and Skoda Superb iV, and the. There's no Audi in the list – the A4 TFSIe is yet to be announced. And as an overall package, the 330e beats them all.

    But while the 330e does the whole PHEV thing perfectly well, it still isn’t the kind of car that works as well as it should for car enthusiasts. This is well thought-out and even enjoyable tool, rather than the kind of genuinely emotional experience a really outstanding BMW can be.

    Buy a new, nearly new or used BMW 3-Series 330e Hybrid

    See all the current BMW 3-Series 330e deals on Parkers Cars For Sale

    What we like

    BMW’s plug-in hybrid is blessed with plentiful performance, an extended electric range of more than 40 miles and some other very clever tricks. Its popularity is no accident – you might buy it to save on tax, but you can enjoy yourself at the same time, as it's a BMW through-and-through and drives as it should.

    What we don't like

    It's all relative, but do bear in mind that if you're opting out of a 330d or 330i, it'll feel marginally less agile in your hands.

    (parkers.co.uk)

  • BMW 7 Series saloon review BMW 7 Series

    "The latest BMW 7 Series sports a brash new grille, improved powertrains and even more tech"

    This is the sixth-generation of the BMW 7 Series luxury saloon and arguably the most identifiable, thanks to its bold new face. BMW clearly decided its conservative flagship saloon needed to stand out against the stately Mercedes S-Class and forward-looking Audi A8, increasing the size of its kidney grille by around 40%.

    Elsewhere the makeover is far less dramatic, with slim new headlights and a full-width LED rear light-bar representing the most noticeable changes. It also has a smoother overall look and has been tweaked to suit the Chinese market, where more than a third of all 7 Series are sold.

    The interior has also been reworked with a light touch, leaving most of its design intact but revisiting the tech on offer. The start of the show is BMW's latest infotainment system, bringing digital instruments and an updated tablet that passengers in the back can use to control the car's interior features.

    Depending on its expected use, the 7 Series can be specified with a standard or long wheelbase to boost passenger space, along with either a bench rear seat or two-seat 'lounge' setup. The latter brings the full VIP experience, with individual seats that are heated, cooled and reclining either side of a centre console.

    For a car that doesn’t sell in huge numbers, there's a wide range of engines, spanning from a plug-in hybrid model to diesels, and even a flagship V8 petrol. Every 7 Series is quick and supremely comfortable, but the range-topping petrols are also powerful for a large saloon, and the BMW has a sportier edge than the Mercedes S-Class.


    BMW 7 Series saloon - MPG, running costs & CO2

    The plug-in hybrid and diesel models make the big BMW 7 Series surprisingly efficient

    Thanks to the breadth of the BMW 7 Series' engine range, there should be a version to suit every customer and location. We say ‘location’ because the plug-in hybrid 745e will bring real advantages in terms of taxes and charges if the owner drives into cities like London with low-emission zones and tariffs.

    For this reason, the 745e plug-in hybrid is popular thanks to its CO2 emissions from 41g/km and fuel economy of up to 156.9mpg. The exact economy you get will depend on how often you can charge its battery pack and make use of its 28 mile electric range, but its fixed emissions figure gives the car free access to city centres with low-emission zones. A low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) company-car tax will also appeal to business users.

    The 7 Series’ standard petrol models are considerably pricier to run. The 740i returns up to 35.8mpg and emits from 180g/km, while the hugely powerful 750i xDrive returns little over 25mpg and sits in the top BiK tax band for business drivers.

    Diesel engines are still very popular for the 7 Series, and the 730d will especially suit high-mileage drivers. Fuel economy of up to 51.4mpg is pretty impressive given the BMW's size, but emissions from 144g/km (with the smallest alloy wheels fitted) mean it still sits in a high BiK tax band. The 740d still returns 47mpg despite posting a very quick acceleration time and getting four-wheel drive. It features mild-hybrid technology with a small battery that stores the energy harvested from braking and deceleration, which is then used to give the engine a boost helping to improve fuel economy and emissions.

    Insurance groups
    Insurance groups for the BMW 7 Series saloon are high because of how much it costs, the complex engineering and high performance. Even models lower down the range, such as the 740i are in insurance groups 48 or 49. Every other model, including all long wheel variants and even the 745e hybrid, sit in the top insurance group 50.

    Warranty
    All BMW models come with a three-year warranty that's typical amongst the German brands, however it does also have unlimited mileage within this period.

    Servicing
    BMW offers servicing packages that can be purchased when the car is new, covering maintenance for a fixed cost for a set period of time, for up to five years, which can also be transferred to subsequent owners.

    Servicing packages can also be extended to include consumable items like brake pads, discs and a new clutch for an extra charge.

    BMW 7 Series saloon - Engines, drive & performance

    While still comfortable, the BMW 7 Series is a bit more involving to drive than most large saloons

    Unlike most BMW models, the 7 Series favours a plush ride over sporty handling, but it still feels lighter on its toes than the Audi A8 or Mercedes S-Class. This is partly thanks to use of a carbon fibre 'core' running through its underpinnings, which helps save weight and increase structural stiffness.

    In any of its driving modes and any scenario, the 7 Series is incredibly comfortable. We found the normal Comfort mode to be the best all-round setting; Comfort Plus makes the air suspension even softer, but this can make the body feel a little wayward on demanding roads, so is probably best left for the motorway.

    BMW 7 Series diesel engines
    There are two versions of the same 3.0-litre straight-six diesel, and the BMW 730d has traditionally been the bestseller in Britain. It has 282bhp and manages 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds when equipped with rear-wheel drive, with the xDrive four-wheel drive version taking 5.6 seconds. The more powerful four-wheel drive 740d gets 335bhp, and manages to get from 0-62mph in only five seconds. BMW’s mild-hybrid technology is fitted to both models, which provides an extra 11bhp overboost under full throttle to aid acceleration.

    Petrol engines
    The petrol line-up consists of one relatively normal straight-six, and two much more expensive to run, powerful and exotic engines. With 328bhp, the 740i engine is shared with models including the BMW 3 Series and BMW 5 Series, and still proves spritely in a bigger vehicle, getting the 7 Series from 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds.

    BMW 7 Series saloon - rear 3/4 dynamic 17
    An all-new 4.4-litre V8 offered in the 750i creates a thunderous 528bhp and gets the car from 0-62mph in four seconds, aided by four-wheel drive traction. Despite its extra size and four extra cylinders, the 577bhp 6.6-litre V12 in the M760Li could only shave 0.2 seconds off the 0-62mph sprint, and has now been discontinued in the UK.

    Hybrid engines
    While the 730d has long been the most popular model, a shift away from diesel and heavy taxation means the 745e plug-in hybrid is likely to win favour with business buyers - who make up the bulk of 7 Series customers. It combines a six-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and battery pack, providing an electric-only driving range of up to 28 miles. Zero-to-62mph takes a fraction over five seconds.

     BMW 7 Series saloon - Interior & comfort

    Technology has been improved with a better infotainment system and rear seat entertainment

    Aside from its grille, the BMW 7 Series and its rivals are known for being conservative, and the interior hasn't changed too much from its predecessor. Of course, technology has been bolstered, so every gadget you can think of is standard or available as an option.

    BMW 7 Series dashboard
    While it looks pretty similar, there's a new set of digital instruments that can show much more information to the driver. Materials have also been updated to keep the 7 Series near the front of the pack, with every surface covered in leather or wooden trim, including oak and polar.

    Equipment
    Perhaps most importantly, the infotainment system runs BMW's Operating System 7.0, bringing the latest connectivity, media and navigation to the driver and passengers via seven-inch removable tablets.

    Choose the 730d and so much is included you'd be hard pressed to tell it's officially the entry-level model. A Harman Kardon stereo, adaptive LED headlights, powered boot, wireless phone charging and a key with its own display are all standard.

    BMW 7 Series saloon - infotainment 17
    In-car technology doesn’t disappoint either, with all models coming as standard with the ‘Connected Package Professional’. This includes Remote Services, which allows you to send destinations, find your vehicle or even keep an eye on your 7 Series’ surroundings via your smartphone. A remote 3D view generates an up-to-date 360-degree image around the car so that you can see it even when you’re not near it, using the BWW Connected App. Other features include Connected Navigations, Concierge Services and Apple CarPlay.

    The M Sport trim gives the 7 Series a more athletic look inside and out, capped off by unique alloy wheels, while the M760Li xDrive flagship is essentially its own trim level, with just about every option included.

    Options
    It's hard to believe you'd need to add a Comfort Plus Pack, but do so and it brings massaging and ventilated seats, scented air and laminated glass designed to help regulate the interior temperature and add soundproofing. A Technology Plus Pack adds driving aids, remote control parking and a head-up display, while the Rear Seat Comfort Plus Pack upgrades the back seats for first-class luxury by adding heated seats and two 10-inch screens on the back of the front seats along with a Blu-ray player and TV.

    BMW 7 Series saloon - Practicality & boot space

    There's plenty of room to stretch out and the boot is a generous size

     

    The BMW 7 Series saloon has been designed to carry adults in ultimate luxury from the outset, and the latest version is 22mm longer than before. Choose the long-wheelbase version and it gains a full 14cm of additional length, providing even more room for rear passengers to stretch out and sleep on the move.

    BMW 7 Series interior space & storage
    In standard form, the interior of the 7 Series offers a generous amount of room for both front and rear passengers. Travelling in the rear seats though, is more like first-class air travel than squeezing into the back of a hatchback. That's especially the case if you specify the individual executive lounge rear seats rather than the standard three seat rear bench.

    Opt for the extended long-wheelbase version of 7 Series and the rear passenger space is extended further still, meaning that while in transit, you can enjoy a film, work or have a nap. This can be complemented by electrified rear and side window sunblinds and the optional BMW Touch Command, which adds a capacitive touch sensor to control the rear interior lighting. Even more space can be afforded by pressing a button to move and tilt the front passenger seat out of the way.

    Boot space
    The powered boot lid opens to reveal a large 515-litre boot (10 litres more space than the Audi A8), providing plenty of room for suitcases or golf clubs. Due to the onboard battery in the 745Le plug-in hybrid, boot space is reduced to 429 litres. Those opulent rear seats don't fold down, though, so you can't expand the space.

    Towing
    While you're unlikely to ever see a 7 Series towing a trailer, its 2,300kg capability means it would actually be rather adept at the task.

     BMW 7 Series saloon - Reliability & safety

    The BMW 7 Series boasts some of the world's most advanced safety technology

    The BMW 7 Series is a hugely complex car, but a decent manufacturer's warranty should allay many fears. It's also laden with safety technology.

    BMW 7 Series reliability
    It can be daunting buying a car with as much technology and equipment as the 7 Series, but it’s covered by an unlimited-mileage warranty for the first three years. Because this model is essentially a thorough facelift of the previous version, a lot of the new model's underpinnings have also been tried and tested.

    Its smaller sibling, the 5 Series, came 40th in our top 100 cars rated by owners in the 2020 Driver Power satisfaction survey. It seems that BMW owners aren’t happy with the running costs, which include high insurance premiums and servicing bills. Surprisingly, BMWs are getting worse than average reviews in the ride and handling and acceleration categories.

    Safety
    While it's unlikely to be tested by Euro NCAP because of its status as a luxury car sold in small numbers, we'd be amazed if the 7 Series didn't get a five-star result. After all, it's BMW's flagship saloon and a showcase for the brand’s latest safety technology. That includes myriad systems to help warn you of, and even help avoid accidents.

    Onboard safety technology includes BMW’s Parking Assistant Plus which is capable of taking control of the car steering and brakes to park the car automatically in parallel or perpendicular parking spaces. This functionality can also be operated via the BMW Display key, with the driver outside the car. Other safety features include the optional Driving Assistant Professional system, which uses a series of cameras and radar to guide the car as you drive, and includes lane change assistance, and can even stop you if you attempt to drive down a one-way street the wrong way.

    carbayer.co.uk

  • BMW has announced technology that completely changes the exterior color of the car

    The largest consumer electronics fair in the world, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), will be held from January 5 to 8 next year in Las Vegas.

    In addition to presenting their new electric SUV model iX M60, BMW leaders also announced the presentation of technology that will change the exterior color of the vehicle by pressing a switch in the cabin, reports Jutarnji.hr.

    In a brief statement, BMW said it would 'make the first demonstration at CES of technology that changes the exterior color of a vehicle by pressing a switch'.

    For now, the Bavarians are not revealing what exactly it is about and how they intend to harmonize the change of body colors with the law, but they announce that it is not about shades but about a complete change of car color.

  • BMW has said it is not giving up on petrol and diesel

    Mercedes has already announced that from 2030 it will become a fully electric brand where market conditions allow it, while Audi announced the end of the development of internal combustion engines for 2026. What about BMW? The Bavarian company is not yet ready to give up petrol and diesel because they believe that there is still life in them.

    In an interview with Automotive News Europe, BMW development chief Frank Weber said the transition to electric cars will not happen overnight because certain questions need to be asked first: “When will the system be ready to absorb a large amount of electric cars? It is primarily about the necessary charging infrastructure, as well as renewable energy sources. Are people ready? Is the system ready? Is the charger infrastructure ready? ”

    There is also the issue of manpower, because BMW, like many other manufacturers, has a large number of people working on the development of traditional drive systems. The workforce is slowly turning to the production of electric cars, but it is a complex process that will take a long time for workers to be properly trained.

    Meanwhile, Euro 7 regulations are approaching and according to Frank Weber they are the last big reason for massive investments in the development of petrol and diesel engines. The money invested in research and development to keep these units in line with emissions limits will ensure the short-term future of internal combustion engines, at least until the end of this decade. With 9 more years to go, BMW's head of development thinks it's too early to talk about a strategy to eliminate petrol and diesel from the Bavarian company's offer.

    Weber pointed out that BMW does not want to leave the conventional car market too soon and thus force people to buy electric cars, especially if the charging infrastructure does not have sufficient capacity. A bit contradictory from BMW’s head of development, especially when you consider that BMW is working intensively on fuel cell technology, and the number of hydrogen chargers is currently at the level of statistical error.

  • BMW i4 electric car (2022) review: eDrive40 and M50 versions tested
     

    It's been a long time coming, but BMW has now finally begun kicking the combustion engines out of the core of its model range. While this new i4 might not quite be the electric 3-series some of you are probably crying out for, being based on the same body-in-white as the 4-series Gran Coupe means you get a similar degree of passenger practicality alongside a swoopier roofline and a hatchback tailgate.

    What's more, BMW has come in swinging with a two-pronged attack. Do you want properly good range or do you want potent performance? The i4, in its two current specifications, can provide either. There's the eDrive40 (pictured in white), with one motor and rear-wheel drive, developing 335bhp and a claimed range of 367 miles. Or there's the mighty M50 (pictured in grey), a 537bhp twin-motor all-wheel drive machine that also happens to be the first ever all-electric M-car.

    i4 40 front static

    Does the i4 use the same technology as the iX?

    The i4 does without the fancy part-carbon construction of the iX, but takes full advantage of all the same Gen5 BMW electric drive tech.

    This means clever electromagnet motors and the latest, high-density batteries, working together with highly integrated control systems that cover everything from the way the electric power is deployed across both axles (regarding the all-wheel drive i4 M50) to the manner the car is brought to a stop, using a seamless combination of recuperation and friction braking.

    Both versions of the i4 have the same size battery pack at 83.9kWh (or 80.7kWh net) – smaller than the iX – with the eDrive40 claiming up to 367 miles, or 316 miles on a charge for the M50. During our tests with both versions – the best range prediction we saw was around 320 miles on the eDrive40 and 280 miles with the M50.

    i4 interior

    But the i4's also circa-300kg lighter than the iX, can be charged at up to 205kW DC – giving you an 80% boost in as little as 31 minutes (though good luck finding a charger quite that juicy in the UK) – and has slightly more power and torque. You'll also note the same dual-screen BMW Curved Display setup as the iX inside – with the same BMW Operating System 8 iDrive infotainment, augmented nav and situational awareness.

    Best of all, the i4 is considerably cheaper than the iX. And though that still means handing over at least £52k for an eDrive40 or £64k for the M50, even that represents at least a significant saving over the iX thus far. Given a lot of the technology is the same, the i4 justifies itself somewhat even before you press the start button.

    And when you do press the start button?

    Regardless of which i4 you pick, it's a potent machine. Just because the eDrive40 only has one e-motor doesn't mean it plays a poorly second fiddle to the M50 here. While we're wowed by the immense performance on offer of the M-badged version, the eDrive40 is still pretty sprightly – keeping toe-to-toe with a stock Tesla Model 3.

    i4 m50 rear tracking

    And though the i4 M50 is more powerful than an M4 – and certainly more muscular, with a stonking 586lb ft available instantly – it's also around 300kg heavier than it. So, while it easily matches the (503bhp, 479lb ft) M4 Competition's 3.9sec 0-62mph time, visually and dynamically it's more of an M Performance model than a full-blown M3 replacement.

    So, what's the i4 like to drive?

    Generally? It's comprehensively impressive, and quite the all-rounder. Both are potent – regardless of setting, stab the accelerator and the i4 reacts with the kind of instant thrust that makes you think of computer games. There's a Hans Zimmer-developed sountrack to accompany it in Comfort and Sport mode (some of the CAR team like it, other's don't – you can turn it off if you're that way inclined).

    i4 40 side pan

    Interestingly, you don't get the full 537bhp and 586lb ft all the time in the M50 version – default output is a mere 476hp and 538lb ft, with the full whack only unlocked using the Sport Boost function that features as an add-on to the regular Sport Mode. When you do stamp on the throttle here, the M50's nose points at the sky. But BMW claims it's simply due to the sheer amount of torque the M50 is deploying with such little fanfare – and equally nothing to do with the back of the car being equipped with air springs instead of the conventional steel coils that are still used at the front.

    It's quite unusual to see that combination on a performance car – more typically rear air is use for self-levelling on fancy estates. Together with the VDC, however, it gives the i4 M50 really superb level of comfort, even if you insist on travelling everywhere in Sport. BMW's nailed the ride quality here – treading the fine balance between cossetting comfort and sharp body control.

     

    Push hard in both versions of the i4 and different personality traits shine through. We'd argue the eDrive40 is the more 'fun' car here, despite being less powerful; it's rear-drive only, remember, so it exhibits those most classic of BMW traits – playfulness at the limit and a tail end that can be egged on to pivot just a little beyond your steering angle. It's quite the hoot.

    The M50, meanwhile is a little blunter in its delivery. Traction is still otherwise immense, and you can still make it dance as long as you're not being utterly ham-fisted with the steering, but it does err on the side of understeer if you drive hard into corners. And, if you floor it on a corner exit, the traction control is the king of buzzkill, flashing at you from the instruments while what feels like almost all of the power being snatched out of your hands. Or right foot, we suppose.

    BMW i4 electric car: verdict

    In most respects, the i4 is just as much of a cutting-edge electric car experience as the iX, wrapped up in much less controversial and conventional packaging.

    It's a car that you warm to as time goes on, rather than instantly enjoy. And, if you were expecting a full-fat M car in the M50 version, it just ain't it – too rounded, polite and understeery for that honour. If we had to choose, we'd go for the eDrive40 version – the range is longer, it feels about 80 per cent as quick as the M50, is more playful and is abour £10k cheaper.

    But regardless of which one you do end up with, there are still so many trad BMW traits in here: alert steering, impressive ride and handling balance, a clean, well-built and user-friendly interior and plenty of power being just some of them. While a Tesla Model 3 is an on-trend show-stopper, the i4 proves BMW knows what it's doing when it comes to electric cars.

    Specs

    Price when new: £63,905
    On sale in the UK: Now
    Engine: 80.7kWh battery (net), twin e-motors, 476hp (537bhp on boost), 538lb ft (586lb ft on boost)
    Transmission: Single-speed transmission, all-wheel drive
    Performance: 3.9sec 0-62mph, 140mph (limited), 318-mile range (WLTP), 0g/km CO2
    Weight / material: 2215kg/aluminium and steel
    Dimensions (length/width/height in mm): 4783/1852/1448

    https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/bmw/i4-ev/

  • BMW i4 hatchback review BMW i4 hatchback review

    "BMW's first all-electric compact executive model has arrived to challenge the Tesla Model 3" 

    Pros

    • Classy interior
    • Great handling
    • 300-plus mile range

    Cons

    • Expensive
    • No front boot
    • Confusing infotainment

    The BMW i4 is a vital new model for the brand because it represents the first all-electric model intended to win over buyers of its core BMW 3 Series and BMW 4 Series models. Not only that but it also locks horns with the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2, and gives BMW a headstart on Mercedes in the compact executive electric car class.

    Most similar in proportions to the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, the i4 gets four doors and a hatchback but still looks low and sporty. In M Sport and M50 guise, it's also fairly muscular, with jutting bumpers, deep side skirts and a rear bumper diffuser in place of tailpipes.

     

    At launch, there's eDrive40 and M50 versions that rival the Model 3 Long Range and Performance models respectively. The first gets a single 335bhp motor and rear-wheel drive, along with an 81kWh battery. It has a range of up to 367 miles and gets from 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds. The high-performance M50 is the first electric BMW to get attention from BMW’s M division and gets another electric motor for the front wheels, for 537bhp. This reduces range to 316 miles but also cuts 0-62mph to 3.9 seconds.

     
    There's also the small matter of the i4's chassis, which could be one of the main selling points for buyers. Despite the car’s weight, a low centre of gravity, wide axles and BMW's suspension engineering means it certainly handles incisively, making it one of the best electric cars for enthusiast drivers we've tried so far. The steering isn't bristling with feel but has excellent precision and a natural weight to it.

    While the basic interior design is similar to the 3 and 4 Series, there's also a big upgrade for the infotainment setup, which now runs the latest iDrive 8 software. There's a new seamless curved display for the instruments and infotainment, along with advances like a 5G connection, augmented reality navigation and an improved voice assistant.

    Quality is good, with plenty of upmarket materials, and the i4 is very refined, which helps on long drives. Rear space isn't quite on a par with the 4 Series Gran Coupe because the battery eats into the footwell but the i4's boot is only 10 litres smaller.

    The BMW i4 is a long-awaited arrival and demonstrates what’s required to fend off arrivals from relative newcomers to the market like Tesla. The car offers great handling, superb refinement and an impressive interior combined with a competitive range and plenty of performance. 

    MPG, running costs & CO2

     The BMW i4 can top 300 miles and offers fast 200kW public charging

    BMW is clearly taking aim at the Tesla Model 3 and the manufacturer's 81kWh battery and fifth-generation eDrive electric motors deliver the goods - on paper at least. The rear-wheel drive eDrive40 can manage an impressive range of up to 367 miles, compared with 360 miles for the Model 3 Long Range. 

     
    With an extra motor and a lot more power, the i4 M50 sees this drop to 316 miles, which is still an impressive figure. We began our test drive with 90% charge, giving an indicated range of 232 miles. After 91 miles of mixed driving, the battery dropped to 44% with 112 miles remaining. 
     

    Find a rapid 200kW DC charger and the battery can be replenished from 10-80% in 31 minutes. A home wallbox takes around 13 hours to charge the battery from empty to 100%. A home charging cable, public charging cable and BMW Charging Card for use on the public network are included with the car. The latter includes free charging for the first 12 months.

    Engines, drive & performance

     BMW has spent countless hours ensuring the i4 lives up to the brand’s reputation for sharp handling

    A lot is expected of the i4 because not only is it the manufacturer's most focused electric car to date but it's essentially a battery-powered version of its legendary 3 and 4 Series models. As a result, BMW clearly knew the car had to be good to drive.

     
    Despite the car’s weight (over two tonnes), the weight distribution is 50:50 and the i4's battery has given it a very low centre of gravity. The axles have been widened compared with the 3 Series too. The result is that the i4 instantly feels lighter than anticipated, staying flat in corners and feeling well balanced.

    The steering is a key ingredient, as it's both precise and natural enough to allow the driver to accurately place the car and build confidence in the i4. It isn't especially communicative, however, so it can be tricky to judge exactly how much grip there is at the front tyres.

    So far, we've driven the M50, with 537bhp thanks to front and rear electric motors. It's enough thrust to get the i4 from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds, and under full power the M50 hunkers down on its wheels and shoots forwards with startling pace. With no mechanical limited-slip differential, the car can start to lose its composure if you accelerate too aggressively out of a slow corner, so it responds better to a more relaxed approach.

    While the M50 will give a BMW M4 a run for its money, at least in a straight line, most buyers will be more than satisfied with the eDrive40 model. With a single motor and rear-wheel drive, it has 335bhp and gets from 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds.      

    Interior & comfort

     Solid and classy with an impressive but slightly busy infotainment system

    The air suspension fitted in the M50 provides a smooth ride in its Comfort setting and refinement is excellent. Near-silent electric motors and an impressive lack of wind and tyre noise make the i4 a very relaxing car, even at motorway speeds.

     
    The interior layout won't look too unfamiliar to 3 Series and 4 Series owners, and it has the same excellent build quality, with brushed metal finishes, leather and carbon fibre trim in our test car. The big change is the infotainment setup, which features a sweeping display combining a 12.3-inch instrument panel and 14.9-inch media screen, floating above the dash. 

    These are powered by the brand's latest iDrive 8 software, with new tech including 5G connectivity, augmented reality sat-nav and an Intelligent Personal Assistant. Its graphics are very sharp and lots of processing power means it responds quickly but we found the array of sub-menus tricky to navigate while driving.

    The eDrive40 is offered in Sport and M Sport trims, with the entry-level version getting 18-inch aerodynamic wheels, black exterior trim and folding door mirrors. Inside, BMW's Live Cockpit Professional is standard, along with climate control and heated front seats. M Sport adds a sports steering wheel, a more aggressive body kit, aluminium interior trim and Alcantara Sensatec upholstery. The range-topping M50 has 19-inch alloy wheels, black leather upholstery, electrically adjusting and memory seats, privacy glass, wireless phone charging and a head-up display.

    Practicality & boot space

     Plenty of space for most situations but lacks a front storage compart

    The i4 is around the same size as the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe but its all-electric nature does mean there are some differences inside. Front passengers can get nice and low, giving the car a sporty feel, but the floor-mounted battery means there isn't as much footwell space for rear passengers. Knee room still isn't too bad for taller passengers but they may find it uncomfortable for long trips. 

    Boot capacity impresses, with 470 litres of volume that's just 10 litres down on the 4 Series Gran Coupe. The Polestar 2 has a smaller 405-litre boot but unlike the i4 it also has a 35-litre 'frunk' under the bonnet. Both the i4 and the Polestar 2 have a hatchback opening, making it easier to load bulky items than the boot lid of the Tesla Model 3.

    Reliability & safety

     BMW has a history of EV manufacturing and a great safety record

    While BMW might not be such an obvious player in the electric car market, it has been building EVs and hybrid models for quite a number of years, including the BMW i3 which launched in 2013. The fact its eDrive electric technology is now its fifth generation should prove reassuring for buyers and we expect the car to prove extremely robust. BMW may even be hoping its EVs will give its reputation a boost, as it currently sits in 21st place out of 29 manufacturers in our Driver Power owner satisfaction survey.

    The i4 is available with around 40 driver assistance features to make it safer and easier to drive and park. It's fitted with a reversing camera and Parking Assistant as standard, while the optional Driving Assistant Professional adds adaptive cruise control that can stop and start the car in heavy traffic. It can also help steer the car in its lane, reduce the likelihood of side and rear collisions and help prevent accidental speeding.

    (https://www.carbuyer.co.uk/bmw/i4)

  • BMW Isetta on stage again, but this time called Microlino!

    What needs to be pointed out immediately is that BMW has absolutely nothing to do with this new project.

    At one time, the tiny Isetta saved BMW from almost certain doom, so it deserves a special place in the rich history of the blue-and-white propeller. Now the Swiss company Micro will try to take over the Isetta concept.

    We saw a baby named Microlino back in 2016, and then it was planned for production to start in 2018. As is usually the case with young companies like this, there has been a delay in presenting another concept release in 2020. Now, finally, the serial version of the Microlin has been shown.

    It will come in three variants: Urban, Dolce, and Competizione. As you can see, the Swiss also used the Italian dictionary, as did the BMW with the Isetta. The design of the Microlina has not changed significantly and it can be freely assessed that the little one is very charming, which is not the case with the rival Citroen Ami.

    The slightly egg-shaped form with straight lines and clean surfaces evokes memories of other, long-gone times. The doors are at the front of the vehicle, as was the case with the Isetta, while the headlights are housed in rear-view mirrors - a rarely seen solution.
    The Microlino is designed as a two-seater, and the Swiss state that in addition to two people, there is room for another 230 liters of luggage - which is far more than it seems from the photos. In front of the driver is a simple steering wheel, as well as a digital instrument panel, while in the middle of the dashboard is a miniature touch screen, through which you can access the most important functions.

    Representatives of the Micro brand point out that they especially worked on the torsional strength of this vehicle, which further improved the driving dynamics. They also state that McPherson is placed both in front and behind when it comes to hanging.

    The electric motor that drives this little one has 17 hp and 118 Nm, with a peak power of 25 hp. The total weight of the vehicle is a modest 435 kg, which enables fine performance - in 5 seconds it reaches 50 km / h, while the maximum speed is 90 km / h. 

    Microlino offers a choice of three batteries, 6 kWh, 10.5 kWh, and 14 kWh. With the weakest battery, it has a range of 95 km, a medium one with 175 km, while with the one with the largest capacity, it can cover as much as 230 km. It takes 4 hours (6 kWh and 14 kWh) to charge an empty battery up to 80% of its capacity, while a 10.5 kWh battery takes 3 hours.

    The starting price for Microlino will be 12,500 euros (which will be significantly less with subsidies in most of Europe). Micro states that an annual production of 7,500 copies is planned in their factory in Turin, and that they already have more than 24,000 orders for an electric microcar.

     

  • BMW iX review (2021) BMW iX review (2021)

     PROS

    • State of the art purpose-built electric car from BMW
    • Impressive to drive with outstanding comfort and refinement
    • Eye-catching interior, packed with user-friendly technology

     CONS

    • Exterior design takes some getting used to
    • Not all of the driver assistance tech works flawlessly
    • Cheaper, more conventional BMW electric cars on the way
     

    The BMW iX is a new purpose-built luxury electric car, and the flagship for BMW’s latest electric vehicle technology. It combines controversial exterior looks with a plush, ‘lounge-style’ interior and a seriously impressive driving experience – as well as offering a large number of modern safety and driving aids.

    Rivals include the Audi E-Tron, Mercedes-Benz EQC and Tesla Model X.

    Is the BMW iX any good?

    If you’re in the market for a premium electric car and like to make a striking impression, BMW has definitely got you covered. Although you will also need to spend quite a lot of money. Two versions are available to buy now – iX xDrive40 and iX xDrive 50 – with an M-performance model badged xDrive M60 to follow in summer 2022.

    At this stage, we’ve only driven the xDrive50 model, which commands an eye-watering £93,905 asking price in more basic Sport specification, rising to £96,905 for the fancier M Sport variant.

    For that you get BMW Gen5 – fifth generation – electric motor and battery technology, and an ‘intelligent material mix’ structure that incorporates carbonfibre, aluminium and high-strength steel. For the xDrive 50, this results in the fairly spectacular combination of 523hp and 765Nm with a claimed WLTP driving range of 380 miles per charge.

    BMW iX review (2021) profile view, driving
     

    Living up to this promise, the iX is fast, comfortable, refined and outstandingly nimble for something that weighs over 2.5 tonnes and is similarly proportioned to a BMW X5 SUV. It also seems well able to deliver the on-paper driving range – though this will depend considerably on how much use you make of the available performance.

    Other attention-grabbing features include a new generation of iDrive infotainment system (BMW Operating System 8) and a set of driver assistance features that include augmented-reality navigation, customisable digital and head-up displays, and adaptive brake recuperation that works superbly.

    What about the way it looks?

    BMW has never been a brand for building particularly beautiful cars, but there are some truly unusual angles and surfaces here. However, we would argue that it looks better in real life than it does in the pictures.

    What’s more, not only is it unlikely to be mistaken for anything else – probably important for the kind of buyer who’s happy to drop nearly £100k on a BMW electric car – the design has been massaged to provide excellent aerodynamics.

    This helps the iX drive faster and further, by allowing it to cut through the air more cleanly.

    BMW iX review (2021) exterior view, grille
     

    What’s it like inside?

    The interior of the iX is just as unusual as the exterior – though not in such a controversial way. Here you’ll find the modern beauty of a contemporary luxury hotel room, rather than the edgy confrontation of modern art.

    That’s not to say it will appeal to everyone. The slice of curving screen across the dashboard – actually two screens combined – is much as we’re coming to expect from EV interior design, while the latest iDrive software gives you comprehensive control in a reasonably instinctive manner. But the big, quilted seats are dramatic, the abrupt transition between surfaces and materials even more so, and the use of faceted crystal for some of the controls bordering on the gauche. The hexagonal steering wheel isn’t as odd to use as you might think, though.

    Once again, this all helps the iX stand out against its rivals. It’s also very roomy inside, with lots of head and leg room front and rear. While there is a large battery pack under your feet, the floor doesn’t feel unnecessarily high.

    BMW iX review (2021) interior view
     

    What’s it like to drive?

    BMW has a reputation to uphold for exceptional driving dynamics as we move further and further into the age of electric cars, and the iX certainly isn’t going to do that reputation any damage.

    Built around BMW’s first bespoke electric vehicle platform since the i3 city car, it has a very stiff bodyshell, which is then further reinforced by the large battery pack bolted to the underside. Being so stiff is a real benefit to every area of the car, as it allows the suspension to work more effectively.

    The battery pack is heavy. In the xDrive50 model it contains an enormous 111.5kWh of electricity storage and weighs around 650kg. Because this weight is concentrated so low in the chassis, it not only gives the iX lots of extra strength, it also lowers the centre of gravity – which is further good news for stability when driving round corners.

    Adding another touch of luxury class, the iX uses variable air suspension rather than steel springs.

    BMW iX review (2021) exterior view, cornering

    Combine all of the above, and you get a large car that manages to pull off the magic trick of riding bumpy surfaces brilliantly – despite 21-inch alloy wheels as standard – while also cornering with agility and precision on the twistiest of mountain roads. It leans a bit when really pressing on, but this only seems to highlight the depths of talent to the chassis tuning, allowing you to enjoy the process of handling it more.

    Grip, meanwhile, isn’t an issue. The iX has two electric motors – one on each axle, making this the first BMW with electric all-wheel drive – and new control components mean that power can be measured out between them with exceptional speed. If one end of the car loses traction, the other compensates so swiftly the process is practically imperceptible.

    Outright performance is mighty. The benchmark 0-62mph takes 4.6 seconds, but more significantly, BMW has engineered the electric motors to maintain their maximum power and torque at higher rpm. Overtaking punch is really impressive and the xDrive will hit and maintain its electronically limited 124mph top speed with ease (on derestricted autobahns in Germany).

    What many owners will perhaps appreciate more, however, is the refinement. This is a very quiet car inside, even when travelling very quickly. BMW has taken the trouble to commission Oscar-winning movie composer Hans Zimmer to provide an electronic soundtrack that syncs beautifully with the way the car is being driven – but with this switched off, something that’s easily done via the infotainment system, the iX just whispers its way through the air.

    What driver aids are available?

    The iX is available with more driver assistance systems than BMW has ever offered before. Many of these will be familiar from other modern vehicles, but of particular interest are the elements that best show off the way the iX is properly aware of its surroundings.

    For instance, it will monitor traffic lights to prompt you when they turn green. The head-up display will warn you if there are ‘dangerous’ bends ahead. The sat-nav can overlay direction information on a camera feed from the front of the car.

    Our favourite example, however, is the ‘adaptive’ brake recuperation. This uses navigation and sensor data to vary the amount of braking effect you get from the motors whenever you release the accelerator – which sounds unnerving and complicated yet works remarkably intuitively. It will even allow the iX to coast at high speeds if that’s most efficient.

    BMW iX review (2021) interior view, transmission selector

    Engage the full B-mode, and you can drive almost exclusively without touching the brake pedal, as the motors will do the braking for you in all but extreme circumstances. And in exemplary fashion.

    Better still, because of another integrated control unit balancing the effort between motor and traditional friction braking, when you do use the brake pedal, the feel and performance remains consistent at all times. Something that few other electric vehicles manage to pull off.

    How long does it take to charge?

    With 195kW fast-charging capability, the xDrive50 can be topped up with 93 miles of additional range in 10 minutes – or go from 10% to 80% in 35 minutes.

    But this relies on very fast and comparatively expensive DC public chargers – the vast capacity of the battery pack means that you’ll need to allow 16 hours for 100% on a single-phase 7kW AC wallbox of the type most commonly found at UK homes and offices.

    What different models and trims are available?

    The iX is currently available in two versions: the xDrive40 priced from £69,905 and the xDrive50 priced from £93,905.

    We’ve covered the stats of the xDrive50 in detail above. The xDrive40 produces 326hp and 630Nm of torque, does 0-62mph in 6.1sec, and has the same 124mph top speed; WLTP driving range is 257 miles.

    Both versions are available in Sport and M Sport trim levels.

    Standard equipment highlights for the iX Sport include an 18-speaker harmon/kardon hi-fi system, 21-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, four-zone climate control and a substantial number of driver assistance systems.

    The upgrade to iX M Sport – which costs an extra £3,000 – adds a styling package, bigger brakes, dark headlight glass and anthracite roof lining.

    A car like this never has a short options list, and among the add-ons for the standard models are massaging front seats, heated steering wheel and other cabin surfaces, Bowers and Wilkins hi-fi upgrade, ‘Skylounge’ panoramic roof, Laserlight headlights, and an interior camera that can be used for security and fun.

    High-performance BMW iX M60 on sale in summer 2022 

    In summer 2022 an M-performance model called the iX xDrive M60 joins the range. Power output for this is now confirmed at a staggering 619hp combined with a huge 1,100Nm peak torque, delivering 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds and an electronically limited 155mph top speed.

    BMW iX M60, front view, grey

    Maximum claimed WLTP driving range is equally impressive at 357 miles per charge, though it needs to impress, given pricing starts at £111,905.

    For the money you also get bespoke BMW M suspension tuning, 22-inch alloy wheels, soft-close doors, powerful BMW Laserlights instead of regular LED headlights, and a technology suite that includes an interior camera, Bowers & Wilkins hi-fi, massaging front seats, heated everything, and BMW Parking Assistant Professional.

    What else should I know?

    The built-in connectivity means BMW will offer new features and allow customers to pay for upgrades to their iX via over-the-air updates. Among the things coming this way are an automated parking system that allows the car to learn and self-drive certain short-distance manoeuvres, which you’ll then be able to control from outside the car using your phone.

    A heated element in the front grille area ensures all of the cameras and sensors built into the nose will still work when it’s snowing. BMW has put a lot of thought into this car.

    BMW iX review (2021) rear view
     
    Should you buy one?

    If you want a stand-out, high-price, high-quality electric car, close to the cutting edge of the current state of battery electric vehicle technology then the BMW iX could well be for you. The look of the thing is sure to raise more than a few eyebrows, but as a statement-maker that may be exactly what you’re looking for anyway.

    Regardless, the interior is inviting, and the impressive blend of performance and serenity achieved by the driving experience means that even the most doubtful potential customer should at least take an iX for a test drive.

    What we like

    We can think of few other cars that are capable of providing such comprehensive ride comfort in combination with such cornering athleticism. The iX is at once a limousine and a creditable substitute for a sportscar – all while producing zero emissions in motion, thanks to its electric drive system.

    That electric drive not only gives awesome performance, but also does things an ordinary combustion car can’t – most notably the adaptive recuperation that practically makes the brake pedal a thing of the past. Traction is mega as well, thanks to the twin-motor setup.

    The technology used throughout – from the materials it’s built from to the latest iDrive – matches the iX’s price tag, while the refinement and the luxury interior put some proper icing on what is a pretty fancy automotive cake.

    What we don’t like

    Looks are subjective, so we’ll pass over that.

    More of a concern is that not all of the driver assistance systems work consistently. With everything switched on, the iX can theoretically accelerate up to speed limits automatically as well as slow down for hazards and ‘assist’ through turns (though this relies on you touching the steering wheel – it is not a fully autonomous car). However, we found many of these facilities unreliable in action, and certainly would caution against relying on them too heavily.

    Beyond this, most of the issues with the iX are the same you’ll face with any electric car – the classic being the way charging it up takes longer than filling a fuel tank. But as we all know there are means of coping with these things, and it’s getting easier and easier to live with an EV all the time.

    (https://www.parkers.co.uk/bmw/ix/review/)

  • BMW iX review (2021)
    • State of the art purpose-built electric car from BMW
    • Impressive to drive with outstanding comfort and refinement
    • Eye-catching interior, packed with user-friendly technology

     CONS

    • Exterior design takes some getting used to
    • Not all of the driver assistance tech works flawlessly
    • Cheaper, more conventional BMW electric cars on the way
     

    The BMW iX is a new purpose-built luxury electric car, and the flagship for BMW’s latest electric vehicle technology. It combines controversial exterior looks with a plush, ‘lounge-style’ interior and a seriously impressive driving experience – as well as offering a large number of modern safety and driving aids.

    Rivals include the Audi E-Tron, Mercedes-Benz EQC and Tesla Model X.

    Is the BMW iX any good?

    If you’re in the market for a premium electric car and like to make a striking impression, BMW has definitely got you covered. Although you will also need to spend quite a lot of money. Two versions are available to buy now – iX xDrive40 and iX xDrive 50 – with an M-performance model badged xDrive M60 to follow in summer 2022.

    At this stage, we’ve only driven the xDrive50 model, which commands an eye-watering £93,905 asking price in more basic Sport specification, rising to £96,905 for the fancier M Sport variant.

    BMW iX review (2021) profile view, driving
     
    Living up to this promise, the iX is fast, comfortable, refined and outstandingly nimble for something that weighs over 2.5 tonnes and is similarly proportioned to a BMW X5 SUV. It also seems well able to deliver the on-paper driving range – though this will depend considerably on how much use you make of the available performance.

    Other attention-grabbing features include a new generation of iDrive infotainment system (BMW Operating System 8) and a set of driver assistance features that include augmented-reality navigation, customisable digital and head-up displays, and adaptive brake recuperation that works superbly.

    What about the way it looks?

    BMW has never been a brand for building particularly beautiful cars, but there are some truly unusual angles and surfaces here. However, we would argue that it looks better in real life than it does in the pictures.

    What’s more, not only is it unlikely to be mistaken for anything else – probably important for the kind of buyer who’s happy to drop nearly £100k on a BMW electric car – the design has been massaged to provide excellent aerodynamics.

    BMW iX review (2021) exterior view, grille
     
    What’s it like inside?

    The interior of the iX is just as unusual as the exterior – though not in such a controversial way. Here you’ll find the modern beauty of a contemporary luxury hotel room, rather than the edgy confrontation of modern art.

    That’s not to say it will appeal to everyone. The slice of curving screen across the dashboard – actually two screens combined – is much as we’re coming to expect from EV interior design, while the latest iDrive software gives you comprehensive control in a reasonably instinctive manner. But the big, quilted seats are dramatic, the abrupt transition between surfaces and materials even more so, and the use of faceted crystal for some of the controls bordering on the gauche. The hexagonal steering wheel isn’t as odd to use as you might think, though.

    Once again, this all helps the iX stand out against its rivals. It’s also very roomy inside, with lots of head and leg room front and rear. While there is a large battery pack under your feet, the floor doesn’t feel unnecessarily high.

    BMW iX review (2021) interior view
     
    What’s it like to drive?

    BMW has a reputation to uphold for exceptional driving dynamics as we move further and further into the age of electric cars, and the iX certainly isn’t going to do that reputation any damage.

    Built around BMW’s first bespoke electric vehicle platform since the i3 city car, it has a very stiff bodyshell, which is then further reinforced by the large battery pack bolted to the underside. Being so stiff is a real benefit to every area of the car, as it allows the suspension to work more effectively.

    The battery pack is heavy. In the xDrive50 model it contains an enormous 111.5kWh of electricity storage and weighs around 650kg. Because this weight is concentrated so low in the chassis, it not only gives the iX lots of extra strength, it also lowers the centre of gravity – which is further good news for stability when driving round corners.

    Adding another touch of luxury class, the iX uses variable air suspension rather than steel springs.

    BMW iX review (2021) exterior view, cornering
     
    Combine all of the above, and you get a large car that manages to pull off the magic trick of riding bumpy surfaces brilliantly – despite 21-inch alloy wheels as standard – while also cornering with agility and precision on the twistiest of mountain roads. It leans a bit when really pressing on, but this only seems to highlight the depths of talent to the chassis tuning, allowing you to enjoy the process of handling it more.

    Outright performance is mighty. The benchmark 0-62mph takes 4.6 seconds, but more significantly, BMW has engineered the electric motors to maintain their maximum power and torque at higher rpm. Overtaking punch is really impressive and the xDrive will hit and maintain its electronically limited 124mph top speed with ease (on derestricted autobahns in Germany).

    What many owners will perhaps appreciate more, however, is the refinement. This is a very quiet car inside, even when travelling very quickly. BMW has taken the trouble to commission Oscar-winning movie composer Hans Zimmer to provide an electronic soundtrack that syncs beautifully with the way the car is being driven – but with this switched off, something that’s easily done via the infotainment system, the iX just whispers its way through the air.

    What driver aids are available?

    The iX is available with more driver assistance systems than BMW has ever offered before. Many of these will be familiar from other modern vehicles, but of particular interest are the elements that best show off the way the iX is properly aware of its surroundings.

    For instance, it will monitor traffic lights to prompt you when they turn green. The head-up display will warn you if there are ‘dangerous’ bends ahead. The sat-nav can overlay direction information on a camera feed from the front of the car.

    Our favourite example, however, is the ‘adaptive’ brake recuperation. This uses navigation and sensor data to vary the amount of braking effect you get from the motors whenever you release the accelerator – which sounds unnerving and complicated yet works remarkably intuitively. It will even allow the iX to coast at high speeds if that’s most efficient.

    BMW iX review (2021) interior view, transmission selector
     
    Engage the full B-mode, and you can drive almost exclusively without touching the brake pedal, as the motors will do the braking for you in all but extreme circumstances. And in exemplary fashion.

    Better still, because of another integrated control unit balancing the effort between motor and traditional friction braking, when you do use the brake pedal, the feel and performance remains consistent at all times. Something that few other electric vehicles manage to pull off.

    How long does it take to charge?

    With 195kW fast-charging capability, the xDrive50 can be topped up with 93 miles of additional range in 10 minutes – or go from 10% to 80% in 35 minutes.

    But this relies on very fast and comparatively expensive DC public chargers – the vast capacity of the battery pack means that you’ll need to allow 16 hours for 100% on a single-phase 7kW AC wallbox of the type most commonly found at UK homes and offices.

    What different models and trims are available?

    The iX is currently available in two versions: the xDrive40 priced from £69,905 and the xDrive50 priced from £93,905.

    We’ve covered the stats of the xDrive50 in detail above. The xDrive40 produces 326hp and 630Nm of torque, does 0-62mph in 6.1sec, and has the same 124mph top speed; WLTP driving range is 257 miles.

    Standard equipment highlights for the iX Sport include an 18-speaker harmon/kardon hi-fi system, 21-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, four-zone climate control and a substantial number of driver assistance systems.

    The upgrade to iX M Sport – which costs an extra £3,000 – adds a styling package, bigger brakes, dark headlight glass and anthracite roof lining.

    A car like this never has a short options list, and among the add-ons for the standard models are massaging front seats, heated steering wheel and other cabin surfaces, Bowers and Wilkins hi-fi upgrade, ‘Skylounge’ panoramic roof, Laserlight headlights, and an interior camera that can be used for security and fun.

    High-performance BMW iX M60 on sale in summer 2022 

    In summer 2022 an M-performance model called the iX xDrive M60 joins the range. Power output for this is now confirmed at a staggering 619hp combined with a huge 1,100Nm peak torque, delivering 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds and an electronically limited 155mph top speed.

    BMW iX M60, front view, grey
     
    Maximum claimed WLTP driving range is equally impressive at 357 miles per charge, though it needs to impress, given pricing starts at £111,905.

    For the money you also get bespoke BMW M suspension tuning, 22-inch alloy wheels, soft-close doors, powerful BMW Laserlights instead of regular LED headlights, and a technology suite that includes an interior camera, Bowers & Wilkins hi-fi, massaging front seats, heated everything, and BMW Parking Assistant Professional.

    The built-in connectivity means BMW will offer new features and allow customers to pay for upgrades to their iX via over-the-air updates. Among the things coming this way are an automated parking system that allows the car to learn and self-drive certain short-distance manoeuvres, which you’ll then be able to control from outside the car using your phone.

    A heated element in the front grille area ensures all of the cameras and sensors built into the nose will still work when it’s snowing. BMW has put a lot of thought into this car.

    Should you buy one?

    If you want a stand-out, high-price, high-quality electric car, close to the cutting edge of the current state of battery electric vehicle technology then the BMW iX could well be for you. The look of the thing is sure to raise more than a few eyebrows, but as a statement-maker that may be exactly what you’re looking for anyway.

    Regardless, the interior is inviting, and the impressive blend of performance and serenity achieved by the driving experience means that even the most doubtful potential customer should at least take an iX for a test drive.

    What we like

    We can think of few other cars that are capable of providing such comprehensive ride comfort in combination with such cornering athleticism. The iX is at once a limousine and a creditable substitute for a sportscar – all while producing zero emissions in motion, thanks to its electric drive system.

    That electric drive not only gives awesome performance, but also does things an ordinary combustion car can’t – most notably the adaptive recuperation that practically makes the brake pedal a thing of the past. Traction is mega as well, thanks to the twin-motor setup.

    The technology used throughout – from the materials it’s built from to the latest iDrive – matches the iX’s price tag, while the refinement and the luxury interior put some proper icing on what is a pretty fancy automotive cake.

    What we don’t like

    Looks are subjective, so we’ll pass over that.

    More of a concern is that not all of the driver assistance systems work consistently. With everything switched on, the iX can theoretically accelerate up to speed limits automatically as well as slow down for hazards and ‘assist’ through turns (though this relies on you touching the steering wheel – it is not a fully autonomous car). However, we found many of these facilities unreliable in action, and certainly would caution against relying on them too heavily.

    Beyond this, most of the issues with the iX are the same you’ll face with any electric car – the classic being the way charging it up takes longer than filling a fuel tank. But as we all know there are means of coping with these things, and it’s getting easier and easier to live with an EV all the time.

    https://www.parkers.co.uk/bmw/ix/review/verdict/

  • BMW iX3 SUV review BMW iX3 SUV

    "The BMW iX3 is an electric variant of the popular X3 with a 285-mile range"

    While BMW wowed the world with its i3 electric hatchback and i8 plug-in hybrid coupe, the all-electric BMW iX3 SUV is altogether a more staid proposition. This time round BMW is taking a similar approach to Peugeot and Hyundai by serving up an electric version of a car it already sells, namely the BMW X3.

    There's been a deliberate decision not to go radical with the design, with BMW instead opting to add aerodynamic wheels, blue trim accents and a smoothed-off grille. There are also a new set of bumpers and side skirts, all tested to ensure they are slippery enough to help maximise the driving range. This is really just an X3 for buyers who want an electric powertrain.

    Best electric SUVs

    Under the car's floor is an 80kWh battery that sends its power to a rear-mounted 282bhp electric motor. This is a departure from rivals like the Audi e-tron, Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes EQC, which all have two motors, four wheel drive and quite a bit more power. While it isn't as fast as them, the iX3's 285-mile range is competitive, beating both its German rivals and just slightly behind the I-Pace. The Jag’ struggles to hit its official figure in real-world driving anyway.

    It can also be charged quickly, obtaining speeds of up to 150kW at the latest rapid-charging stations. Of its closest rivals, only the e-tron can match this, with the others topping out at around 100kW, and it means the iX3 battery can be replenished to 80% in a speedy 34 minutes. Thanks to this capability, making one stop on a long journey should be ample to get drivers to their destination with range to spare.

    Like the exterior, the inside of the iX3 is very much a mild variation on the X3, with some flashes of blue trim to show this is the electric version. It shares the same 10.25-inch iDrive infotainment display perched above the dashboard and a 12.3-inch digital instrument screen. Premier Edition and Premier Edition Pro trims serve up plenty of equipment, with features like a head-up display, a Harman Kardon stereo and wireless phone charging in the top trim.

    The BMW iX3 is spacious, quiet and has a good range, but it's a shame it doesn't feel anywhere near as special as the i3 and i8. Instead, it ushers in an era when electric BMWs will be a more mass-market part of the line-up.

    By adding an EV option to its popular X3 range, BMW boasts that customers can now choose between four different powertrains for its mid-size SUV. It adds to the existing petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid range, giving low to medium-mileage drivers the chance to shun traditional fossil fuels altogether.

    BMW iX3 MPG & CO2

    The iX3 has an 80kWh battery beneath its floor, allowing it to cover up to 285 miles on a charge. That's competitive with the 298-mile range of the Jaguar I-Pace, and betters the 237 and 256-mile range of the Audi e-tron and Mercedes EQC respectively.

    Like the e-tron, the iX3 also supports rapid 150kW charging at compatible public locations, topping the battery up to 80% in just 34 minutes. The Mercedes and Jaguar can be topped up at around 100kW, so take longer to recharge.

    As with any electric vehicle, the iX3 has the potential to significantly reduce running costs for the owner, and we particularly enjoyed one new feature for its energy recuperation system. Like most new EVs, the braking effect of the electric motor can be set to low, medium or high, and with practice it's possible to drive the iX3 in traffic with almost no use of the brakes. However, BMW has also added an ‘Adaptive’ setting, which automatically adjusts the recuperation to match the car ahead, a bit like adaptive cruise control for braking alone. It works well, carefully adjusting the regenerative effect to match cars in front, even when they modulate their deceleration.

    Thanks to its zero emissions, the iX3 qualifies for free car tax and 0% BiK for company-car drivers in 2020/21.

    Insurance groups
    The insurance band for the iX3 hasn't been announced yet but it's likely to be fairly high. We say this because its rivals are all costly to insure, with the I-Pace in group 49 out of 50 and the Audi e-tron in the very top group. However, the iX3 is the least powerful of the group, so could be a few groups lower.

    Warranty
    BMW sells all its cars with a three-year/unlimited mileage warranty, which is on a par with Mercedes and slightly more generous than Audi (with a 60,000-mile cap). Tesla models come with a four-year or 50,000-mile warranty. It's likely the BMW iX3 will have a longer warranty covering its battery (many rivals offer eight years of cover), but details of this have yet to be announced.

    Servicing
    BMW models are fitted with an array of sensors to determine when servicing is required, so there isn't a strict routine to stick to. Typically, services won't be more than two years or 20,000 miles apart, and isn't the cheapest. BMW does offer servicing packages though, making it possible to spread the cost over monthly payments.

    Unlike its rivals, the iX3 gets a single electric motor powering the rear wheels. This means it isn't as quick as the dual-motor Jaguar I-Pace in a straight line, but it still gets a sporty setup in typical BMW fashion.

    In fact, it would have been better if BMW had made the suspension softer because in its pursuit of agile, fun handling, ride comfort has been compromised. Even in the softest Comfort mode, the iX3 fidgets and seems to find bumps in the road that look inconsequential from behind the wheel.

    This chassis setup and the low-slung battery does at least mean the iX3 corners with little body lean, while the steering is fast to respond, if lacking in feel. Sport mode makes the steering heavier but also renders the suspension too bouncy, so we quickly turned it off.

    BMW iX3 electric motor

    The iX3 is powered by a single 282bhp electric motor at the rear axle, giving it a 0-62mph acceleration time of 6.8 seconds. This should be plenty quick enough for most SUV (and EV) buyers, but it's some way off rivals. The Audi e-tron, Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes EQC all feature front and rear motors, providing more power and four-wheel drive.

    The iX3 accelerates very quietly, with just a distant whine from its electric motor. If you prefer, you can also choose a louder sound thanks to 'balanced' and 'sporty' settings. The iX3 glides away from a standstill smoothly, with instant pulling power doing a good job of disguising its 2,185kg weight.

    Interior & comfort

    Unlike the daring BMW i3 and i8 models that set out BMW's stall as a designer of forward-thinking green models, the iX3 is a much more conventional model that's also available with electric propulsion. This will make sense for many customers, while others may view it as a bit of a disappointment.

    If you've sat in a BMW X3, there's very little change here apart from some blue flashes of colour for the BMW badge and gearlever. The steering wheel with silver buttons is new, while a 10.25-inch infotainment display and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is carried over, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

    Materials are of a high quality and the infotainment software is amongst the best in the business, but there aren't any novel features like trim made from recycled bottles or cork, as seen in many environmentally conscious models.

    Equipment
    The first versions of iX3 will be called Premier Edition and Premier Edition Pro, with four exterior colours offered, along with two choices of exterior trim colour: aluminium or gloss black. Standard kit includes wireless smartphone charging, heated front seats and Driving Assistant Professional.

    Premier Edition Pro is distinguished by large 20-inch aerodynamic alloy wheels, along with a powered tailgate, adaptive suspension and a panoramic sunroof. It also boasts a plethora of tech like a head-up display, Harmon Kardon stereo, gesture recognition and a BMW IconicSounds Electric soundtrack developed with famous composer Hans Zimmer.

    If there are concerns the iX3 is compromised compared with the regular model, fear not. It's virtually as usable for a family of five as the petrol or diesel car, and the boot is actually larger than the one in the plug-in hybrid BMW X3.

    BMW X3 interior space & storage

    There's plenty of space for adults in the front and back of the iX3 to stretch out, with the battery placed out of the way beneath the car's floor. In reality, most won't need the extra space found in the larger BMW X5 but there's no option of a third row of seats to make the iX3 into a seven seater.

    Boot space
    The iX3 has a 510-litre boot, which is 40 litres smaller than the petrol and diesel BMW X3 offer. In reality, most will be hard pressed to tell the difference, and surprisingly this is 60 litres more than the plug-in hybrid version of the X3 offers. The electric motor and transmission featured here is actually more compact than in the PHEV, so takes up less space.

    Source: carbuyer.co.uk

  • BMW M3 Competition Review: 85% Brilliant BMW M3 Competition Review: 85% Brilliant

    Versus the competition: The M3’s adjustability sets it apart from competitors like the Mercedes-AMG C63 and the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio; it can be a calm around-town cruiser or the ultimate track monster with the push of a few buttons.

    The BMW M3 is one of those iconic sports machines that creates strong feelings among enthusiasts. Is the new one as good as the old one? Can all its technology make up for the extra weight it lugs around? Has it become too expensive, too unattainable, too electronic?

    There’s plenty of debate in the car-enthusiast world, but something that hasn’t generally been an issue for the BMW M3 before is its looks — until now: Is it too ugly to be seriously considered? We don’t normally discuss how a vehicle looks, as taste in design is largely subjective; one person’s hideous is another person’s appealing. But if our anecdotal discussions with current M3 sedan and M4 coupe owners are any indication, the M3’s new styling may just impact its viability for a lot of buyers. Can the M3’s performance and other abilities overcome its questionable looks?

     

    OK, we should just get this out of the way: BMW’s new buck-toothed styling is awful. This is a worse transgression than the “Bangle butt” of the 2002 BMW 7 Series. The best anyone seems able to muster about the odd grille treatment is, “It doesn’t look too bad.” That’s a damned far cry from “Wow, that’s gorgeous.”

    But it isn’t just the grille that’s offensive. Look down the M3’s body side and you’ll notice the fenders have been flared to cover its wider wheels and tires. Then you’ll notice the door skins have not been widened to match the fenders, which becomes awkward where the rear doors meet the rear quarter panels. This is BMW cheapening out on the upgrade from 3 Series to M3 by not also modifying the door skins in order to save a couple bucks. The result looks half-done and amateurish — a decidedly disappointing visual update that takes away a significant portion of the M3’s appeal.

    If You Can Get Past the Looks …

    The driver’s seat is where the new M3 makes its strongest case for overlooking the fact that it looks like the lovechild of SpongeBob SquarePants and a garden vole. And that case is indeed strong; the M3 drives as well as it ever has, with abilities unmatched by plenty of super-expensive ultra-sports-cars — all while disguising itself as a compact sports sedan.

    I didn’t even mind that my test car was an automatic, as its engine and transmission combination is world-beating. The two are exceptionally well matched, and you can fine-tune how it performs by selecting one of six progressively sportier transmission modes — three automatic and three manual. I rarely used the manual function for shifting gears; I felt no need to second-guess what the transmission was doing quite well on its own, and the idea of manually shifting an automatic transmission with flappy paddle shifters strikes me as silly.

    Acceleration is explosive. Mash the go-pedal and hang on for dear life, as the thing rockets forward with serious force when asked to do so. The beauty of the M3 is that everything seems electronically adjustable, from throttle response and transmission shifts to steering feedback and brake pedal feel. You store your settings in the computer, then choose them via a couple of big red buttons right on the steering wheel.

    bmw-m3-competition-2021--07-angle--blue--exterior--rear.jpg2021 

    When it comes to M Performance cars, I like to set up one of the two options as a cruiser (relaxed responses, softer suspension, easy-does-it gear changes) and the other as a brawler (aggressive steering, firmer suspension, hair-trigger throttle). For around-town driving, I keep it in cruiser mode and enjoy driving a comfortable, luxurious sports sedan. Then when I come upon a twisty bit of back road — or even a long highway on-ramp — brawler mode instantly ratchets the M3 up to far more aggressive, entertaining levels for as long as I want it to.

    And man, is it ever entertaining. Everything on the M3 Competition is track-ready, with electronically controlled brakes that feel far better than those in a standard 3 or 4 Series. Steering is quick and responsive, and the suspension is sophisticated — all of which combines to allow for driving well in excess of posted speed limits without even realizing you’re doing so. The only indication you’re going faster than you should is a rather surprising amount of road and wind noise that comes through to the cabin. Part of that was due to my test car’s super-sticky summer performance tires (on 19-inch wheels up front, 20-inchers in back), which transmit a lot of pavement noise partly thanks to the car’s aerodynamics.

    An Evolutionary Interior

    While the latest M3’s exterior has changed considerably versus the outgoing model, the interior has seen a more evolutionary progression. It’s changed so slowly, in fact, that you might sit in the thing and wonder what’s even different. But that’s OK, as BMW’s latest interiors are quite nice — and they do not include an overly aggressive move toward touch-sensitive flat panel surfaces over traditional buttons, thank goodness.

    The M3’s sport seats might look too aggressively bolstered and uncomfortable, but they’re anything but; they proved to be supremely comfortable and supportive in all the right places, both in spirited driving and on longer highway voyages. They look the business, too, matching the M3’s sporting personality well.

    The Competition trim I drove also featured an optional Executive Package, which includes niceties like a heated steering wheel, BMW’s Gesture Control for the multimedia system, a head-up display and more. The chunky steering wheel feels excellent in your hands, but the real standouts are the bright red M1 and M2 buttons on the spokes; they just beg you to punch them and let the M3 loose on the world.

    bmw-m3-competition-2021--23-backseat--interior.jpg2021 

    Supercar Performance, Luxury Car Prices

    The M3’s overall performance is stunning. It’s an immensely satisfying driver’s car, with abilities and technology matching more exotic supercar coupes, but in a package that’s eminently more sensible as a daily driver. It’s easily track-capable off the showroom floor, and it can also be a satisfying backroad brawler or high-speed highway cruiser if its driver never wants to turn a wheel in anger on a race course.

    The M3’s starting price is $70,895 (prices include destination), jumping up to $73,795 for the Competition trim. Bumping up to the Competition gets you the more powerful engine, a standard automatic transmission (the manual is sadly not available), larger wheels and tires, special seat belts and Shadowline exterior trim. My test vehicle had a few other options, including a $1,950 paint job and a special leather interior that ran $2,550. The Executive Package costs $3,000 and adds remote start, a heated steering wheel, a power opening trunk, adaptive LED headlights, wireless personal electronics charging and BMW’s gesture control for the latest iDrive multimedia system. The total for my deep blue test car came to $93,495.

    A hundred grand isn’t chump change for any kind of automotive purchase, but the sheer capability of the new M3 — and its ability to generate an amazingly entertaining driving experience on the road or the track — means it’s a screaming value compared with supercars that do the same things, usually with less interior space and functionality.

    The M3 is 85% brilliant; it’s the 15% forward of the front fenders that’s the big problem, and it’s more than just a casual issue. If other buyers are as turned off by the new face as was my friend, it could spell trouble for BMW. If buyers are more interested in the car’s abilities than its appearance, however, the German luxury brand has nothing to worry about.

    (cars.com)

  • BMW M4 Competition review BMW M4

     

    If someone had have told you twenty years ago that the latest BMW M4 (or M3, as it was universally called back then) would have over 500bhp, a choice of all-wheel drive – but no manual gearbox – and styling loud enough to send seasoned M enthusiasts off into the arms of AMG, you’d no doubt wonder what potent blend of super glue they’d been inhaling before bed.

    Yet, here we are in 2021 where the crazy proclamations of yesteryear have indeed come true. The G82 version of one of BMW’s most famous names is all of the above. Granted, a six-speed three-pedal version is available elsewhere, but on these shores it’s eight-speed ZF only. And yes, the debate over the styling still rages on. I’ve grown to like it, chiefly because it dares to be different from every copy and paste vanilla car on sale today. But let’s not go down that rabbit hole…

     What are the headline figures?
    As well as the manual gearbox, UK buyers have also been denied the ‘standard’ car, so it’s Competition only for the G82 and its M3 sibling. That means pre-pumped outputs of 503bhp and 479lb ft of torque – up 59bhp and 73lb ft on the outgoing F82 Competition. Big gains? Quite. But also big dollar, with this latest M4 coming in with a £76,000 asking price (our test car was knocking on for £90k).

    0-62mph is done in 3.9 seconds while top speed hits the heady heights of 180mph if you pay the nice people in Munich a little extra for the M Sport Pro Package. It’s a seriously juicy set of stats for a game of Top Trumps, yet the truth is that we’ve come to expect nothing less when one of Germany’s big three releases a flagship performance car.

     What’s of more importance, is how this M4 serves its power up compared with its predecessor. There’s plenty of tales from drivers who got behind the wheel of early F82s, likening the experience to driving a 400bhp supermarket trolly. You were never quite sure what it was going to do next and as a result, it felt like it was trying to spit you off into the nearest hedge.

    Happily, things have since moved forward and BMW’s engineers have smoothed out the torque delivery in the S58 engine. It comes in from almost 1,000 revs later, and there’s a far more linear curve as it hauls through the mid-range leaving Porsche 911 Carreras in its wake. Catch it below 2,500rpm and you’ll detect tangible lag, yet it’s fleeting and insignificant compared with the sheer breadth of pulling power on offer.

    It’s a level of flexibility that would scarcely have been believable not so long ago, yet the M4’s engine delivers at both ends of the scale. Almost as soon as the torque dies down, the endearingly frantic top end takes over and gives you just enough encouragement to ring out those final few revs before pulling the upshift paddle at 7,600rpm. If it wasn’t already clear, this is a blisteringly quick car.

     BMW’s done a decent job with the sound, too. No doubt it’s synthesised, yet there’s enough going on, not just from the electronically controlled exhaust flaps, but the engine itself, to mean it should be slightly less controversial than the tones of its S55 predecessor.

    It’s a real shame, then, that the eight-speed gearbox can’t doesn’t feel as confident as the rest of the powertrain. Everyday driving shows off its greatest strength of smooth, slick, well-timed changes, yet start to drive enthusiastically and the downshifts are underwhelming. There’s not the same level of decisiveness or aggression as Porsche’s PDK, for example, and despite the number of ratios being the same, each gear feels less distinctive.

    What about the handling?
    Before I get into that, it’s worth highlighting that most of my time in the M4 was spent on track with the optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, rather than the standard Pilot Sport 4S. I did have an on-road drive with the latter, but the following impressions will – largely – be based on my experience with the super sticky track tyres.

    Although, a quick glance through the spec sheet and you might question whether the M4 Competition should be going anywhere near a track. Because, under the colossal power and torque figures you’ll see a kerb weight in excess of 1.7-tonnes, that, by the way, is almost 200kg more than a similarly specced F82 M4 Competition

    Why so hefty? Partly, it’s down to the increased reinforcement on the part-steel, part-aluminium CLAR platform. Braces to lock the front shock towers firmly to each other and the front bulkhead, elements to tie the stiffer subframe to the reinforced engine bay, underfloor shear panels – all of this in an effort to remove variables from the M4’s chassis.

     And yet in truth, such weight gains feel like they’re there mostly because BMW knows it’s not the stigma it once was and that the average M4 customer still wants, no – scratch that, demands the creature comforts of a regular 4 regardless of the car’s sporting intentions. As a consequence, BMW has become the master of making its cars not necessarily hide weight (there’s only so far you can take that), but instead, work with the weight.

    Like the F90 M5, the M4 Competition moves around tight corners on track (and on road), with a degree of agility that, not so long ago, wouldn’t have been out of place on the grid for the Nürburgring 24H. Wider, longer and tauter than its predecessor, it can take even greater speed into corners with the front-end that actively hunting down apexes given a little trail-braking encouragement. BMW’s engineers benchmarked the car against the previous M4 CS – and it shows.

    It’s especially effective in tight and medium-speed corners where there’s enough attitude from the rear to punch you away from the throes of understeer, keeping the line tight and the speed high. Sure, the front will still push wide if you’re not decisive enough on the throttle, but it doesn’t take long to get used to its pleasingly direct way of doing things.

    And yet, that doesn’t mean that the M4 always plays nice. As mentioned, the engine is a much more tractable unit than before, but there’s still a sharpness, borderline nervouness to the car at the limit, that hints at the barely concealed aggression underneath. Big slides are possible – even encouraged – with the gimmicky but fun M Drift Analyser, yet it’s the transition from traction to no traction that leaves you a little unsure of where you stand. Although, as explained, much of this could have been down to the less forgiving Cup 2 tyres.

     Either way, there’s no doubt more precise tools available for similar money. And while I don’t want to get too fixated on the 911, it certainly is one of them. The steering in the BMW, for example, is light and fast. Handy for the slower corners, but less helpful for delivering feel and stability in the faster stuff. Plus, the standard brakes, as powerful as they are still have their work cut out to bring 1.7 tonnes to a halt in a brisk and controlled manner. As a result, the M4 Competition is a car that’ll make you sweat, swear and question your own sense of self-preservation on a committed drive.

    Which makes it all the more impressive that its capable of settling down into an exemplary everyday car with almost GT levels of refinement. The adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers does a fine job of keeping the car level in sport plus settings, but the well-rounded ride in comfort mode is equally impressive.

     As is the cabin layout, infotainment and optional Clubsport carbon bucket seats. A £3,000 option, they save a mere 9.6kg, yet sit you lower and more comfortably in the car. Admittedly, I still wanted to go down a few mms further, and if I’m being picky, the steering wheel rim is too thick. Yet there’s no doubt it’s an exceptionally nice cabin to spend time in.

    Verdict

    The BMW M4 Compeition manages to be both an accomplished all-rounder and a flawed, yet brilliantly exciting sports coupe all at the same time. It’s everyday on-road manners and luxuriously appointed cabin are almost beyond reproach. Yet start to press on the and the wave of seemingly limitless power and torque, combined with a veracious appetite for on-the-limit brinkmanship makes it a heart-stopping streetfighter of a sports coupe. And while it may not have the dynamic finesse of the 911 that its now priced so closely with, there’s more than enough reason to drop £80k on one of Munich’s most radical and controversial M cars yet.

    carmagazine.co.uk

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