Bucket Seat: BMW X7 30d xDrive

When BMW said it was making a 7 seater luxury SUV, many thought the idea of having one wouldn't fit well with the brand as it was and always has been a sports based one but over the years there has been a massive trend shift with many preferring the SUV over the sedan. Apart from practicality and space, there is just a certain appeal that SUV's have of which normal cars cannot offer so in saying this, BMW forecasted well with the X7 as there is a massive void in the market for this type of car. Currently in the luxury 7 seater segment, there is only one other rival and that is the Mercedes-Benz GLS, but with that current model being aged this puts the X7 in prime position to be the markets best offering. I got the opportunity to spend a week in the 30d xDrive Individual derivative of the X7 and while my expectations of the vehicle were high, it still managed to blow me away. 

DESIGN

Molding a car of this size and nature to look appealing isn't an easy feat, I know as I dabbled a bit in car design back in the day. There's always going to be be angles and areas that look awkward or off but I can't really say that's the case with the X7, yes the primary shape of the vehicle is very boxy but BMW worked well in making that a key design aspect of the X7, accentuating the bold character of the car by increasing dimensions of design elements to make everything fit and work. The grille for example, when first images broke, it was a major controversial talking point about it's size. It's the biggest kidney grille on any BMW ever made and seeing that the X7 is the biggest production model from the company, it would only make sense that the grille would be big to suit? The grille is active like all new models, so it opens and closes when there's a need to allow natural air into the radiator. With the Individual package, there were a lot of elements which had silver and chrome finishes, adding to the luxury allure of the car. The multi-spoke 22" rims gave the X7 presence. The lights are very similar to that of the 7 Series sedan but adjusted to suit the cars size, fused into that massive grille and add's dimension with the LED halo's and laser inserts in the middle. The back end lines up perfectly and I like the use of the solid chrome bar which is also present on the 7 Series Sedan, a sort of aspect to make it known that they are both in the same league. 

PERFORMANCE

Being the smallest engine in the line up, BMW's 3 liter TwinPower Turbo Diesel engine shouldn't be looked down upon as it was more than adequate to propel this monstrous beast along its way. Technical data, the motor produces 195kW with a Max Torque level of 620Nm, the claimed fuel consumption is 7L per 100km but I managed to get 8.3L per 100km during my time with it, which is still rather impressive for a car of this size. The weight being well over 2 tonnes doesn't pose an issue to the motor as it is more than adequate to handle the burden, and if the need did arise to need extra oomph, just flick into sport and make that 620Nm of torque do it's job. On a long distance trip, it proved to be quite delightful, as the car builds up speed over a long period the revs drop ever so slightly, giving you great performance and great economy. While the X7 does have some off road capabilities, I only had a chance to do some light gravel road driving with it and it gobbled that up as if it was nothing. 

COMFORT

While the X7 can be fitted in a 7 seater configuration I feel many are going to opt for the one I had, which is a 6 seater configuration where the second row compromises of 2 single seats with arm rests, thus giving the passenger a proper limousine feel to the car. The Individual package spec'd had quite a few options that elevated the luxury comfort levels in the car. The front driver and passenger seats both come with dual climate control, as well as heated and cooling seats, the cup holders can also be heated or cooled, depending what drink you have in them. The second row has the dual climate control aircon as well, they also have controls to operate the blinds, roof curtain and sun roof. The 3rd row of seats also have their own climate control for the temperature right at the back of the car and they too have their own glass roof but just a curtain which controls the sunlight. The ride is exceptional, whether it be on tar road or gravel, the suspension copes well on any surface it finds it self on.

TECHNOLOGY

BMW is always one for gadgets and like the new 3 Series we had on test previously, the X7 comes with all of that and more. Heads up display is bigger than normal on the X7 but pretty much the same info, the display screen is also the largest that can be found in any of the BMW models. It is touch screen and has gesture controls for the driver. The X7 also comes with semi-autonomous cruise control as well as reverse park assist, this feature being very handy as it isn't always easy judging spaces with a big car like this. The entertainment package in this car came with dual screens for the second row passengers who have their own entertainment console which has a DVD player for their personal watching preference, or they could hook their mobile device up and stream onto the screen. They could do this individually or share it amongst all the screens in the car. Bare in mind the drivers screen will switch off when in motion as to not distract the driver. The 3rd row seats are electronically controlled either from the back or the boot where by just pressing a button has them folding up or down. Pick of the tech for me has to be the laser lights, as with every new model that rolls out from BMW, the lights just keep getting better and better. The adaptive technology that it's fitted with continues to impress me. 

VERDICT

There's no beating around the bush with the X7, it's an expensive car built for people with expensive taste who need something bigger than the norm. It's a 7 Series on steroids but at the same time offers the practicality that only an SUV can give. With many wanted to see the car while I had it, it was clear that they were all equally impressed at what they saw. Pricing may be a daunting factor but in-terms of value for money, there's no denying this ticks all the boxes from what you would need to have a luxury SUV. It's presence on the road is formidable, cars move out of the way when they see you coming. Strap on a blue light to it and I could have gotten away with a lot of things. Despite it's size, the tech and driver assistants make it a breeze to park and navigate on the narrowest of roads. It really is something special that they've created here and to the right market will prove to be quite a hit. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	3.0L Diesel Twin Power Turbo
Gear Box	8 Speed Automatic Steptronic
Torque	620Nm
Power	195kW
Consumption	7L/100km
Price	R 1,554,500

Bucket Seat: Audi Q8 - First Impressions

With the SUV market growing bigger and bigger every year, the strive for market dominance is getting increasingly harder with the variance across the range. While there are many luxury premium SUV's out there, many of them were just raised sedans with the most it could do was hop pavements hence the price tags had you wondering if it justifies what you're getting. Of recent though, many are coming to the party with their offerings having more off-road tech, allowing the owners to take their yachts of the road on the roads less traveled. With the SUV craze, it spawned a new type of luxury raised vehicle, the coupe style SAC, for most part, many of the first gen SUV Coupe's looked awkward and out of place, with us seeing some second gen models being released of recent, I must admit, the designs have much better flow about them, however Audi this week launched their all new Q8 which is a Coupe based SUV built on their Q7 platform and they just got it so right. 

The latest of the Q family and in my opinion the best looking, this model is dubbed the halo and is a new top model of Audi's range of SUV's. It's a luxuriously equipped SUV coupe that is suitable for for business and pleasure. Audi's design language is brought through beautifully in every element of this car. The lines are clean, the angles and proportions are perfect, not having that awkward stance that many of the other SUV coupe's have, also that laser light show it gives is next level. 

Being based on the Q7, the Q8 is wider but shorter and lower that the Q7, it is still quite a sizable car with it measuring almost 5 meters in length and 2 meteres wide. This still leaves the interior with loads of space for it's passengers. The rear doesn't have the sharp reclining roof line which compromises head room for the rear passengers as most of the slope occurs over the tailgate. But luggage space is still quite decent with 1,755 litres to fill. Ground clearance on the Q8 comes in at 254 millimeters which is substantial for light off roading, it has short overhands, quattro permanent all wheel drive and hill descent control so you can keep going on with the Q8 even when the paved road ends. 

The Q8 is launched locally with just one model, the Q8 55 TFSI which is powered by a 3 litre , six-cylinder that produces 250kW of power and 500 Nm of torque. a 3.0 TDi variant will be launched mid 2019. Claimed fuel consumption on the 55 TFSI is between 9.1-8.9 litres per 100 kilometers. The engine makes use of a mild hybrid drive train, dubbed (MHEV) which has a 48 volt main electrical system with a lithium-ion better and a belt alternator starter which enables long coasting phases with the combustion engine deactivated. On the interior, it's much of the same from the latest Audi's, really well set out, very driver orientated and big touch screens to help you navigate the various controls. With the crazy SUV love in the country, I can see this one doing very well. 

Bucket Seat: 2019 BMW 3 Series

Yesterday BMW AG lifted the covers on its all new 3 Series, with over 40 years of 3 Series this has proven to be the companies best selling model and hence the massive interest shown for it at the Paris Motor Show after its unveiling. The new 3 which will be rolled out from next year see's its design follow suit to that of its bigger brother, the 5 Series, with bolder accents, more edges and sleek finishes. There were some comments being thrown about online about how it borrows characteristics from other sedans in its segment, but apart from them all sharing 4 doors, I cannot see it myself. The design itself is great, it epitomizes everything there is about the 3 Series in both form and functionality while still having that mature look to it. 

When one thinks about the 3, you get reminded about its sporting heritage, and that comes out in this new design with the M Sport kit offering the end user a more aggressive look and if that isn't enough, BMW have also released a range of M Performance parts for the new G20 range. The thing about the 3 Series is its flexibility in design to morph into the type of car you want it to be. If sports look isn't your style you can opt for a luxurious option giving the car a more sophisticated and elegant looks. Lets look at some key design changes made to the 3 Series, first up is the new hexagonal twin LED headlights, which follow the same design pattern from the 5 Series but with a more edgy finish, these are also available in laser lights as an optional extra. The fused twin kidney grilles is an important new aspect to the BMW design language as it moves away from the split grille we've been used to in the past. Also the grilles are more large and prominent giving it that distinguished look. 

BMW also chose to redesign the Hofmeister kink which is synonymous in all of their cars, getting it up to speed with a modern twist. moving to the back where most of the controversy is sparking, is the new slim, L shape, 3 dimensional rear lights. Many liken this design to other manufacturers and while slight similarities are there, one cannot ignore this is not the first time we seeing this type of design from BMW as it's been showcased on the new Z4, the new 8 Series as well as the new X4,  so why now all of a sudden its kicking up a fuss on the internet is beyond me. 

Moving onto the interior, BMW stick to their minimalistic design but add some nice touches, they've adopted the new instrument cluster design seen on the 8 Series which has a large surface screen that displays all vital info and can also project the navigation map while driving. As always, the interior is finished off in high quality materials with precise workmanship, and the cockpit is very driver orientated. Other key features include the glass sunroof being bigger and the fancy new gear selector. With regards to technology advancements in the new 3, we're not exactly sure whether we will get all the cool new tech that's displayed but there are some noteworthy ones like the laser light option we spoke of earlier, the BMW live cockpit instrument cluster, a revised heads up projection but the stand out one is the new AI interface with BMW which essentially brings your car to life. Speak commands to it and it will do as you say or find out information for you if requested. 

There were 7 engine variants displayed at the Paris Motor Show but I'm sure we won't be getting them all, range topping is the 340i xDrive which will undoubtedly be a popular one. Still not sure on pricing for the new 3 Series and we will have to wait till March 2019 to get a better indication, since that is when the vehicle is marked to be launched locally.