Bucket Seat: BMW 220d M Sport

A couple of weeks ago I found myself in Johannesburg to cover the Ultra Music Festival, while I was there the kind folk at BMW SA allowed me to use one of their cars for the weekend, and boy what a car it was! I did know what model I would be receiving prior to me collecting it but the car as a complete package in terms of spec and trim, coupled with that awesome twin-power turbo diesel power unit completely blew me away. Seeing it lurking in the shadows of the OR Tambo parking lot, with its Adaptive LED hexagonal lights beaming at me as it crouched ever so slowly towards me with that slight up we've come to adore from these cars, I could tell I was going to have a great weekend attacking the streets of the countries most busiest city, with this, my first test car of 2018. 

STYLE

The great thing with BMW, is the number of ways you can customize your car to suit your style and with this current car I had, I'd give it a 10 out of 10. The person who sat down with the spec sheet had the same taste as me, in fact I think he did a bit more than I would have! Basically if I had the money and would be buying a 2 Series, this is how mine would end up looking. Black Sapphire Metalix paint on the exterior, with 18" Jet Black Double Spoke rims, complete with the M Sport kit made this little coupe look menacing, almost had an M2 look to it. On the inside, the seats were covered in Dakota Cognac leather, probably my favourite leather colour option available from BMW.  With regards to the face-lift, again, minor changes, it's all in the details, from the LED lights on both front and rear, the new tile format information display menu, the option to have a digital dash and extra lighting for the interior. 

PERFORMANCE

I've said it before and I have been slated for it but BMW's 2 liter diesel engine, for me, is one of the best in their line up. Why? well, simply because it is the best all rounder engine. It has the torque to give you spontaneous performance off the line, and generates speed quickly,and it has by far the best fuel consumption from all the combustion engines offered in the stable. The motor produces 140kW of power and 400Nm of torque, so it is packing! There really was nothing I could do to fault it, the turbo lag is minimal now thanks to the new cooling system, with the various driving modes in the car, the engine adapts and copes suitably. Whether it was robot to robot driving, stuck in Sandton peak traffic driving or hammering it down the M1, the car performed phenomenally. 

COMFORT

Let me start off by saying it's a coupe, people who have never driven one or been in one might not understand but when you do, trust me you will realise what I mean. With coupe's, they tend to be a bit lower, and getting in and out, if you're slightly larger than the norm might prove to be difficult, also there's the doors issue, the doors are longer which reduces the space on the angle when opening or closing it, so God forbid someone park really close to you in a mall, because you'll be pulling some Katherine Zeta Jones moves from entrapment to get in and out. Apart from the entry and exit problems, sitting in the front is pretty damn comfortable, can't say the same for the back but I did have people sit there while I was driving and they had no complaints. The ride quality even with the stiffer suspension is quite smooth, seating positions can vary but from most it was pretty snug. The luggage capacity was pretty decent too, for a small car you really could get a lot into that trunk. 

VERDICT

Prior to driving this car, I was hell bent on the 320d being the perfect car for me, I was adamant that it had everything I needed and it would serve the purpose. However...this little pocket rocket is twisting my arm, it's telling me I'm still young, I'm still single and there's still time to have fun. Even if I were married, it's the perfect car, it can be a little run around, a cruiser or an everyday car. Pricing on it is a bit steep but for what you're getting, it really is worth it. Especially if you look at the current competitors in the segment. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.0 liter, 4 Cylinder, TwinPower-Turbo Diesel
Gear Box	8 Speed Sport Automatic Steptronic
Power	140kW
Torque	400Nm
Top Speed	230km/h
Economy	4.1  L/100km
Price	R569,000*

*Price of base model excluding extras

Bucket Seat: 2017 BMW 420i Convertible

Picture the setting, the sun is shining, not a cloud in the sky, the sea is a deep blue colour and there is a slight breeze in the air. Perfect weather to cruise around in a drop top, and that is practically what an average day on the coastal city of which I reside, that is Durban is like. As luck would have it though, the week I get to spend with a luxury convertible, will bring in a vicious cold front that will last for longer than nine days. Yup, there I was, the keys to the brand new BMW 420i Convertible in hand, staring at the dark clouds and pouring rain, cursing every curse word I have in my vocabulary and pretty sure I came up with some new ones as well. I know I could still drive around in the car with the roof up, but, urgh! Why would you when the roof could fold away into the boot, leaving you one on one with the elements?! Well not the rain and cold, those elements can stay out of the cars cabin, none the less, the clock was ticking and the car needed to be driven, although there was a brief moment of sunshine that the heavens afforded me, just enough to do a make-shift photo shoot for this blog post as soon after it was completed, the skies opened again. 

DESIGN

As discussed in the post about the revised 4 Series Gran Coupe, this updated spec of the model doesn't see a lot of cosmetic changes, it's hardly visible to the naked eye and you really have to pull out a measuring tape to see the real difference. The car has a new chassis which has been redesigned to suit all models of the range. This makes a huge difference in the driving dynamics. Visually the biggest change is the head lamps both front and rear which see's the introduction to full LED technology and phases out the old xenon's. Apart from it looking great with the hexagonal shape, the lights with high beam assist really light up the road like nothing I've seen but more about that later. BMW have also added some new paints which are exclusive to the 4 Series, most popular being Snapper Rocks Blue, the other being Sunset Orange which I honestly prefer from the two, the car I had came in good ol white. The interior see's some minor upgrades as well with more options in trims and textures to make your car exclusive and unique.

PERFORMANCE

The revised 4 Series comes with the revised engines that filter down from the 3 Series, but with the Convertible, BMW have dropped the diesel engines from that line as from customer preferences, it was the least engine sold...in fact there were hardly Convertible diesel engines sold. The 420i I had was pretty awesome, while many think it is under-powered, I can assure you it is not! Even with the added weight of the folding roof, the car's engine produces 135kW and 290Nm of torque, more than adequate to propel you on both straight stretches and winding corners, you do tend to feel the weight at the rear if you really giving it horns but with a car like this, I've come to realise it is a proper cruiser. So low speeds, top down, music on and you're in the element but as my introduction stated, most of my driving was done with the roof closed.

TECH

If you are like me, crazy about the latest technology than the 4 Series won't disappoint you. BMW have updated the info screen to the tile format found in the 5 and 7 series, with apps and widgets for easy information on the move. BMW Connected drive also is included, with access to a 24 operator to help you with your every need. The 4 Series also has the option to have your instrument panel fully digital, this is pretty neat as it the display changes on every driving mode you chose. With comfort giving the standard BMW display, Eco Pro, has a blue theme, and the Sports display is full red with large display, it really gives you the impression that you're in a game, but be-careful, you're not and speed limits apply! It is loads of fun, though. The list of optional extras for the BMW's are endless, and I am bleak this test car didn't come with most of them as certain publications in the country complained about the cost of the actual test car with all of the extras it came with, My opinion is, it's there so we can tell you, the buying public about them, oh well.

VERDICT

I'm usually not the biggest fan of convertibles, yes they look cool with the roof down but coming from a climate that's always humid and having sensitive skin, I try to avoid having to bake myself. However, in saying that this car has changed my mind about convertibles, firstly the car has air-conditioned seats, so air flows through the seat and has a vent on the headrest, so it can either cool you or keep you warm as I found out while driving around with the roof down in overcast and cold conditions with everyone thinking I'm gone mad, I was actually quite comfortable. Secondly, the 4 Series Convertible has a hard top roof, yes it does mean less boot space, but who cars! Solid roof and it actually opens and closes rather fast, as my video will show you. The fuel consumption ain't so bad if you have to take into account that this car is almost 300kg's heavier than the Coupe and Gran Coupe, there is really lots of room in the car, I had 4 adults in it! If you in the market for a drop top, this in the first one you need to take a look at. Pricing is a bit stiff but you definitely getting what you paid for,

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.0L Twin Power Turbo
Gear Box	8 Speed Automatic with paddles shift
Power	135kW
Torque	290Nm
Top Speed	230Kph (electronically limited)
0-100kph	7.8 Seconds
Price	R743,824.00*

*Excluding Extras

Bucket Seat: The New BMW M5 - First Impressions

When BMW released it's brand new 5 Series this year, many didn't anticipate just how much of a difference it would be to it's predecessor. Before, it was just a larger extension of the 3 Series family, with a few more luxury extras, however with this new model, it's essentially a slightly smaller version of the 7 Series. In fact, with the technological enhancements that have taken place in Munich research and development sector from the time the new 7 was released to when the 5 was released, it has worked out that the 5 Series offers a bit more than the 7 in terms of cool gadgets, of course the 7 Series will automatically inherit all of these but it's nice to know that they were in the 5 first. 

Now while the 5 Series hit the ground running since it's launch and cemented its name as the ultimate business athlete with a good combination of luxury and sportiness, many waited to see what the German manufacturer had up it's sleeve for the range topping M model, the M5. There were hints and teases given out before the official unveiling, we learnt that the car would have BMW's 4 wheel drive system, dubbed X Drive as a standard and also that the car would have rear wheel steering, helping it take corners with more precision and stability. Later we discovered that the car would be powered by a monster 4.4L V8, while many still dream of the M5 once again having the V10 engine, BMW has ensured that this is its most powerful V8 yet. 

When the covers were officially lifted on the new M5, albeit after another leak, fans were not disappointed! With it's lowered stance, blacked out front kidney grille, large diffuser air-intakes it certainly looked menacing just by standing still. The new M5 comes standard with 19" , 7 spoke dual light alloy rims. It's a fresh new design in rims from BMW and certainly adds to the masculinity to the car. Getting to the business end of the new M5, the 4.4litre V8 bi-turbo engine has M TwinPower Turbo technology which we've been used to in all their engine variants, so what makes this one better? Engineers have carried out significant revisions to the outgoing models power unit, so taking what they've done there to an already great motor and making it better. The engine develops 441kW, yes you read that right, 441kW with 600BHP and has a monumental torque figure of 750Nm, literally pulling the earth as it accelerates with a 0-100km/h time of just 3.4 seconds and a 0-200km/h time of 11.1 seconds.

We spoke about the M5 coming with BMW's M xDrive, but what exactly is it and what does it mean? Well to put it simply, its their version of 4WD, The settings can be changed and adjusted by the driver when and when they want to. It has various configurations to choose from, these are based on combinations of the DSC modes (DSC on, MDM DSC off) and M XDrive modes (4WD, Sport, 2WD). With the suspension designed to deliver maximum traction for everyday use and supreme dynamic performance on track, this along with he M xDrive can make for an ultimate drivers experience. While being more powerful, the new M5 is also more efficient than ever before, with a claimed fuel consumption combined at 10.5L/100km, with C02 emissions combined at 251 g/km. Moving on the inside, while it is very sporty, its still pretty luxurious too, coming with the same gadgets offered in the normal 5 Series variants and that new gear selector is a thing of beauty. 

Overall, the new BMW M5 looks the business, while we in South Africa will only see the car on our streets in the early part of 2018, BMW will have one to show at the BMW M Festival taking place at Kyalami in October. But if you really can't wait to drive one, you can get yourself a copy of the new Need For Speed Payback video game, in which it features. 

Bucket Seat: BMW 3 Series Face-lift - First Impressions

BMW are calling this "the most advanced 3 series yet" and they're right, its the latest installment to a model range that turned 40th this year and it's amazing to see how it's grown into the car that it is today. Last week I attended the launch of the face-lift 3 Series which kicked off at the Rosslyn Plant, the birth place for a car that's accountable for 25% of BMW's sales. Since the plant's inception in 1974 it's played a pivotal role for the company, apart from producing the 3 series sedan, it also manufacturers parts that get sent to other BMW plants around the world. It's a state of the art place, with it receiving the Platinum Plant Quality Award in the J.D Power Initial Quality Study, thus making it the best plant in the world! Quite an accolade for the guys in Rosslyn, it's great to know that such high standards of quality is maintained by the brand even beyond it's borders. The plant reached another significant millstone this year with it producing it's One millionth car, there was a special ceremony with the big chiefs of BMW SA present to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the staff at the plant. 

Right, now that the history lesson is over, time to get down to business of the reason I was there, the new 3 series! Yes it is new, but it''s just a face-lift version of the F30 sedan and very minor at that. To the untrained person they might not even make out the difference as they're very minimal. There have been changes to both the front and rear lights with optional full-LED. This emphasises the sporting credentials of the car, so says BMW. For me it does look cool, with the front lights having a distinct horizontal profile that line up with the kidney grille and the rear lights having that flowing LED cut to it. 

The main change to the car though is the engines, the entire range receives new engines apart from the 330d. Four new 4 cylinder and a new a 6 cylinder petrol engine are added to the line up with the the 328i and 335i making way for the 330i and 340i respectively. The 330i engine packs quite a punch with it pushing out 135kW and a lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions rating than it's predecessor. This is all thanks to a new cooling system that's developed for the modular BMW Efficient Dynamics engine family, which all feature the BMW Twin Power Turbo's. 

At the launch I had the opportunity to drive the range topping 340i, just like the 335i it is a force to be reckon with. The new engine is extremely responsive to the driver, allowing them to access all of the power when needed. The figures are astounding for the car with it producing 240kW and a combined fuel consumption of 7.7-6.5l/100km. It was a breeze to navigate it to the windy mountain passes of the Magaliesberg. On the way back I opted to jump in the new 320d, which also receives a new engine and  now standard with twin tail pipes, as is the 320i. This car was the one that intrigued me the most, being a top seller for the range it was nice to see what improvements BMW had made to the car. The engine is outstanding, apart from improved fuel consumption which was already quite good, it's performance levels have been tweaked, with it having less turbo lag than the old model. 

As per normal, there will be a host of packages the cars will be available in, for a broad scope of customization and for the enthusiast, BMW will be launching a 40th Year Limited Edition model which will feature exclusive details only available for it. 400 of these will be made in the various engine types, and market dependent. 

Overall, BMW have upped the game with their new 3 Series, yes while it might not look that much different from the previous shape, it's ticking all the right boxes in terms of being more efficient and more powerful which makes a big difference in driving enjoyment. BMW will also bring out a 330e plug-in hybrid early next year, proving their on going research into the plug in technology. After driving the old 3 Series Hybrid, Im keen to see how that one performs. The range kicks off with the now 318i at R409,000 up to the 340i which starts at R656,000. Not that badly priced if you have to compare it to its German rvials but with this one you can say it's being produced locally at the best plant in the world. 

Bucket Seat: BMW 1 Series

After selling over 2 million units world wide in just under 10 years, BMW have released the latest update to their 1 series line up. The new model sees it adopt the same design philosophy as it's bigger X brothers with sharper, straighter lines, edgy twin kidney grille and redesigned tail lights which in my opinion suit the car a lot more!

There also is a revised engine line up which BMW claim set new benchmarks in efficiency. Leading the pack in that department is the all new 116d Efficient Dynamics Edition with 85kW/ 116bhp and average fuel consumption of 3.4 litres/ 100km. C02 emissions test cycle was recorded at 89h/km. There is a host of engines to choose from including a variety of diesel ones, ranging from the 116d EfficientDynamics to the 125d which sounds very exciting!

All engines are TwinTurbo powered with the petrol ones have TwinScroll Tubro engines whilst the diesel engines having turbo charger with variable turbine geometry. They're available in 6 speed manual or 8 speed steptronic transmission. Not sure what that means exactly but we'll soon find out. No word on pricing as yet, it should surface before the official local launch which I presume will be in the next two months. 

The interior seems pretty standard from what we come to expect from BMW, nothing to really shout about but everything seems to be neat and tidy, looks pretty comfy as well. Not sure if room in the back has increased but it wasn't to bad in the older model. 

Overall the 1 Series update seems very promising, it's almost like a grown  up, mature and sophisticated version of the old one. The range of engine types is welcoming and also gives you an insight into what BMW could be planning for other model ranges. 316d anyone?

Bucket Seat: BMW i8

Today was the opening of the Internationale Automboil Ausstellung, or for us regular folk, the Frankfurt Motorshow. Over the years IAA has been the key show for many, if not all the German motor manufacturers, it is after all their home territory and they are expected to impress!

One of the cars to début at the show was the production model of BMW's i8. The car which is the second model of the BMWi brand was one that was eagerly anticipated by many. It is the first plug in hybrid from BMW and continues from the i3 with its futuristic design. The cars ground braking aerodynamic design body is constructed from carbon fibre reinforced plastic, ensuring that while the car is strong but it is light weight as well. Add to that the aluminium chassis along with the drive train and batteries brings the total weight of the vehicle to 1490kg's.

The interior looks like something out of Star Trek and you might consider yourself a Captain Kirk in your Starship Enterprise with the LCD screens and emotion LED changing lights in the cabin, just don't call out for Spock. The  rest of the cabin is pretty standard BMW with the centre console and trimmings. The sports leather seats look rather cool and with its 2+2 configuration BMW say you can get two passengers in the back, hope they don't mean midgets though.

How it works? Simple... sort off, the car uses a combination of BMW TwinTurbo and BMW eDrive technology to power itself. BMW Efficient dynamics for the first time has introduced a 1.5 litre, 3 cylinder petrol engine with an output of 170kW and 231bhp with a maximum torque of 320Nm sent to the rear wheels via a 6 speed gearbox. Combine that with with the electrical engine, the total output will be 266kW, 362bhp and a max torque of 570Nm. Not bad for a hybrid eh?

The technology used here is the latest stage by BMW Efficient Dynamics and works similarly to the their Active Hybrid models where the two power trains are able to work in tandem thus giving the i8 the performance levels of a pure bred sports car. With the i8, its all about carbon emissions and fuel saving, so while a 0-100 sprint would just take you 4.4 seconds, the inner hippy in you would be glad to know that it used the same about of petrol as a small car, approximately 2.5ltr/100km. That is insane statistics and would make any petrol gasp and smile at the possibilities. That being said, if you can afford a car like this, should the price of petrol be a concern to you? 

Well the short answer is yes, whilst you are able to afford this vehicle you would be using less of the commodity, hence lowering its demand...as margin-able as it maybe, it might be able to put a dent in the sales figures and the main thing is you're being a good human and looking after the environment. 

I personally think that this is currently the way forward for cars, whilst we still haven't perfected the full electric car as yet, this type of plug in hybrid technology is welcomed. Offering the driver the option to drive a sports car but with the efficiency of a hybrid. I spoke about pricing earlier and while its still not known, expect this one to be at the million or over mark. There really isn't any competition to it but the closest I can say is the Audi R8 but we still await to see if they release their R8 e-tron.