Latest news with #7Series
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
REVIEW: BMW X3 30e PHEV is modern and sophisticated, with a few niggles
It's got presence, but the big grille is a bit polarising. Image: Supplied I test drove the new BMW X3 around the time it was announced as South Africa's 2025 Car of the Year winner, and its victory certainly got us debating its worthiness as an all-round victor. While many were relieved that the winner was not a more expensive vehicle, like the 7 Series that won in 2024, one can't get away from the fact that the X3 has become a rather expensive vehicle, like just about any desirable vehicle emanating from one of the traditional manufacturers these days. The X3 is priced from R1,13 million in 2.0d xDrive diesel guise, while the 30e xDrive plug-in hybrid that we tested recently is a R1.26 million proposition. And that's before you add an M Sport package, which brings the bill up to R1.31 million. ALSO READ: Why the BMW X3 might not be a worthy Car of the Year winner Granted, the Mercedes GLC now costs from R1.24 million to R1.56 million, and there isn't a hybrid option to choose from, while Porsche's Macan starts at R1.62 million. There is of course also a feel-good factor emanating from the fact that the X3 is built right here in Mzansi, following a R4.6 billion investment, with 96% of production being exported to other world markets. The plug-in hybrid covers up to 90km on electric power. Image: Supplied While the excellent X3 20d oil burner is the mainstay of the range, and for good reason, the 30e xDrive plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant is the innovation hero in the range. It pairs a 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine to an electric motor for system outputs of 220kW and 450Nm. BMW claims this PHEV model cover up to 90km on electric power alone, and I was impressed with how long it held its battery charge during my test drive, as I was able to waft along on battery power for a good few days. It can get a little thirsty when that charge runs out, however, with two days of purely urban driving pushing my consumption to around 10 litres per 100km. But that's the thing with a plug-in hybrid. If you want to reap the benefits of that heavy battery that it lugs along, you have to charge it on a regular basis. Do that and you effectively have an EV for your daily commute and weekend runabouts, with the petrol engine serving as a back-up plan for long-distance trips. It's a refined package as far as I'm concerned, and the petrol engine kicks in seamlessly when called upon, although it can get a little noisy at higher revs. Performance is sublime, and the steering and road holding are in line with what you'd expect from a modern BMW, with the ride slightly firm but definitely comfortable. Forward-looking cabin The interior is a big departure from what we've seen previously in BMW's small to medium products. It's very evident that the company's stylists modelled it on the latest 7 Series, which is something of a revolution on wheels when it comes to cabin ambience and tech. The interior: futuristic but finicky. Image: Supplied The futuristic-looking cockpit features a new lighting scheme that adds a colour contrasting border to elements like the centre console and door trims. In traditional BMW style, the dashboard curves slightly towards the driver, and the command centre is an ultra-wide curved screen with graphics that wouldn't be out of place on Star Wars. It houses BMW's latest Operating System 9, and there's also a slightly gimmicky 'Interaction Bar' beneath the screen for additional functions. While the X3 packs an impressive amount of technology and functions into the cockpit, it did feel like a bit of a digital overload to me, and many of the functions - particularly the driver info displays - took some getting used to. The cabin as a whole is well executed and while I wouldn't describe the rear legroom as abundant, there appears to be enough space to meet the needs of an average family. I like that BMW has broken the mould with the interior styling, but given its lower price point, the materials and ambient lighting systems don't dazzle in the same way that they do in the larger 7 Series. Not even close, which is understandable given the price difference. But there were some surfaces in the front of the cabin, as well as the front seat-back shells, which felt too cheap for a R1.3 million car, in my book. More standard features On the upside, the X3 does have more standard features than before, with some of the highlights being electrically-powered sports seats with leather upholstery, dual phone charging pad, three-zone climate control, navigation, comfort access, electric tailgate, park assist and driving assist, the latter including lane change warning and traffic sign recognition. Items such as adaptive cruise control, head-up display and a Harman Kardon sound system are optional through various available packages. THE VERDICT The new BMW X3 is a highly refined, sophisticated and innovative new SUV package that is now arguably the best vehicle in its class. But given how the smaller BMW X1 has grown in terms of interior space while still being somewhat cheaper, at R828,899 to R1.18 million, I think there is a big argument in favour of its smaller sibling. Granted, the latter is still built on a front-wheel drive platform, but I don't see that as being a deal breaker for most SUV buyers. IOL
Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Vinnie Jones confronted by 'football's hardest man' who sent seven-word message
Carlton Palmer also opened up on his own run-in with Billy Whitehurst during a West Brom clash with Sunderland, where he was told he had "more balls than sense" Billy Whitehurst, a prominent footballer in the 80s and 90s, once left Vinnie Jones speechless by asking, "What are you going to f****** do about it?" after an alleged car crash. Well-known for his aggressive style of play, Whitehurst was often referred to as the 'hardest man in football' due to his no-prisoners attitude on the pitch. His career saw him playing for teams like Hull City, Newcastle United, Sunderland and Sheffield United, where his six-foot stature made him a formidable opponent. One player who had a memorable encounter with Whitehurst was Carlton Palmer, who was at West Brom when he faced off against Whitehurst at Sunderland. Speaking on the Under the Cosh podcast, Palmer shared his admiration for Whitehurst and how standing up to him earned his respect. Palmer recalled: "I'll tell you a story about Billy, I f****** love that boy to death. I just got in the first team at West Brom, we've got to play Sunderland. Guess who's up front? Billy f****** Whitehurst. "Who do you not want to play against ever? Billy Whitehurst, John Fashanu and Mick Harford. Three players straight off the top of your head you don't want to fucking play against. So I'm thinking, 'How am I going to approach this one with Billy?' "I'm centre-half, how am I going to approach this one? Well, fire with fire. So I went, 'F*** it,' I'm just going to have to go toe-to-toe with him. He's f****** elbowing me and all that. "Half-time, I'm walking off, and he said to me, 'You know something, son? You've got more balls than sense.' That's what he said to me! And then we became mates, I f****** love him, Bill." Palmer added: "Then he tells me the story about when Vinnie [Jones] came to the club because Vinnie thought he was a f****** hard man. I love Vinnie to death as well, another great lad, Vinnie. Vinnie was coming in, so Billy's got this old f****** car. "Vinnie's turned up in a 7 Series, brand new BMW. Billy drives straight into the side of it with his old car. He walks in there and he said to Vinnie, 'Somebody's just f****** driven straight into the side of your car.' He said, 'Which c*** done that?', and he said 'Me, what are you going to f****** do about it?' That's f****** Billy for you." Whitehurst has since settled down post-retirement, training greyhounds and running several public houses in South Yorkshire. But nobody could quite forget the staggering force he was up front in football - certainly not Palmer or Jones.
Wales Online
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
'Hardest man in football' left Vinnie Jones trembling with seven-word message after car crash
'Hardest man in football' left Vinnie Jones trembling with seven-word message after car crash Billy Whitehurst was renowned for his robust style of play throughout the 1980s and 90s, and this seemed to translate off the football pitch as well Billy Whitehurst once faced up to Vinnie Jones in a nightclub (Image: Mark Leech/Offside via Getty Images ) Billy Whitehurst once left Vinnie Jones stunned after asking, "What are you going to f****** do about it?" following a car crash. Whitehurst was a prominent name in football throughout the 1980s and 90s. He was renowned for his intense style of play, which earned him the tagline of being the 'hardest man in football'. During his career, where he played for Hull City, Newcastle United, Sunderland and Sheffield United, among others, the six-foot-tall striker was domineering in the air and across the grass, and many defenders feared going up against him on the pitch. One such star was Carlton Palmer, who was at West Brom when he faced off against Whitehurst at Sunderland. Speaking on the Under the Cosh podcast, Pamer waxed lyrical about Whitehurst and explained how getting stuck into him earned the respect of the 'hardest man in football'. Carlton Palmer spoke about his relationship with both Whitehurst and Jones (Image: David Davies/Offside via Getty Images ) Palmer said: "I'll tell you a story about Billy, I f****** love that boy to death. I just got in the first team at West Brom, we've got to play Sunderland. Guess who's up front? Billy f****** Whitehurst. Article continues below "Who do you not want to play against ever? Billy Whitehurst, John Fashanu and Mick Harford. Three players straight off the top of your head you don't want to fucking play against. So I'm thinking, 'How am I going to approach this one with Billy?' Billy Whitehurst once battled with Palmer on the pitch (Image: Ben Radford/Allsport/Getty Images ) "I'm centre-half, how am I going to approach this one? Well, fire with fire. So I went, 'F*** it,' I'm just going to have to go toe-to-toe with him. He's f****** elbowing me and all that. "Half-time, I'm walking off, and he said to me, 'You know something, son? You've got more balls than sense.' That's what he said to me! And then we became mates, I f****** love him, Bill." Vinnie Jones ended up face to face with Whitehurst (Image: Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Getty Images ) Palmer added: "Then he tells me the story about when Vinnie [Jones] came to the club because Vinnie thought he was a f****** hard man. I love Vinnie to death as well, another great lad, Vinnie. Vinnie was coming in, so Billy's got this old f****** car. Article continues below "Vinnie's turned up in a 7 Series, brand new BMW. Billy drives straight into the side of it with his old car. He walks in there and he said to Vinnie, 'Somebody's just f****** driven straight into the side of your car.' He said, 'Which c*** done that?', and he said 'Me, what are you going to f****** do about it?' That's f****** Billy for you." Whitehurst has since settled down post-retirement, training greyhounds and running several public houses in South Yorkshire, but nobody could quite forget the staggering force he was up front in football - certainly not Palmer or Jones.
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
BMW X3 review: Old-fashioned, diesel-powered crossover is really hard to beat
Now, some whizz-kids out there may think I'm talking about effortlessly juicing up your phone, but you'd be wrong. After back-to-back EVs – and one which came with a charge card that refused to work on either ESB or the EasyGo networks – it is such a joy to climb into an old-fashioned, full-fat diesel. That unbridled happiness almost bubbled over into giddy excitement when I discovered that there was a whopping 950km of oil-burning range on the clock. The cherry on top was the fact that my ride this week was the stunning BMW X3 SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle). Now in its fourth generation and the German marque's biggest seller, this new offering has upped the ante again in the luxury compact crossover segment. Design-wise, it goes straight for the jugular with a bold new look that features a massive kidney grille (similar to the 5 and 7 Series) that is illuminated by LED surrounds (optional), new L-shaped headlights and a flat bonnet with subtle creases around the BMW badge. A faint shoulderline up the flanks gives it a sleeker look, as do the flush door handles (which I'm not a big fan of), while the stonking 20-inch two-tone rims add a pinch of sportiness. At the rear it's a much more sobering affair, with a blocky, more functional design, but the new wraparound 3-D light clusters look funky and help give the X3 a slippery drag coefficient of 0.27cd. It is bigger than its predecessor – adding 34mm to the length and 29mm to the width, while the height is reduced by 25mm. Inside, the cabin is a mixed bag and you can't help but get the feeling BMW is trying to be a bit of everything here. The vegan leather seats are top notch and super comfy, but the knitted fabric in the upper dash and especially around the door tops is not particularly pleasing to the eye or the touch. There is also far too much hard, scratchy plastic – especially in the upper doors (it's even emblazoned with the X3 logo), central storage bin and charging tray – not what you'd expect from a car this price. ADVERTISEMENT That said, I did love the massive digital dash comprising two high-definition screens, one an instrument cluster and the other an infotainment system, powered by BMW's Operating System 9 and controlled through the iDrive rotary dial in the centre console. Another feature which I really liked was the interactive lightbar, showcased previously in the flagship 7 but which now runs around the console and the doors. It looks cool, especially on dark roads, and changes colour to signify danger or when the hazards are activated. It is loaded with lots of kit as standard, including three-zone automatic climate control, acoustic glazing, comfort access, automatic tailgate, electric folding exterior mirrors, and BMW Live Cockpit Plus with BMW Maps navigation. Space on board is ample, with decent head and legroom for five adults. The boot is bigger too – 570 litres of luggage that increases to 1,700 with the rear seats folded flat. So, what is the new model like to drive? Very pleasant and super refined. In fact, the insulation and noise damping is so good only those with the sharpest hearing could tell that a diesel was throbbing under the bonnet. The two-litre, four-cylinder unit is twinned to a sublime eight-speed automatic gearbox to generate a meaty 197bhp that sends power to all four corners. Initially, I feared that the sheer bulk of the X3 – which is not too far shy in size to the original X5 – may take its two-tonne toll on overall performance, but I needn't have worried. There was oceans of low-down grunt and under hard acceleration it was quite sprightly, with a 0-100kmh sprint in 7.7 seconds. Grip was phenomenal thanks to the xDrive setup and the steering precise and informed. The ride, even on M-Sport suspension and 20-inch rims, was not too harsh, although it did tend to crash through, rather than drive over, potholes. It proved really comfortable on longer jaunts and the economy is hard to beat – returning 5.8 litres/100km or nearly 50mpg. For the more eco-conscious, there is a plug-in hybrid available with a claimed EV range of 90km. All in all, though, the X3 is a fine car and anyone trading up or down from an X5 will not be disappointed. Just keep an eye on the extras as it can shoot up from the entry price of €70,405 to an eye-watering €104,474 for my test car.
SowetanLIVE
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- SowetanLIVE
BMW X3 named 2025 South African Car of the Year
BMW has taken top honours in the 2025 South African Car of the Year awards, with its X3 SUV securing the overall title. Judged by a panel of local motoring journalists over two days of rigorous testing in March, the X3 edged ahead of a strong field to claim the win — the first time this particular model has earned the distinction. The win also marks back-to-back victories for the German manufacturer, which walked away with the 2024 title for its flagship 7 Series. BMW now extends its record as the most awarded brand in the competition's history, with its first win going as far back as 1988 with the 735i.
