2023 BMW X Models Reviews

BMW has revealed pricing and details for its updated iX electric SUV ahead of its arrival in Australian showrooms by the middle of this year.Just one variant – xDrive 45 M Sport – has been announced for now, which replaces the outgoing xDrive40 Sport as the base variant.It starts at $142,900, before on-road costs, a rise of $6000 on its predecessor. The price hike widens the gap even more over key rivals in the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV and Polestar 3, which start at $134,900 and $116,754, respectively, both at before on-road costs.In return for the price rise, however, it adds a suite of technical and luxury upgrades. Headlining those changes is a 30 per cent larger lithium-ion battery pack, which ups its size from 77kWh to 94.8kWh.For the first time in a BMW, the bigger battery also features silicon carbide semiconductor components, or SiC inverters, for more efficiency and heat resistance compared to conventional silicon semiconductors.The result is an extra 177km unlocked in driving range under the WLTP cycle, which sees total range rated at 602km, up from 425km on its predecessor.That means it now comfortably exceeds the claimed driving ranges of the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV (539km) and a Cadillac Lyriq (530km), but falls short of the Long Range Dual-Motor Polestar 3 (706km).Fast-charging capacity has also been upped to a maximum of 175kW, up 25kW from its predecessor, while home charging can be carried out at 22kW.BMW said fine-tuning and further development of the iX’s twin electric motors also boosts power and torque by 60kW and 30Nm, respectively. A full second has been shaved off the iX’s 0-100km/h sprint time, which is now just 5.1 seconds.In terms of design, the iX sports a new kidney grille with standard contour lighting and diagonally striped accents. The LED headlights and indicators have also been redesigned from horizontal to vertical, while adaptive and cornering light functions are now standard.Standard M Sport packaging adds sporty front air intakes and vertical reflectors at the rear.New metallic paint colours are also available at an additional cost, including Arctic Race Blue, Tanzanite Blue, Dune Grey and Frozen Deep Grey. Two additional colours – Frozen Pure Grey and Space Silver – will be added in Q4. There remains six non-metallic paint colours as no-cost options.In the cabin, a panoramic glass roof is now standard, while there are new M multi-function leather seats, a new M leather steering wheel with heating function, M pedals, anthracite headlining, Dark Silver trim finishes and a high-gloss finish on the centre console. A tyre pressure monitor is also now standard.As before, standard kit includes an 18-speaker Harman/Kardon surround sound system, heated and massage front seats, wireless phone charging, a 12.3-inch twin-screen panoramic display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 21-inch aerodynamic alloy wheels and a tyre repair kit.Customers can upgrade to Executive interior luxury packing for $6500, Integral Active Steering for $3000, Adaptive 2-axle air suspension for $4000 or a 30-speaker Bowers and Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound system for $9500.22-inch M alloy wheels are $2500 extra, while 23-inch ‘Individual’ aerodynamic wheels will set you back an additional $5000.More variants will follow the xDrive 45 M Sport to complete the iX line-up later in 2025.

BMW has padded out its most affordable model ranges in Australia.

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BMW has been testing its mysterious Heart of Joy driving dynamics computing system in a prototype ahead of its roll out in new vehicles, and the results according to the German brand are “not just to the next level, but another one beyond that.”First revealed to the world at the 2023 Munich Motor Show as a small black box the Heart of Joy is a computer, which manages many of a vehicle’s systems from steering, braking and suspension to power and battery usage. The plan is for the system to be installed in the next generation of all-electric cars that BMW calls its Neue Klasse.Now BMW has revealed that it has been testing the Heart of Joy in a prototype vehicle called the Vision Driving Experience at a United States test track.“The Heart of Joy enables us to take driving pleasure not just to the next level, but another one beyond that,” said Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW, responsible for Development. “In addition, we are further increasing efficiency, and therefore boosting range, as in future the driver will brake almost exclusively using energy regeneration. This is Efficient Dynamics squared.”Admittedly the Heart of Joy sounds mysterious and almost unreal, but according to BMW’s engineers the system makes real world driving more comfortable and smooth through the reduction of noise and vibration, and the clever incorporation of controls and functions due to lightning-fast computing.Energy consumption is also improved. BMW said recuperation through braking and an integrated drivetrain returning a 25 per cent increase in efficiency.The computing software for the Heart of Joy was developed by BMW with processing speeds claimed to be 10 times faster than previous systems.“Working in tandem with the BMW Dynamic Performance Control software, the Heart of Joy computes all the driving dynamics functions with a whole new level of speed and precision,” BMW’s press release reads. “The software has been developed entirely in-house on the back of experience in the field of driving dynamics amassed by BMW engineers over more than a century.”The Vision Driving Experience vehicle, which is being tested at BMW’s Spartanburg test track in the US, can develop up to 18,000Nm. Well, that’s the theoretical limit of the computing software and its ability to manage all that torque. That’s about the same amount of torque produced by a top fuel dragster and in reality unlikely to appear in any road car soon.The Vision Driving Experience vehicle, which BMW is clear to point out is for testing the software only, won't turn into a production vehicle. That said the Vision Driving Experience vehicle will make it world premiere at the 2025 Shanghai motor show in April.

We know the new electric M3 will be powerful, but what will it sound like?

Performance electric cars are too cheap.

The seventh instalment of BMW's M5 is the biggest and most powerful, but not the fastest. With plug-in hybrid power to soothe around town, comfort is likely, but how about performance and driving joy? We head to Bathurst to find out.

BMW has revealed an even more souped-up version of its M3 wagon model, the M3 CS Touring. Staging its global unveil at the iconic Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst, just 55 vehicles have been allocated locally with each set to carry a price tag of $253,900, before on-road costs, a $70,400 premium over the standard M3.

Four years after its debut, BMW has given its iX electric SUV its first facelift.For 2025, the updated model sees a suite of upgrades to the powertrain, exterior and interior, along with a new entry grade.Production will commence at the brand’s Dingolfing factory in Germany in March, with deliveries expected to start in Q2.CarsGuide has contacted BMW’s local operations for further information on an Australian launch date. An update to the story will follow with a response.Three variants remain in the line-up, starting with the new xDrive45 that replaces the xDrive40. Battery capacity swells from 71kWh to 94.8kWh, boosting the combined driving range by nearly 180km to 602km (WLTP).It also gets a 60kW power bump for its single rear-mounted electric motor to 300kW thanks to a drive system "fine-tune" and further developments to the car's power electronics.The xDrive60 replaces the xDrive50, which grows its battery capacity from 105.kWh to 109.1kWh. BMW notes a range of up to 701km on the combined WLTP cycle when fitted with standard aerodynamic wheel covers.For comparison, that comfortably exceeds the driving range of an Audi Q8 e-tron (484km), a Mercedes-Benz EQE (539km) and a Cadillac Lyriq (530km), all of which have been tested according to the WLTP cycle.Power on the dual-motor xDrive60 also increases by 15kW for a total output of 400kW.Last but not least, the dual-motor M70 replaces the M60 as the model's flagship sport variant. Its battery capacity grows from 105.2kWh to 108.9kWh for a maximum WLTP-certified range of 600km.It gains a 30kW power boost, pushing its total output to 485kW. BMW says a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 3.5 seconds can be achieved using the "one-foot rollout method", while top speed is limited to 250km/h.Looking at the exterior, the iX welcomes a refreshed front end, inclusive of a new front bumper, restyled grille and revamped headlights that feature new vertical daytime running lights and indicators.Customers can also opt for an illuminated grille on the entry-level xDrive45 or the mid-spec xDrive60, while it will come standard on the top-spec M70 xDrive.At the rear, BMW has integrated a new diffuser as standard on the M70, while customers can also opt for this upgrade through additional M Sport packaging.It adds further styling accents, distinctive air intakes and new M alloy wheels, while the M Sport Professional package adds "Shadowline" headlights, black exterior mirror caps, a unique M kidney grille and exclusive 22-inch M alloy wheels.Once again, M packaging adds exclusive interior features to the M70, which are optional for the xDrive 45 and xDrive60.Those include M multi-functional seats with optional ventilation, a leather steering wheel, M pedals, high-gloss black centre console trim and a two-tone instrument panel.BMW sold 566 examples of the iX in Australia last year, a decrease of 32.4 per cent on the previous year.

Voice control seemed so futuristic, with KITT, the heavily modified Pontiac Firebird showing just how helpful it could be in Knight Rider.