2012 BMW Z Models Reviews

BMW’s 'Neue Klasse' program includes a complete overhaul of its line-up, led by tech-laden EVs like the new iX3 and coming electric 3 Series, the i3.Every model from here on will incorporate elements of Neue Klasse like design or cabin tech, but the iX3 gets the full overhaul. It is an all-new car. Not many carmakers can legitimately claim that these days.To ram home how critical this new model philosophy is to BMW, the company has spent a total of €10 billion (A$17b) on Neue Klasse. No pressure on the iX3 then…We spent some quality time with the new electric mid-size SUV in southern Spain at the international first drive to see if the investment has paid off. Spoiler alert: it has.Underpinning the iX3 is new architecture designed for electric powertrains and a sophisticated software set-up with four ‘superbrains’, or computers, handling driving dynamics, automated driving and advanced driver assist, multimedia and in-car tech.For now BMW has only revealed details of one grade, the highly specified iX3 50 xDrive. This is a dual-motor set-up (one motor on each axle) ensuring all-wheel-drive traction and the specs on paper are impressive.Total outputs are 345kW of power and 645Nm of torque, allowing for a quick 0-100km/h time of 4.9sec. It has a 108kWh lithium-ion battery pack, housed under the floor with cylindrical cells.The maximum charging rate is 400kW, which, using an 800-volt DC charging station, would theoretically allow you to add 350km of charge in just 10 minutes, or to recharge from 10 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes. It’s also capable of vehicle-to-load functionality for bi-directional charging.BMW won’t release pricing until the new year, but given this is a sub-M flagship grade, it won’t be cheap. Considering its European pricing and how much rivals like the Porsche Macan 4 ($137,600) and Audi Q6 e-tron quattro ($122,500) cost in Australia, the 50 xDrive could slot somewhere between $120,000 and $130,000.More grades will be revealed and confirmed, likely including more affordable single-motor grades, while a high-powered M version of iX3 is also expected.But for now it’s all about the 50 xDrive. In the metal it’s a beautifully designed SUV. There’s a clear connection to the Neue Klasse X concept that came before it. The iX3 has few lines, with BMW designers instead opting for a cleaner approach.Gone are circular headlights, replaced instead by quad vertical LED lights and (rather unsustainable) chrome is replaced by illumination for the toothy kidney grille. If you’re not a fan of BMW’s large vertical grilles, this version is much more subtle and works beautifully with the front-end styling.The signature of the long, wide tail-lights looks brilliant and will stand out in the segment. The tailgate spoiler adds a sporty touch and the glasshouse is large without looking awkward.It also bears no resemblance to the current internal combustion X3, which only went on sale in Australia early this year. That model was well into development when Neue Klasse was floated but expect it to gain design cues from iX3 when it gets its first major makeover in a couple of years.Inside, the iX3 is like no BMW before it. Sustainable materials are found throughout, including leather, and there’s an absence of buttons with most functions housed in the central screen.A key feature is the 'Panoramic iDrive' which includes a new version of an instrument cluster. Instead of a small screen immediately behind the steering wheel, the iX3 has a projection at the bottom of the windscreen stretching from A-pillar to A-pillar.In practice, it’s hard to fault. The display is the right size and all the information you need is in your eye line. If the additional widgets on the passenger side are distracting you can simply remove them. I found no such distractions. This is a game-changing system and feels safer than having the speed and other key information in a central screen like many other EVs.There’s loads of functionality in the central multimedia screen but once you spend some time getting to know it, it’s intuitive, fast and visually appealing.BMW’s polarising four-spoke steering wheel (the fourth spoke is at 12 o'clock) is not to my taste visually (the M Sport two-spoke is nicer), but the functionality is cool. BMW’s ‘shy tech’ philosophy means certain functions on the wheel are only visible when they are available to use, like driver assist functions.BMW has worked hard to improve its 'Intelligent Personal Assistant' voice command, but it was glitchy in the late production cars we drove. At one point I asked it to open the rear passenger window and it opened the front one instead. It’s also super sensitive. It activated every time I said ‘BMW’, which was a lot.We used the sat-nav on our extensive drive and it's the most capable in-house system I’ve experienced.Aside from the tech, the front seats are superb in regular spec and M Sport guise. Not as tight as some M Sport seats, and plush, with beautiful materials. The rear seats are flatter but there's plenty of leg and head room, as well as amenities like USB-C ports, air vents and climate controls.The boot is long and can take 520 litres of cargo with all seats in place. There’s a 58L front trunk, too.So far the iX3 impresses. But the on-road experience takes this car to another level.Of course it’s quick, it’s an EV so that’s not hard. It’s the way it does everything else that elevates it.The steering is phenomenal and a genuine highlight of the drive experience. There’s feeling behind it and the size and shape of the wheel adds to the engagement. It’s sharp (2.8 turns lock to lock), yet silky smooth.That’s a word I used a lot driving this car - ‘smooth’. The iX3 does virtually everything smoothly. It’s effortless, but still a driver’s car.The way this 2.3-tonne EV carves up corners is something to behold. It takes corners so confidently you’ll forget you’re driving a family SUV. BMW has engineered this car for fun. It bodes well for the coming i3 sedan.It’s never floaty or bouncy. But it’s also not so pinned to the road that it’s unpleasant or firm. It’s flat, chuckable and nimble, but also a comfortable cruiser on the open road.The ride quality is excellent even on 21-inch alloy wheels. In saying that, these were typically perfect European roads, so let's see how it goes on Australia's notoriously terrible surfaces.The advanced driver assistance tech is also impressive and doesn’t intrude. BMW engineers worked hard to ensure the ADAS works with the driver, not against it. The 'Highway Assist' semi-self driving on the freeway worked without fault, changing lanes autonomously when safe to do so.The iX3 even has a pleasant EV sound. There’s almost a hint of a six-cylinder petrol engine to the synthetic sound.BMW says it is capable of energy efficiency of around 15.1kWh/100km. We saw figures around 18kWh. There was 715km of range (or 75 per cent capacity) left after 145km of driving.

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A new safety report has rated some popular used cars.Monash University’s Accident Research Centre Used Car Safety Ratings for 2025 have been revealed, with 23 new vehicles added to the handbook that covers vehicles built between 1982 and 2023.Top picks of the newly added vehicles were the 2013-22 Ford Transit van, 2014-21 BMW 2 Series, 2019-23 Mazda CX-30, 2017-23 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and 2018-23 Subaru Forester.The report revealed the average risk of being killed or seriously injured across all road users involved in a crash is 34 per cent lower in a vehicle manufactured from 2022 onwards, compared to 20 years ago. The ratings report looked at crash data analysing more than 9.5 million vehicles and 2.6 million road users in Australia and New Zealand between 1987 and 2022. It rated 561 vehicle models that were built between 1982 and 2023 looking at factors such as crash location, driver age and the number of vehicles involved. It measured safety through an overall rating with three categories: driver safety, other road user safety and crash avoidance. All are ranked out of five.Certain vehicles received a ‘Safer Pick’, where they scored five stars for overall and driver protection, with at least four stars for other road user safety and crash avoidance. Almost all 'Safer Pick' vehicles are available second-hand for under $25,000 and more than half priced below $10,000, according to Monash University.The report made particular note of the high risk attached to ute crashes, with only one ute achieving a five-star overall rating, and 70 per cent one or two stars.Some of this real-world data does not line up with ANCAP safety ratings. The Ford Mustang, manufactured from 2015-2022, received a two-star rating, which was later upgraded to three-stars with ANCAP. Yet, it achieved a near all-excellent rating in real-world crashes, according to the data.The full data set is available here.

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This could be the future of car multimedia.Officially launched in May this year, Apple CarPlay Ultra is the next generation of Apple CarPlay, a smartphone mirroring platform that’s enjoyed by millions of iPhone users every day.Yep, Android owners, this review isn’t for you – unless you’re considering making the switch to Apple’s iOS mobile software.It’s the Apple CarPlay many have come to know and love, but it takes control of all of your vehicle’s screens, as opposed to just its central display.It also assumes control of (nearly) all of your vehicle’s functions, including its climate, camera and radio controls, plus all other general settings.Point being, it’s a complete Apple takeover, which is good news if you’re a fan of its ecosystem.And let’s face it, many car brands’ default multimedia systems are underwhelming for a multitude of reasons, including bad user interfaces and limited functionality.Apple CarPlay and even its Android Auto competitor don’t suffer from those issues as they are literal mirrors of the user-friendly and highly capable smartphones that we love to use every day.Most users will say their primary reason for preferencing Apple CarPlay or Android Auto over their vehicle’s default multimedia system is access to their favourite satellite navigation platform, be it Apple Maps, Google Maps or a third party.Several car brands have either launched or are in the process of rolling out new default multimedia systems based on Android Automotive, which is a car-specific derivative of Android Auto with Google Maps and Google Play built in.Much like Apple CarPlay Ultra, Android Automotive takes over all of a vehicle’s screens and functions – and sometimes even still offers Apple CarPlay support – but it differs by being the default multimedia system.Apple CarPlay Ultra sets itself apart as it can be wirelessly streamed on demand to any vehicle that supports it.Apple CarPlay Ultra’s first problem is availability. The first model to support it was the highly attainable Aston Martin DBX707 large SUV. It’s priced from a lazy $462,500, plus on-road costs, for reference. And yes, I am being sarcastic.You would’ve thought that car brands beyond Aston Martin would’ve jumped at the opportunity to offer the latest smartphone mirroring platform, but they haven’t for several reasons.Ford, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volvo, Polestar, Renault, Rivian and Lincoln have either cancelled or said they have no plans to support Apple CarPlay Ultra, with some saying they are not impressed with its first version due to the level of control it gives to Apple.General Motors’ Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC brands are also unlikely to support Apple CarPlay Ultra in its new electric vehicles due to its controversial decision to not even support regular Apple CarPlay.That said, Hyundai, Kia, Porsche and Genesis, as well as Aston Martin, remain committed to adding support for Apple CarPlay Ultra in the 12 months from its launch, meaning they should start to release their versions by May 2026.Nissan, Honda, Land Rover, Jaguar, Infiniti and Acura also announced plans for Apple CarPlay Ultra support when it was previewed at Apple’s WWDC 2022 event, but it remains to be seen if they’ve changed like so many others have.Another sticking point for car brands is the implementation of Apple’s user interface and experience, which differs greatly from their own.However, Apple is open to working with car brands to put their own design spin on their version of Apple CarPlay Ultra, with Aston Martin being the first example.To work out what this actually means, I got the keys to a MY25 Aston Martin DBX707 to give it a red-hot go.First thing’s first, getting Apple CarPlay Ultra set up is a very similar process to that of regular Apple CarPlay, but you have to wait a little bit longer.Once you’re in, the central display has a very familiar look to it, but the home screen features three new apps: Climate, Radio and Vehicle.As mentioned, the Climate and Radio apps do exactly what you think they will and well.But it’s the Vehicle app that is the most interesting, as in the case of the DBX707, it features everything from Individual drive mode customisation to clock settings.That said, while the DBX707’s delightful Bowers & Wilkins sound system has its own setting menu, if you click on it, it will ironically boot you out to an inset version of the default multimedia system to make your adjustments. The same goes for its ambient lighting.Presumably this happens because Apple and the car brand (Aston Martin in this instance) haven’t configured some of these more bespoke settings.And for that reason Apple CarPlay Ultra doesn’t quite live up to the hype for me. Don’t get me wrong, it is very, very exciting for a tech nerd like myself, but it’s also very clearly a first version.When it inevitably becomes all encompassing with a future iOS update, it will be a true game changer due to its ease of use, particularly as drivers move from one car to another.But wait, there’s more! Apple CarPlay Ultra also takes control of the DBX707’s digital instrument cluster and it’s really where Aston Martin gets to flex its design muscle in conjunction with Apple.Different themes for the driver display are available, with the ‘traditional’ one featuring a speedometer and tachometer, which are split by an even more customisable section. It features either maps, current media, adaptive cruise control, the trip computer, tyre pressures or more.The colours and layouts are at the discretion of the car brand, with Aston Martin using its signature hues (think green) in the DBX707.The British marque also goes a step further with the aforementioned tachometer, which features very subtle ‘Handbuilt in Great Britain’ lettering in the top right corner.Another interesting thing about the Apple CarPlay Ultra experience is that every time you turn your vehicle’s ignition on, it automatically activates – but it takes a decent amount of time to do so, during which you get to experience the default multimedia system.It’s still very early days for Apple CarPlay Ultra, but the early signs are very promising. It offers iPhone users an interface that they’re familiar with and an experience that they’ll likely love.But Apple CarPlay Ultra’s success will mainly be dictated by the support of car brands, which need to play ball to roll it out. Also, it’s got a few more vehicle settings that it needs to fully integrate.But there’s no doubt that Apple CarPlay Ultra’s potential is very high.

Recently one of my colleagues wrote an opinion piece praising the virtues of convertibles and sadly made the observation that affordable new ones have now become extremely rare. I’d like to set the record straight and clarify my own position on cars without a roof — they’re terrible in every way.

BMW has revealed the look of all of its future models with the iX3, but don’t expect every new BMW to look the same from here out.