MOTORS Luxury electric off-roaders

MOTORS

A THREE FOR ALL

You can do it... you really can ‘go electric’ without limitations. This month we discover BMW’s iX3, an entirely electric vehicle that’s easy to live with, engaging to drive and compromise-free...

Words: Rob Davis.

THE ENCOURAGEMENT is everywhere. We’re all being told that we need to get into electric vehicles to address climate change; ditch the diesel and get past petrol. But if doing so involves making compromises and fretting about running out of charge mid-journey, adoption of plug-in electric cars will be slow. Whilst plug-in hybrid vehicles bridge the gap, the fact is, they remain a poorer compromise, with much more limited electric ranges and poor fuel economy thanks to the fact that a typically smaller combustion engine has to lug around the extra weight of the electric constituent of the car; the batteries, a motor and so on. To make the leap towards the necessity of electric car ownership, we need vehicles that provide compromise-free electric motoring, and so it’s with staggeringly good timing that BMW releases this, the iX3.

It’s phenomenal. Conventional looking – still smart though – great value, a well-reconciled family motor that will enable you to make the move to electric motoring and never look back.

Unlike BMW’s odd-looking i3 electric car, the iX3 is much more recognisable as being a mid-size SUV with a big boot and four seats. It’s well-equipped, quick and offers excellent range, alleviating any worry about being dependent on regular recharging.

Let’s start with the iX3’s powertrain, which is roughly akin in terms of performance to

BMW’s 2.0 litre turbo engine in the firm’s combustion-powered X3 SUV. The iX3, though, has 80kWh worth of batteries, to provide 279 miles of range on a full charge.

A 10 minute charge at a rapid charging station at the motorway services will provide another 62 miles of range, and an 80% charge in 34 minutes. So, if you do need a mid-journey top up, it’ll take no longer than the time it takes for a coffee and a comfort break at the services to be on your way again.

Performance? Brisk. 60mph is reached in 6.8 seconds for safer overtaking, and it feels fast thanks to the instant power delivery provided by an electric motor. Top speed is limited to 112mph, and no CO2s are harmed in the process. The car has five adult-sized seats and a boot of 510 litres with five seats in place (about the same as a Ford Mondeo), or 1,560 litres with seats folded (greater then the Ford’s). Driving wise, the iX3 is rear-wheel drive only – not a 4x4 – and it’s on steel springs, not air suspension. But actually, its smoother, more pliant and more settled on the road just about all the other vehicles in its class, dealing with bumps and rough roads with composure, making motorways effortless. And then, there’s the kit list. Happily there are just two versions; a very simple lineup. Heated leather, electrically adjustable seats, sat nav, three zone climate control, adaptive cruise control and parking camera are all standard, as is a glass sunroof. The Premier Edition Pro adds automatic parking, 360° camera, keyless entry and a dashcam too. For £58,795, or £61,795 for the Pro model, we think the iX3 represents great value – when you factor in fuel savings – plus the practicality, great driving experience and peerless quality that BMW promises. n

BMW iX3 PREMIER EDITION PRO

Price: £61,795 (Pro, on sale now). Powertrain: 80kWh, BMW eDrive electric motor, 286hp. Performance: 0-62 mph: 6.8 seconds. Top Speed: 112mph. Electric range of 282 miles. Equipment: Adaptive cruise, 360° camera, self-parking, sat nav, heated leather seats, power tailgate. n Listers BMW, 01205 350000, www.listers.co.uk/bmw

Four Wheel Drive: Three pronged attack...

Range Rover Velar P400 PHEV £68,600: Land Rover’s most design-led model is the Range Rover Velar, with five seats and an on-road bias. It does without the Range Rover Sport’s air suspension and low range gearbox, and it’s lower to the road. There are five seats, too, rather than the 5+2 configuration of the Discovery or Range Rover Sport. Top speed is 130mph, 60mph in 5.1 seconds, and it’ll achieve a WLTP economy figure of 116mpg, but only with regular recharging. n

Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD Range Extender £57,030: Well-priced, and with all-wheel drive, the Mach-E in Range Extender version has a range of 335 miles and will reach 60mph in 5.1 seconds. Power output is 351PS. However, as well-equipped as the Mach-E is, its Ford origins make their presence felt in respect of Focus-sourced parts in the cabin, and though it’s more like a Tesla in terms of its interior, the Mach-E’s bolted on iPad-style screen doesn’t look as neatly integrated as the infotainment system in the iX3. BMW is also ahead of the competition in terms of the snappiness and ease of use of its iDrive 8.0 control system. n

Mercedes Benz EQC AMG Line Premium Plus £74,610: Pricier than the BMW, a Mercedes equivalent will provide five seats and a GLC-sized all-electric powertrain. Range is 240 miles to 244 miles, with 80kWh batteries and 60mph reached in 5.1 seconds. Top speed is limited – like the BMW – to 112mph, and standard kit in this range-topper include all wheel drive, power tailgate, sunroof and 360° camera. Specify the optional Driver Assistance package for a wealth of useful technology. n

MOTORS

TAKING GOLD

Porsche has launched a storming new flagship version of its Cayenne SUV. At £144,000 the Cayenne Coupé Turbo GT provides extra oomph and style to spare thanks to its gold wheels... an acquired taste, or a style statement?

Words: Rob Davis.

THANK GOODNESS. The Porsche Cayenne was a bit lacking in speed, after all. Well, it wasn’t. Still, what’s the expression... more is more and less is much less? At a whisper under £145,000, Porsche’s Cayenne Coupé offers storming performance, plus tuning and handling tweaks in order to extract an extra 89bhp and 50Nm torque from its 4.0V8 engine. Total power output is 631bhp and 850Nm torque, resulting in an unseemly 3.3 second 60mph dash. The exhaust is now a titanium version of the conventional Cayenne’s pipes, and the silencer has been removed, ostensibly to save weight but doubtless to make the GT sound a bit more menacing. Other changes include a reprogrammed eight-speed automatic gearbox providing quicker shifts and a retuned all-wheel drive system with launch control for making a quick getaway. The Cayenne’s air suspension has also been fettled, and it sits 17mm lower. A contoured carbon roof and black wheel arch extensions, together with 22-inch GT Design wheels in Neodyme, dominate its side view. The carbon side plates fitted lengthwise to the roof spoiler are GT-specific, as is the adaptively extendable rear spoiler’s lip, which is 25mm larger than that fitted to the Turbo.

Inside, the car also debuts the firm’s next-generation Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system with improved performance and a new user interface. The system allows for in-depth integration of Apple Music as well as Android Auto, which means that all popular smartphones can now be integrated. More power to your Cayenne was hardly necessary, but the style tweaks will doubtless appeal to those already considering a Cayenne, which remains the best handing large SUV on the market. n

PORSCHE CAYENNE COUPÉ TURBO GT

Price: £144,000 (on sale now). Engine: 4.0V8 turbocharged. Performance: 60mph in 3.3 seconds, 186mph. Equipment: Air suspension, 22” wheels, torque vectoring, electric sports seats. n

Thoroughly Modern Mini

LONDON ELECTRIC CARS (LEC) HAS LAUNCHED A CLASSIC MINI EV CONVERSION THAT DOESN’T COST THE EARTH

LEC Proving that electric vehicles conversions don’t have to cost the earth, London Electric Cars (LEC) has launched its affordable electric-powered classic Mini conversion, with prices starting from £25,000 (excluding donor car). The most cost-effective in the marketplace, they are also some of the most sustainable in terms of their end-to-end vehicle lifecycle impact. Based in the heart of London, LEC is the only electric car conversion specialist within the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) as well as being the only EV converter based in one of the world’s largest cities.

The base 20 kWh LEC classic Mini conversion, has a projected range of 60 - 70 miles, but owners can install upgraded batteries to provide more range too. n NISSAN Nissan last month revealed plans for a £1bn flagship Electric Vehicle Hub creating a world-first EV manufacturing ecosystem. Centred around the record-breaking plant in Sunderland, UK, Nissan EV36Zero will supercharge the company’s drive to carbon neutrality and establish a new 360-degree solution for zero-emission motoring. 900 new jobs will be created and will help other manufacturers to have the confidence to make batteries and electric vehicles in the UK too. n

Nissan provides UK car industry with a battery powered boost...

British Motor Show Gears Up

FIRST EVER BRITISH MOTOR SHOW SINCE 2008 PROMISES MODEL LAUNCHES, FAMILY FUN AND CELEBRITIES TOO...

BRITISH MOTOR SHOW The British Motor Show is to make a momentous return this month, the first major international motor show to take place in the UK since 2008. Based at Farnborough International Expo Centre, Hampshire from 19th – 22nd August, the show will feature a variety of content, including the Automotive Careers Expo, The Select Electric Motor Show, Retro Electric Live, two live stages and exhibits dedicated to motorsport and future technology. Adult tickets cost £18/ea; VIP tickets £100. For more, see www.thebritishmotorshow.live. n MOTORS

MOTORING NEWS

In Brief

SELF-DRIVING CARS

ARE WE READY FOR SELFDRIVING CARS? NOT QUITE SAYS SURVEY...

The UK public is still yet to be convinced of the prospect of fully autonomous vehicles, a recent CarGurus survey has revealed. While having a car drive itself is still out of many driver’s comfort zones, automated technologies such as automatic emergency breaking and pedestrian detection, that assist a driver in getting from A to B safely, are of significant interest to car buyers. Respondents were evenly spilt when it came to their overall opinion about the development of selfdriving cars, with 30% considering themselves excited, 35% neutral and 36% concerned. This divide was echoed in the near fifty-fifty split in participants who felt the technology was still too new to place their faith in. However many participants were warmer towards the merits of practical assistance instead of full autonomy, and were very or extremely interested in cars with features such as automatic emergency braking (43%), lane keeping assist (36%) and automatic parking (48%). n