MOTORS BMW’s all-electric i4 car

MOTORS

ALL FOUR ONE AND FOUR FOR ALL

BMW’s all-new i4 is an essential car for the brand, set to compete with plug-in hybrids and all-electric cars at a price point where both luxury and volume sales are important...

Words: Rob Davis.

BMW’S 3-SERIES is one of the company’s biggest sellers, and has long been a class leader in the compact executive segment. The current model remains popular and has both combustion and plug-in hybrid variants, but as the transition towards electrification continues and Tesla’s Model 3 continues to be popular, BMW can’t afford to be left behind when it comes to producing compact executive vehicles with electric powertrains. Its new i4 is the car that will spiritually succeed its 3-Series, and is due to reach UK showrooms this month. There are three versions; the i40 eDrive40 in Sport and M Sport trim, and the flagship i4 M50. Utilising electricity as its sole means of power, all three variants offer all of the performance you need, so our advice would be to stick with the entry level Sport model. The eDrive40 powertrain accelerates the car to 60mph in 5.7 seconds and on to a capped 118mph. Electric range is 367 miles, which should prevent any nervousness about running out of power mid-journey. Should you need to break up a long journey, a stop at the motorway services for a 10-minute top-up from a DC charger will yield an extra 102 miles of range. Prices for the i4 kick off at just under £52,000, and there are four doors, a decent boot and a handsome coupé-like profile to ensure the car is practical enough for day to day driving. As you venture further up the range, styling becomes more aggressive, but

Power to the People: Electric vehicles go mainstream...

Tesla Model 3 Standard Plus £40,490: Whilst Tesla models higher in the range are costly – and far too fast in our opinion – the Standard Plus version of its Model 3 looks rather good value. Power adjustable and heated front seats, sunroof, and full connectivity are all standard. The car also has a range of 278 miles, and will reach 60mph in 5.3 seconds. What it lacks, though, is BMW’s cabin ergonomics and the rather more polished interior – Model 3, when compared the i4, is a little plasticky and dull. n

Mercedes Benz EQC £65,720: You’ll pay a premium for the EQC but you’ll also know why. For a start the car is a five seater with a decent boot but it also has an SUV body style with all-wheel drive transmission. You’ll find the extra ground clearance and traction handy in our part of the world compared to the lower and sleeker profile of the i4. 60mph is reached in 5.1 seconds, and the EQC’s range is 255 miles. Top speed is 112mph, and standard kit includes Mercedes’s MBUX sat nav and music interface, heated Artico seats, cruise and climate controls. n

Kia EV6 GT-Line S £51,245: In a relatively short space of time, Kia has transitioned from a budget car brand to a hugely respected manufacturer of some superb cars. Its EV6 is a decent size SUV that’s loaded with equipment. With a 77.4kWh motor, power is 321bhp, top speed is 116mph and 60mph is reached in 5.2 seconds. The GT-Line S has a range of 300 miles and comes with adaptive cruise, remote smart parking, 360° camera, wireless phone charing, heated front and rear seats, sunroof and heated steering wheel. n 122 we think the Sport, with its 17” rims and therefore slightly softer ride is a better bet.

And speaking of standard equipment, rear wheel drive and automatic transmission with a single ratio with no ‘steps’ are standard, as it sprung suspension, with air suspension an optional extra.

BMW’s Live Cockpit Plus is also standard, with DAB radio, 12.3” and 14.9” digital cockpits and navigation. Equipment standard to all versions includes a reversing camera, Parking Assistant, automatic air conditioning, ambient lighting and LED lights front and back. Ordinarily packaged options irritate me, and at £3,800 the Technology Plus Pack is tantamount to a whole extra trim level, but it provides a

very nice Harman Kardon stereo upgrade, Driving Assistant Professional software which includes adaptive cruise control, and Parking Assistant Plus which includes a top-view camera, and automatic parallel and perpendicular parking. It also includes a dashcam and wireless phone charging, and as an overall package, we think that’ll add more value than opting for the MSport trim over the standard Sport version. Should budget allow, the Comfort Plus pack with its keyless entry, heated steering wheel and electric front seats is also worth considering. BMW as a car manufacturer has always majored on driving pleasure, and the i4 is on-message with that aim, enjoying a 50/50 weight distribution, a wider track than the 3-Series and the instant power that an electric powertrain affords. The i4 really is BMW at its best. A simple lineup of trims, a good blend of range and performance, plus handsome looks and the practicality of four seats and a decent boot all mean it’ll prove easy to live with, future proof and really desirable too. n

BMW i4 SPORT

Price: £51,905 (on sale Nov). Powertrain: 80kWh electric motor 430Nm torque, 340hp, single speed auto gearbox, RWD. Performance: 0-62 mph: 5.7 seconds. Top Speed: 118mph. WLTP 367mpg. Equipment: Sat nav, heated seats, cruise, reversing camera, automatic tailgate. n

‘C’ IS FOR CLASSIC

‘C’ is for classic, and for continuation and for C-Type. This month Jaguar releases a limited run of hand-built original cars, recreations of its 1951 racer, the C-Type, the car which won Le Mans in that year...

IF YOU’RE LOOKING for creature comforts, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere. If, however, you’re looking for motoring heritage and retro style, Jaguar’s new retro continuation model will certainly appeal. The original C-Type was famed for its fluid and aerodynamic shape, which was designed by Malcolm Sayer, who was recruited by William Lyons in 1950. Originally dubbed the XK120C and using that iconic vehicle – essentially its predecessor – as its base, the C-type would go on to become one of the most important cars in Jaguar’s racing history. Whilst the C-Type used the XK120’s engine, transmission and suspension, the C-Type was renowned for its slippery shape, its record breaking average speed of 93mph and its use of disc brakes. Designed, engineered and built in just six months, 12 Jaguar personnel arrived with a trio of C-Types at the 1951 Le Mans 24 Hours, having driven from the UK in the competing cars. The C-Type continuation will be hand built at Jaguar Classic Works in Coventry, to the specification of the 1953 ‘works’ C-Types. Each example has a 3.4-litre straight-six engine with triple Weber carburettors,

producing 220bhp, and disc brakes, with a four-speed manual transmission and 16” wire wheels.

Buyers can specify 12 exterior colours, and eight Bridge of Weir leather seat colours, but our choice of exterior colour is the Suede Green shown here. A Bluemel steering wheel is true to the original with no roundel affixed to the centre – it was omitted from the original race cars to reduce glare and reflections – however customers can specify the iconic Jaguar badging if they desire. The ignition switch on the C-Type continuation also embodies this approach. The precisely re-engineered component replicates the original’s start-up procedure, and the original-spec clocks and gauges are an illustration of the hours of craftsmanship that go into creating a C-Type continuation. The car was created using 2,000 original drawings from the Jaguar archives, and contributed to the creation of a car which is as faithful to its forebears as possible, whilst taking advantage of modern engineering and technology. The price may well be a cool £2m, but undoubtedly the car will appreciate in value and prove a true collectors item for years to come. n

JAGUAR C-TYPE CONTINUATION

Price: £ 2,000,000. Engine: 3.4 six-cylinder, with four-speed automatic gearbox. Power: 220bhp.

Three wheels for thrills

MORGAN ANNOUNCES ITS INTENTION TO RELEASE AN ALL-NEW THREE WHEELER MODEL POWERED BY FORD

MORGAN If you’re seeking to place an example of true individuality on your driveway, there are few motor cars as unique as a Morgan, and still fewer than a Morgan that’s short of a wheel. Order books closed for the three-wheeler Morgan in January 2021, but happily the firm has released an image of its replacement; this prototype of its all new tricycle model. Whilst many details on the new model are yet to be announced, the use of an internal combustion engine can be confirmed. Specifically, a naturally aspirated inline three-cylinder Ford engine, which continues the company’s long-standing use of Ford powerplants. The model is designed to appeal to those who love the idea of a unique weekend tourer. n FORD Harold Baggott is 101 and recently enjoyed a test drive in a brand new Ford Mustang Mach-E electric car, 91 years after learning to drive in a Ford Model T. Harold had his first taste of getting behind the wheel aged 10, driving the family’s milkman’s delivery float on a farm. He went on to get his license in 1936 (the first year they were introduced), and purchased his first car, a Ford 8 Popular in 1937, for £100, buying 20 more Fords since. n

101 year old Harold’s verdict on 90 years of progress...

One careful owner... Mr Toad!

WIND IN THE WILLOWS CAR MAKES APPEARANCE AT BEAULIEU, AND HAPPILY, IT WAS DRIVEN WITH A BIT MORE CARE! BEAULIEU Visitors to the Beaulieu motor museum have enjoyed seeing Mr Toad’s car from Kenneth Grahame’s classic story Wind in the Willows this summer. The four-wheeled star was last driven by Terry Jones in the 1996 film adaption of the story.

Despite looking like an Edwardian tourer, the car has a bespoke Roi-de-Belges style bodywork but is actually a short wheelbase Land Rover in terms of its chassis and running gear.

The car was rediscovered by car fan Gordon Grant in a sorry state in 2020 and was restored at the National Motor Museum ready to ride again! Poop poop, as Mr Toad would say! n

MOTORING NEWS

In Brief

POPULAR COLOURS

ANY COLOUR YOU LIKE... AS LONG AS IT’S BLACK!

Henry Ford famously promised his customers they could order their vehicles in any colour they wanted, as long as that colour was black. These days we’ve a rather wider choice of colours to choose from, but black and silver remain the UK’s most popular colours in which to order their new car. Black is the UK’s favourite colour for a used car by a long way, according to new data covering the second quarter of 2021. Between April and June this year, 461,050 black used cars were purchased in the UK, making it the most popular colour by a margin of nearly 100,000 transactions. Leicestershire was the most popular part of the UK for pink cars - 23.7 per cent of the UK’s total for 2020 were registered there! The UK’s most popular car colours for 2021...

Black: 461,050 Silver: 363,529 Blue: 362,140 Grey: 341,950 White: 303,192 Red: 220,472 Green: 38,573 Orange: 16,289 Beige: 11,957 Yellow: 11,415 n

Local Financial Planner Publishes Fourth Book

Throughout lockdown many of us embarked on various home-based projects, from redecorating our homes through to learning a new skill via the wonders of virtual tuition. But for local Chartered Financial Planner, Charlie Reading, it was an opportunity to focus on writing his fourth book, ‘The Life Legacy Gift...’

“IF THERE’S ONE VALUABLE LESSON that has come to light during the turbulent months of late, says Charlie Reading, “It’s that the wellbeing and security of our family is one of the most important things in the world.”

“Evidently health has been a key concern for us all, but for many of our clients their focus has turned to the future financial security of their loved ones. Will their family’s inheritance be penalised by hefty taxes? Could their intended wealth be lost through divorce or care fees? Is their existing strategy enough to guarantee their intentions?

“COVID-19 has meant that many of us now feel uncertain about the future, and many of us are concerned about the financial impact it could have on our family’s future security.”

“Whilst life may still feel rather precarious at the moment, it is in fact the perfect time to reflect upon what you have in place and look to implement a suitable strategy to ensure that your wishes are brought to life.”

The topic of estate planning goes hand-inhand with the very delicate subject of death. Whilst this ultimate eventually is something all of us must face, few of us feel equipped to talk about it. There are many considerations to make, ranging from the practicalities and administration following someone’s and secondly, to also create a better life for the people we care most about. At Efficient Portfolio, Charlie’s Oakhambased Chartered IFA firm, there is an overriding ethos of wanting to ‘help people create a better future through inspirational financial planning’, and ‘The Life Legacy Gift’ sets out to do just that. In this latest offering, Charlie will show you the practical steps you can take to make the passing of a loved one as painless as possible, as well as providing you with the strategies you can implement now, so you can not only leave a lasting legacy, but live a fulfilled and rewarding life. The Life Legacy Gift is a way of inspiring you, so that you can consider how to give your life the meaning it deserves, as well as ensuring that you live on beyond your death. The end of your life is a delicate and of course upsetting prospect, however understanding how to make that time as painless as possible for you and your loved ones is crucial, whilst achieving the happy balance of enjoying your life in the here and now. This book is about leaving a legacy: a gift to those people you care most about. The Life Legacy Gift is now available to buy on Amazon, but you can also download a free electronic version from www.efficientportfolio.co.uk. n

passing, through to leaving a legacy, both in a financial and in a more emotional sense.

Charlie said that “When considering what to call this book, I wondered whether the title should be ‘Death: A User’s Guide.’”

“It wouldn’t have been the cheeriest title on the bookshelf, but it would have been a fair description of what is all about.” “However, I realised that this book isn’t actually about death; it’s about making the most of life, both now and for generations to come. Life only has context and meaning because of death.”

Charlie went on to say that from his experience, most of us have two key aims in life: firstly, to give ourselves the best life we can;

Find Out More: Charlie Reading is the owner of Efficient Portfolio, based on Melton Road, Oakham. The firm provides a suite of services including completely independent retirement planning, investments, financial protection and planning. Call 01572 342036 or see www.efficientportfolio.co.uk for more information on the company’s range of services.