Zero2Turbo
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Facebook Twitter Instagram RSS
    Zero2Turbo
    • Home
    • Contact
    • Videos
      Featured

      Tesla Model S Plaid Takes EV Nurburgring Lap Record Back From Porsche

      By Zero2TurboJune 5, 2023
      Recent

      Tesla Model S Plaid Takes EV Nurburgring Lap Record Back From Porsche

      June 5, 2023

      Bugatti Bolide Goes Extreme Track Testing

      June 1, 2023

      New Range Rover Sport SV Revealed Packing 626 HP (467 kW) V8

      May 31, 2023
    • South Africa
    • Zero2Turbo Telegram
    Zero2Turbo
    Home»Driven»Driven | BMW X3 M40i
    Driven

    Driven | BMW X3 M40i

    By Zero2TurboMarch 1, 2018Updated:March 1, 2018No Comments
    Facebook Email Twitter LinkedIn Telegram WhatsApp
    Share
    Facebook Email Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram

    Calvin Luk is the man behind the design of the all-new BMW X3 and his latest creation in M40i guise is quite possibly the best looking SUV on the market today. He views the G01 X3 as a rugby player dressed in a fitted suit and as you will read below this is quite the accurate description.

    The proportions of the car are bang on. The profile and the rear are brilliantly sculpted and it certainly catches your eye in Phytonic Blue Metallic. Among it’s competitors such as the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 and Audi SQ5, there is no denying that the Beemer is the most dynamic looking. BMW’s signature grille is a tad more pronounced, the roof line is that much more swept and the bonnet creases are much more present. In the first ever M Performance X3, it’s a package granted by even more presence thanks to bespoke bumper treatments, neat Cerium Grey highlighting, tailpipe dimension upgrade and striking alloy wheels (R21,100 for the set on this unit).

    The BMW X3 M40i packs a turbocharged (single twin-scroll) 3.0 litre inline-six engine, making 265 kW (355 hp) and 500 Nm of torque which is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox and thanks to the brilliance of xDrive and a sportier suspension setup, you can plant your foot flat without a hint of things getting loose. It also gets sharper steering, better brakes and stickier tires. So everything about the X3 M40i is turned up a notch over the standard car to make it seem sportier and it has achieved this to a tee.

    Sprinting to 100 km/h is achieved in 4.8 seconds which is substantially quicker than the competitor from Audi (5.4 seconds) and one tenth of a second quicker than the offering from AMG (GLC 43). So now that you have a very fast mid-size SUV, how does it handle?

    The X3 M40i is very quiet inside and there is little in the way of tyre or wind noise but the most important part, the engine, is always audible. As mentioned, it finds great traction off the line and the body’s pitch is well contained, so very little forward momentum is wasted by the rear end squatting and the nose raising. That same control is felt in the corners, too. Roll is minimal even when you enter corners at a respectable pace, which you can do as there’s impressive turn in grip and the chassis responds dutifully to some fast and direct steering. One of the only negative’s about this dynamic SUV is the reluctance to downshift when coming into a corner. It doesn’t change down quick enough which means most of the time you enter into the bend in a gear higher than you would desire. On the flipside, the upshifts are blisteringly fast and the 265 kW ensures you are pressed well back into your seat while accelerating.

    One of the best features on this car (at least for my petrol head brain and heart) is the noise that pops out those two large tailpipes when in Sport Plus mode. I feel you would either love it and find yourself actually laughing at the brialliance or you will think it’s very unsuitable depending on how you view a performance SUV. I am most certainly the former and I could not get enough of the burble, pop and bang from gently accelerating and letting go the throttle (watch the video below and you will understand exactly what I mean). Although this is a rapid machine, if you hold your foot flat you will ultimately reach a limited 250 km/h, it ultimately rewards your ears more if you drive it much slower than what it was built for.

    The build quality (as always with BMW) is right out of the top draw. Everything feels solid and to a degree expensive. To be honest, you can hardly even compare the interior from the previous X3 to this because it has been executed so well. Fit, finish, and material specifications throughout are high quality and attractive, and BMW’s latest iDrive system both looks good and functions well. The parking system (Parking Assist Plus) is easily the best system I have ever had the pleasure of using and with all the camera’s and clever CGI trickery, you are guaranteed to park this creation perfectly every single time.

    So this family-friendly SUV packs the heart of a hot hatch and it is an immensely well balanced vehicle so would it be a good purchase? This is honestly one of the best car’s I have driven in a long time and it would be a welcome addition to someone looking for something with a lot of punch and noise yet refinement and comfort for long distance family trips.

    How much will this package set you back? Base price is R991,100 but if you add some nice to haves and a few must have options, then the price climbs quickly. This test car had most of the bells and whistles and it would set you back R1,172,825. Expensive? Well yes it is but all cars of this calbre are expensive these days and I feel this price tag is somewhat justified for a terrific machine.

    PRO’s

    • Exhaust noise!!!
    • Styling
    • Build quality and balance

    CON’s

    • Gearbox reluctant on downshift

    BMW
    Share. Facebook Email Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram
    Previous ArticleThings To Remember Legally If Your High Performance Car Got Caught in a Sideswipe Accident
    Next Article #ExoticSpotSA Week 9 2018

    Related Posts

    BMW M2 CS To Pack 518 HP (386 kW)

    June 2, 2023

    BMW M3 CS Pricing and Availability in South Africa

    May 25, 2023

    New BMW M2 CS Prototype Spotted Could Pack As Much As 500 HP

    May 3, 2023

    650 HP (486 kW) BMW i7 M70 xDrive Not Heading For South Africa

    April 19, 2023

    BMW Spotted Testing M3 CS Touring

    April 17, 2023

    New BMW M2 Gets Carbon Fibre Bodykit by TRE

    April 13, 2023

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Popular Posts
    • VW Reveals Lime Yellow Golf R 333 Limited Edition
    • New Range Rover Sport SV Revealed Packing 626 HP (467 kW) V8
    • Watch and Listen To The Lamborghini Revuelto At The Nurburgring
    • Enhance Your On-Road Experience: Unlock the Beauty of Car Interior Design
    • First EV From Lamborghini To Be Two-Door GT

    Latest Instagram Photos
    • Looks like the new Mercedes-AMG S 63 E PERFORMANCE was spotted testing in South Africa 🇿🇦

That start-up sounds pretty damn promising!

This thing packs a whopping 791 hp (590 kW) and 1,430 Nm of torque.

📌 Graskop, Mpumalanga

🎥 @guylin_
    • Look what’s arrived in South Africa 🇿🇦 

Nothing confirmed by Toyota SA as of yet but here is the 224 kW GR Corolla!

Image source: @average_midship 

#ExoticSpotSA #Zero2Turbo #SouthAfrica #Toyota #GRCorolla
    • We waited a fair bit for the Tiguan R to arrive but that means it has been given enough thought and executed with the sort of German precision that makes us happy to have waited.

As fast SUVs go it’s a cracker, and with a price tag starting from R1,014,900 it is actually decent value in the segment.

It’s fun, aggressive when you want it to be and remarkably civilised when you don’t. Cars like this rarely make sense, but the Tiguan R is one case where that argument starts to change one's mind.

We cannot wait to drive the matching Golf next week!

#ExoticSpotSA #Zero2Turbo #SouthAfrica #Z2TDriven #VolkswagenTiguanR #TiguanR #VWTiguanR
    • The very first SA-spec BMW M2 snapped at BMW HQ in Midrand.

Zandvoort Blue would not be our choice but the looks have certainly grown on us. What about all of you?

Shots via @projectthart 

#ExoticSpotSA #Zero2Turbo #SouthAfrica #BMWM2 #NewM2 #ZandvoortBlue
    • If you’re expecting a faster, angrier and more focused version of the original 86, you’re going to be happy with this car.

Toyota finally gave the 86 more power. It’s not take-your-breath-away power, but again, it’s not made to win drag races. If you want more power, get a Supra.

Sure it is a bit more pricey this time around but it is a no-regrets kind of car that you will enjoy just as much today as 10 years from now.

Long live the manual transmission, especially when it’s packaged within something as fun as the Toyota GR86.

#ExoticSpotSA #Zero2Turbo #SouthAfrica #Z2TDriven #ToyotaGR86 #GR86 #Anime #InitialD
    • Stunning Jaguar F-Type Project 7 spotted in sunny Cape Town yesterday by @ryan_6r 😎

Just 5 of these made their way into SA making this quite a rare sighting!

#ExoticSpotSA #Zero2Turbo #SouthAfrica #Jaguar #FTypeProject7 #Project7 #JaguarFType #CapeTown

    Follow Us

    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube RSS
    Designed by Zero2Turbo.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.