Behind the wheel of BMW’s X3 M50 SUV – BMW does performance very well and its M series X3 is very well sorted – and at $128,900 I guess you can rightly suggest it should be – the X3 M50’s 3.0-litre turbo in-line six gaining 48-volt mild hybrid boost. With 8-speed ZF gearbox, BMW’s x-Drive all-wheel drive and adaptive suspension ride and handling is a good as it gets, the whole performance polished, athletic and just so smooth, BMW refer to it as a sports activity vehicle SAV rather than a sports utility vehicle and it is in every sense – road noise suppression first class with acoustic glass, however the quad exhaust still provides an aural masterpiece under revs. BMW have thankfully ditched run flat tyres on this model’s 21-inch alloy wheels, the downside however no spare, just a tyre repair kit. Importantly, the interior room in the X3 especially in the rear is excellent with great seats and standard Veganza synthetic leather, if you want the real McCoy it’s another $4,000 – the interior design a highlight with wide infotainment touchscreen and combined instrument cluster although I’d still like buttons for air-con and radio. Warranty 5-years/unlimited km with roadside assistance for three years.

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Drive any SUV over $100,000 and you expect it to be a well sorted package but
that’s not always the case however the new BMW X3 M50 SUV at $128,900 is hard
to top. l can hear you saying for that money it would want to be. However, the
flagship of BMW’s best-selling X3 model is as good as it gets – BMW defines it as
an SAV, not SUV, SAV standing for sports activity vehicle and its most apt.
upgraded earlier this year the fourth generation BMW X3 now in four models, sits
on the same wheelbase but is slightly longer and wider and 25mm lower giving it
a sportier profile - utilising a 3.0-litre turbo petrol in-line six now with 48-volt
mild hybrid boost – this adds another 18kW of power and a 40Nm torque boost
from just 1900 revs. With an 8-speed ZF auto gearbox, BMW’s x-Drive all-wheel
drive and adaptive dampers the X3 M50 is a stunning driver. Visually highlighted
with large split kidney shaped grille, which tends to divide opinion, to me it’s far
too large, now highlighted by contour lighting as standard. The BMW X3 M50 SAV
just impressed the more I drove it.

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In the last 18 months we’ve seen a number of new Chinese car brands, and
almost on a weekly basis, the arrival of new and improved models. As one
long standing dealer said to me recently – David we can’t afford not to take
on new brands from China as the car market is rapidly changing and we
expect them to capture around 40 per cent of the market in a fairly short
time. Take Chery for example, with new sub brands Jaecoo and Omoda on
the move, both have now launched a handful of models, the mid-size
Jaecoo J7 and the larger J8 while Omoda has just released the Omoda 9
hybrid Coupe SUV – by Chery spinning off these sub brands their chasing
a much larger slice of our market, targeting a spot in Australia’s top ten car
brands in just two years. I’m David Berthon

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Whenever I talk about road safety at Easter and Xmas I suggest the worst
time to be on the road is Friday afternoons. Something I’ve witnessed over
many years where on a Friday drivers intent on getting home for the
weekend throw caution to the wind. So I was pleased to read the 2025 AAMI
Crash Index which confirmed that Friday afternoons feature with the
highest number of collision claims. AAMI suggesting the possible reason
drivers are transitioning from the long working week into the weekend –
they may be a bit fatigued and thinking about what they’ve got on on the
weekend.” In fact, according to the report which analyzed 480,000 claims,
afternoons in general are the less favourable times of any given day to
drive. The report also suggesting that nationally, the worst drivers are aged
35-44 and 65-plus.

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Driving the relatively new Cupra Tavascan mid-sized electric SUV today – the
higher grade Tavascan VZ at $79,990 driveaway, a striking coupe style mid-sized
SUV with dual motor 250kW all-wheel drive with electronic adaptive suspension,
large 21-inch alloy wheels, six drive modes, a full suite of active and passive
safety elements and an interior design that is unique and very appealing. Cupra
always highlight wheels and interior elements with copper trim and its very
distinctive although some of this makers dark colours I find a little sombre and
lacking vibrance. As a driver not so, this is a spritely performer with a 0 to
100km/hour time of 5.5 seconds, the adaptive suspension providing a great
ride/handling balance with all-wheel drive and with steering weight and feel nicely
balanced to the cars selected drive modes. Brake pedal feel however
disappointing, too much pushback and inconsistency in feel and response and I
know of no other performance skewed car at this price point retaining rear drum
brakes. The brakes are simply not confidence inspiring under heavy use. It’s a
pity as the Cupra Tavascan VZ SUV is one that invites spirited driving, and it
performs very well in all other areas and has a point of difference that is very
appealing.

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Driving a Spanish newcomer today – The Cupra Tavascan, the maker’s second
electric model retains its Spanish flair despite being built in China. Cupra, part of
the Volkswagen Group, and having a better year, sales up 40 percent on 2024.
The Tavascon a sporty striking coupe style SUV in two models, the rear drive
210kW Endurance and the sportier 250kW all-wheel drive VZ - I drove the VZ with
dual electric motors, a 77kWhour battery and 499km range – it gains an adaptive
electronic suspension, power heated front seats, a fixed glass sunroof, leather
trim, large 21-inch alloy wheels with copper accents and 12 speaker sound. All up
a sporty mid-sized SUV, $79,990 drive-away, different and distinctive in several
areas – especially inside with a central V-design central spine that extends
rearwards – practical and highlighted with Cupra’s signature copper inlays.
Underneath this central flyover there’s excellent storage and phone charging –
the layout with large central touchscreen and a small instrument binnacle in front
of the driver, all very user friendly, apart from a lack of buttons for air-
conditioning and radio. A frustration, like so many EVs and the ability to use
safely only when stationary. Warranty, five years, unlimited km, Battery, eight
years, 160,000kms.

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Official V-Facts new vehicle sales data for the month of July show a record
month with 103,097 vehicle deliveries due in part to the growing popularity
of Chinese models with sales up 50 percent on the same month last year.
Three Chinese brands GWM, BYD and MG are now represented in the top
ten best-selling list, however only one of the top ten best-selling models
was Chinese - the small Chery Tiggo 4 Pro SUV. SUV’s continue to be the
vehicle of choice, 61 percent of all vehicles sold – petrol remains the most
popular fuel source, the big surprise an 8 per cent lift in diesel sales
despite July being the first month of the Federal Government’s National
Fuel Efficiency Standard designed to lower CO2 emissions. Plug-in hybrids
were the big winner last month, sales up 183 percent year to date.

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It’s no secret that Jaguar come year end will introduce a new breed of electric only cars – despite a 90-year history of sports orientated models that featured space, grace and pace Jaguar is on a new projectory that will present a new design vision – called the Type 00 concept it will push the brand further upmarket into Rolls-Royce and Bentley territory – in the process it expects to lose 85 per cent of its current customer base – in doing so it has drawn much condemnation from die hard Jaguar fans – images of the new bold concept divisive to say the least – the latest critic President Donald Trump who has taken to social media to slam Jaguar’s rebrand as “woke” and “disgraceful.” Trump claiming the luxury car maker is in absolute turmoil after it announced its CEO of three years Adrian Mardell would step down in November.

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