Western News: August 24, 2023

8
Thursday August 24 2023
Incorporating
best motorbuys
www.drivesouth.co.nz
Biggest BMW yet built for long distance
Those who love large super
‘size-me’ luxury European SUV’s
will have their appetites satisfied
with the updated X7, the biggest
BMW on the planet, with an
equally stupendous price.
This time around if offers an
expanded range of standard
equipment and driver assistance
features, plus some subtle
styling changes, to help distract
from the fact that this model
has been around since 2019.
For our market two models
are available starting with the
$177,990 xDrive40d twin turbo
diesel provided for this road test.
Ownership is well north of that
figure, for the high performance
flagship X7 M60i xDrive. Fitted
with a barn storming ‘big
beastie’ 4.4-litre twin turbo V8, it
sports an equally beefy $224,900
asking price. Both models attract
the highest government clean
car fee of $6,900, adding to the
Motoring with Bob Nettleton
purchasing pain of would-be
owners.
Styling changes are low-key
and unlikely to be recognized
by all except the most devout
X7 aficionados. The front-end
features a modest revamp
including new matrix LED
headlights offer non-dazzling
high beam and a fog lights are
automatically activated in bad
weather and poor light.
The test vehicle’s 3.0litre inline
twin turbo diesel V6 is the
first BMW sold here with 48-volt
mild hybrid technology for
improved imp fuel economy and
lower emissions. The maximum
output of the overall drive
system is 259kW, and a healthy
700Nm of torque, that increases
to 720Nm when the mild hybrid
system chips in. This latest
modest form of electrification
comprises a crankshaft-mounted
starter generator integrated into
the transmission and contributes
an additional 9kW of power.
The power train is supremely
smooth with negligible road
or engine noise in both town
and open road driving. For its
size and bulk it can shift itself
in a hurry with a claimed 0
to100 km/h sprint time of 5.6
seconds. Where it really excels,
is effortlessly scything through
long distances like few other
vehicles I’ve road tested.
An eight-speed transmission
with steering wheel mounted
gearshift panels does a masterful
job of channelling the motors
considerable power and torque
on to the road, via BMW’s
proven xDrive all-wheel-drive
system.
The huge and lavishly
appointed cabin can be enjoyed
across three rows of seats.
BMW’s Live Cockpit Plus in
the new X7, is based on the
company’s Operating System
8 and integrates nearly into a
Curved Display, formed by a
large information and control
displays. These days iDrive is
geared towards touch operation
and gesture control as well as
voice activation. At times it
seems overly complicated and
technology for technology’s sake.
BMW’s Connected Drive
assistance system offers a
Driving Assistant safety package
comprising Lane Departure
and Collision Warning Systems.
One of the best new additions is
Parking Assistant Professional
that includes advanced Reversing
Assistant that can now steer the
vehicle for up to 200 metres.
It’s ideal for taking the stress
of backing out of long driveways
you wished you had never
ventured down in a vehicle of
this size. It’s great watching
the expressions of onlookers
anticipating a backing disaster,
when you make the job look so
easy, and they are unaware it was
all technological slight of hand,
not my sublime reversing skills.
The adaptive two-axle air
suspension is standard with
electronically controlled
dampers to deliver superior
comfort on long journeys.
All chassis systems have been
retuned for this take on the
X7, raising the already lofty
bar the previous model set for
handling and driving comfort.
It’s supported on this front by an
expanded selection of automated
driving systems. The test vehicle
even with it’s additional height
and weight is remarkably nimble
– pleasant but not unexpected,
after all it’s a BMW. Limited
ground clearance rules out
tackling genuinely demanding
cross-country terrain. A lowslung
front end is a likely target
for protrusions such as rocks and
tree stumps. However, this isn’t
the sort of place an X7 owner
is ever going to nose their king
SUV pride and joy into.
Rating out of 10: Performance
8, handling 7 , build quality
8, comfort 8, passenger and
load space 8, Styling 6, Fuel
Economy on road test average
consumption 8.9L /100km,
Value for money 6, Safety, Five
Star ANCAP crash rating and
Clean vehicle fee $6,900
Overall points out of 10: 7.5
Finance
available
(conditions apply)
CARS WANTED
– CASH PAID
We buy small
Japanese vehicles
- Must be tidy
2013 NiSSaN latio 4 Door
$6,995
1.5L, auto, 142,000kms.
2011 Suzuki SX4 5/HatcH
$7,995
Alloys, 4x4, auto, 169,000kms.
2006 Suzuki Swift Sport 1.6
$7,495
Auto, alloys, 170,000kms
2012 HyuNDai i30 S/w
$8,995
NZ new, 1600cc, auto, 133,000kms, alloys.
2009 Suzuki SX-4 5/HatcH
$8,995
1500cc, auto, 104,000kms, alloys, nice car.
low kMS
2016 toyota corolla GX SEDaN
$10,995
1.8L, auto, NZ new, 175,000kms, nice unit.
2016 toyota corolla GlX 5/HatcH
$11,995
1.8L, auto, alloys, back camera, 194,000kms.
2015 toyota corolla GlX 5/HatcH
$12,995
NZ new, 1.8L, auto, 178,000kms, alloys.
2012 toyota aqua
$10,995
1.5L, hybrid, 64,000kms, alloys, back camera.
2002 cHEvrolEt (Suzuki) cruzE 1300
$3,995
Auto, drives fine, 194,000kms
low kMS
1999 Suzuki waGoN r +
$2,995
1200cc, 5 speed manual.
2012 NiSSaN latio 4 Door 1.5
$6,495
Auto, 137,000kms, Drives Fine, Back Camera.
2011 toyota corolla GX 5/HatcH
$8,995
1.8L, auto, NZ new, 168,000kms, arriving.
2015 toyota yariS 5/HatcH
$13,995
1.3L, auto, NZ new, low 56,000kms.
2014 toyota corolla GX HatcH 1.8
$11,995
Auto, NZ New 176,000kms.
- 281 Ferry Road - 03 389 1121 - dougdrake@xtra.co.nz www.dougdrake.co.nz