New X3 diesel

The newest addition to BMW's off-road range was launched this week on Southern Africa's highest mountain road, the 2873m Sani Pass in Lesotho.

The new "entry level" X3 is powered by a 1995cc, four-cylinder turbodiesel with common-rail direct fuel injection and developing 110kW at 4000rpm and 330Nm at an unflustered 2000rpm.

BMW claims fuel consumption of only 7.2 litres/100km in the European driving cycle - on tar, that is  which should allow a range of almost 900km on a 67-litre tankful of diesel.

A six-speed manual gearbox is fitted as standard; first gear is low for maximum traction, which benefits acceleration from a standstill and ensures better take-off’s on a gradient or with a trailer.

The remaining five gears are evenly spread with top speed coming in sixth gear. An electronically controlled, multi-plate clutch distributes drive between the two axles within a fraction of a second, ensuring not only excellent traction but also fast response in an off-road situation.

The X3 2.0d's straight-line performance is also impressive for a 1745kg 4x4: it accelerates from rest to 100km/h in 10.2sec, overtakes from 80 to 120km/h in fourth gear in 8.3sec and tops out at a long-legged 200km/h.

It comes with 17" alloy rims in a design exclusive to this model; those  and the little 2.0d badges on the front wings - are just about the only identifying features of the little oil-burner.

However, it shares all the specialised equipment of the X3 range, including BMW's "intelligent" xDrive all-wheel-drive system, dynamic stability control, dynamic brake control, cornering brake control and BMW's two-stage brake force display on the tail lights.

It also comes with BMW's unique trailer stability control to recognise and correct dangerous pendulum motion of the trailer.

Finally, hill descent control automatically controls both the speed of the vehicle and brake intervention on steep downhills.

The Sani Pass was just the place to prove it.

Price: R345 000.

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Jaguar XJ6 now in SA

Jaguar has let its new XJ6 cat out of the bag in South Africa and according to the company it "represents contemporary British automotive luxury at its best".

Pioneering a new lightweight vehicle architecture that is centred on a conventional monocoque body structure rather than an unnecessarily exotic space-frame, Jaguar engineers have developed a car that is larger in every respect than the model it replaces.

It also has more features and driver-assisting technologies - and yet weighs up to 200 kg less than the previous XJ generation.

The weight of the new XJ has made it possible to bring back the famous XJ6 badge. Its 3-litre V6 engine, which is also available in the S-TYPE and X-TYPE models, has a power output of 175 kW.

As with the other XJ model the XJ6 features a comprehensive array of passive safety technologies, including Jaguar's sophisticated Adaptive Restraint Technology System (A.R.T.S.) but at its protective core is the strength of the aluminium body.

Jaguar also fitted the XJ6 with new front and rear suspension systems featuring standard air suspension and enhanced Computer Active Technology Suspension (CATS) adaptive damping.

An array of electronic driver aids such as ABS with EBA, DSC and traction control is of course standard.

Prices

XJ 3.0l V6 SE: R595 000

XJ 4.2l V8 SE: R695 000

XJR 4.2l V8: R775 000

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