[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Vervain

I’m just wondering though - I haven’t sat in an IX yet, and that model introduced a whole new interior look for BMW when it launched. Is the quality much better in that model, or similar to the lower quality we’re seeing now?

My dealer gives me an iX to drive around every so often and every time I'm in one I can't help but think I'm in a Hyundai, Kia or some other non-luxury brand. It exudes cheapness in my opinion.

[-JLT-]

Originally Posted by BatMeoW

Is this where the reversing lamp has moved to? Meaning 1 instead of standard 2 reversing lamps. Wonder how much would BMW be saving per car on 1 lamp? Guess not much, unless the new X3 is just as popular as G01.

wouldn't that be where the tow hitch would go?

[Jason]

Few new photos:

[TurtleBoy]

It looks a hell of a lot better from this angle and not having those garish ambient lights on. Unfortunately this is only part of the picture.

[Vervain]

Originally Posted by Jason

Few new photos:

Attachment 3483682

Attachment 3483683

Attachment 3483684

I actually like the M50 here…

Don’t come for me, but I really like the Dune Grey (beige) color

[J-RO]

So I guess I will not be getting any fresh air through the fixed glass roof.

[OUGrad05]

Originally Posted by EWL5

The MDX is a nice car (had a MY18 MDX Tech) but like you said, really poor fuel economy and the engine is undersized for the weight! Even the Type S is going to be slower than the base X5! LOL!

About the only thing Acura has over BMW is a fairly decent sound system in the ELS. Unfortunately, they are moving away from ELS to Bang & Olufsen in the MY25 MDX refresh and early reports are that the B&O system doesn't play multichannel FLAC files!

We own one, the fuel economy isn't that poor and it takes regular gas so while it's MPG is 10-15% lower than an X5 the gas is 10-20% cheaper, works out to be a wash. It's also a bigger vehicle than the X5. The seats are fantastic, the ELS on the advance trim is pretty good. Ergonomics are EXCELLENT. This is super important for us because I'm 6'6 and my wife is 5'4. Our 2015 Lexus was absolute SHIT on MPG, ergonomics, seats, stereo...it was no buenos. Dealer was great though.

However, it is NOT a true premium car or premium experience. The build quality isn't as good as BMW. The dealer experience is about like Chevy or could be as good as Lexus, there's absolutely NO consistency there. I'm not sure I'd do another Acura. No loaners, shit dealer locally, good build quality in the grand scheme of things but nothing like Lexus or BMW.

[Montaver]

The interior seems even more odd when you see how much effort they put into the X1/X2 interiors, those feel like genuine entry level luxury. Proper use of materials, stitching etc. This just looks like they did it as cheaply as possible (plastic door handles?!) and threw on some LED lights to distract from how spartan it is. I have no doubt the build quality, fit and finish will be excellent but there is very little ‘luxury’ about it.

[internalaudit]

Originally Posted by Montaver

The interior seems even more odd when you see how much effort they put into the X1/X2 interiors, those feel like genuine entry level luxury. Proper use of materials, stitching etc. This just looks like they did it as cheaply as possible (plastic door handles?!) and threw on some LED lights to distract from how spartan it is. I have no doubt the build quality, fit and finish will be excellent but there is very little ‘luxury’ about it.

Surprised they just didn't follow the interior of the X1/X2. Even the 2025 i4 interior looks much more functional with the row of physical buttons.

This is designing something just for the sake of it. Maybe the designers had to justify their existence and couldn't copy off lower models.

Anyway, still not as bad as those ultra-minimalistic interiors on some cars.

[Quadruple VANOS]

Originally Posted by Cortexiphan

That’s not true. I can guess when you’re getting this misinformation, but the reality is, almost every single brand’s EV sales went up EXCEPT FOR Tesla.

Ford’s grew 86.1%; Toyota’s grew 85.9%; Mercedes-Benz’s grew 66.9%; Rivian’s grew 58.8%; BMW’s grew 57.8%; and Hyundai/Kia’s grew 56.1%; when you oook at q1 2023 vs q1 2024.

EV sales are skyrocketing.

While growth percentages over miniscule sales history makes for good propaganda, the fact is private EV sales are so poor manufacturers are still losing billions producing them. Making money is kind of the reason these companies exist so…

[Montaver]

Originally Posted by Quadruple VANOS

While growth percentages over miniscule sales history makes for good propaganda, the fact is private EV sales are so poor manufacturers are still losing billions producing them. Making money is kind of the reason these companies exist so…

Not only that, the platform development costs are driving the aggressive cost cutting on current ICE models. BMW have gotten more right than wrong (look at infiniti for example) but none of the traditional manufacturers have a real answer to the dedicated electric car brands in China who look set to eat their lunch.

[internalaudit]

Originally Posted by Montaver

Not only that, the platform development costs are driving the aggressive cost cutting on current ICE models. BMW have gotten more right than wrong (look at infiniti for example) but none of the traditional manufacturers have a real answer to the dedicated electric car brands in China who look set to eat their lunch.

We can't fault the Chinese. Eight years powertrain warranty included in $10,000 USD BEVs is heaven sent. We are spending almost half of that on extended warranties to stretch coverage on our ICEVs from four to seven years.

Also, many of the final products made by Chinese manufacturers don't look too shabby (though I'm very particular with the interior design and some of the ones I like are those on the Lexus UX300h, most of the Mazdas, and of course, BMW's iDrive 7 layout just like on my wife's X3 M40i and a friend's M430i). And if it's karaoke or bling bling the Chinese want, that's what they've been getting from Chinese manufacturers.

https://carnewschina.com/

There's already some experts calling for the Big Three to just pull out of China if they are hemorrhaging and focus elsewhere. I don't think anyone can keep against local manufacturers who may be highly subsidized. BEVs seems much easily built too and some are suggesting in developed countries, the material and labor components to build BEVs are probably in the low $30,000s. Tesla is exporting almost 50% of its MIC vehicles likely because of the cost advantage.

[OUGrad05]

Originally Posted by internalaudit

We can't fault the Chinese. Eight years powertrain warranty included in $10,000 USD BEVs is heaven sent. We are spending almost half of that on extended warranties to stretch coverage on our ICEVs from four to seven years.

Also, many of the final products made by Chinese manufacturers don't look too shabby (though I'm very particular with the interior design and some of the ones I like are those on the Lexus UX300h, most of the Mazdas, and of course, BMW's iDrive 7 layout just like on my wife's X3 M40i and a friend's M430i). And if it's karaoke or bling bling the Chinese want, that's what they've been getting from Chinese manufacturers.

https://carnewschina.com/

There's already some experts calling for the Big Three to just pull out of China if they are hemorrhaging and focus elsewhere. I don't think anyone can keep against local manufacturers who may be highly subsidized. BEVs seems much easily built too and some are suggesting in developed countries, the material and labor components to build BEVs are probably in the low $30,000s. Tesla is exporting almost 50% of its MIC vehicles likely because of the cost advantage.

The issue isn't so much that it's "owned by China" it's that it's owned by China. Let me explain, I don't care if a company is owned by German parent, UK parent, Korean parent, Japan, India, etc.

China however, is a problem. They have an extensive history of dumping on the US and western economies and they're also working to undermine the west across a variety of global issues. So his point was that by buying a China based product you invariable help their economy which creates revenues for the Chinese Communist Party and you are thereby endorsing (albeit passively) their grotesque tactics and economic standards. At least that's what I assume he meant.

[internalaudit]

Originally Posted by OUGrad05

The issue isn't so much that it's "owned by China" it's that it's owned by China. Let me explain, I don't care if a company is owned by German parent, UK parent, Korean parent, Japan, India, etc.

China however, is a problem. They have an extensive history of dumping on the US and western economies and they're also working to undermine the west across a variety of global issues. So his point was that by buying a China based product you invariable help their economy which creates revenues for the Chinese Communist Party and you are thereby endorsing (albeit passively) their grotesque tactics and economic standards. At least that's what I assume he meant.

Gotcha.

At least these trade wars will force companies to diversity their investment bases and not rely solely on the well-grounded Chinese supply chain.

That could mean pricier stuff but i am all for spreading risks and opportunities around.

[TurtleBoy]

Car and Driver has their article out on the new X3, I think they may like its "funky" styling.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a6...d%20Last%2030D

[co_440i]

Originally Posted by internalaudit

We can't fault the Chinese. Eight years powertrain warranty included in $10,000 USD BEVs is heaven sent. We are spending almost half of that on extended warranties to stretch coverage on our ICEVs from four to seven years.

Also, many of the final products made by Chinese manufacturers don't look too shabby (though I'm very particular with the interior design and some of the ones I like are those on the Lexus UX300h, most of the Mazdas, and of course, BMW's iDrive 7 layout just like on my wife's X3 M40i and a friend's M430i). And if it's karaoke or bling bling the Chinese want, that's what they've been getting from Chinese manufacturers.

https://carnewschina.com/

There's already some experts calling for the Big Three to just pull out of China if they are hemorrhaging and focus elsewhere. I don't think anyone can keep against local manufacturers who may be highly subsidized. BEVs seems much easily built too and some are suggesting in developed countries, the material and labor components to build BEVs are probably in the low $30,000s. Tesla is exporting almost 50% of its MIC vehicles likely because of the cost advantage.

You know that China can sell a $10k EV because BYD is a state-owned enterprise, right?

[internalaudit]

Originally Posted by co_440i

You know that China can sell a $10k EV because BYD is a state-owned enterprise, right?

Did I not mention subsidies? Surprised it's state-owned if Warren disposed more shares based off the latest fillings.

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by OUGrad05

We own one, the fuel economy isn't that poor and it takes regular gas so while it's MPG is 10-15% lower than an X5 the gas is 10-20% cheaper, works out to be a wash. It's also a bigger vehicle than the X5. The seats are fantastic, the ELS on the advance trim is pretty good. Ergonomics are EXCELLENT. This is super important for us because I'm 6'6 and my wife is 5'4. Our 2015 Lexus was absolute SHIT on MPG, ergonomics, seats, stereo...it was no buenos. Dealer was great though.

However, it is NOT a true premium car or premium experience. The build quality isn't as good as BMW. The dealer experience is about like Chevy or could be as good as Lexus, there's absolutely NO consistency there. I'm not sure I'd do another Acura. No loaners, shit dealer locally, good build quality in the grand scheme of things but nothing like Lexus or BMW.

Gas is only cheaper because you chose to use regular gasoline and punted on performance, yes?

I used to get no better than 19 mpg combined with premium fuel on my MY18 MDX. You have the same engine in your larger and heavier MY22 so what's the fuel economy for combined?

[geompat1]

I'll be getting Vegas red.....

[Nimz]

Rosslyn - South Africa

[EWL5]

Originally Posted by Nimz

Rosslyn - South Africa

Pics of the interior definitely look better w/the ambient lights off! I still miss the wood trim though...

[solstice]

Originally Posted by EWL5

Pics of the interior definitely look better w/the ambient lights off! I still miss the wood trim though...

The interior looks like it belongs in a BEV, fitting for the car as an appliance with zero character with mass produced minimum quality, just as the electric engines. Even with ICEs still around it seems benefits in scale, the BEVs will drag down the last period of ICEs with them in terms of character, other than in the very top segment of cars, those companies that will likely not survive in a pure BEV era, a Bugatti, Pagani or even Lambo/Ferrari with an engine from a $70k Tesla engine anyone? Didn’t think so.