BMW has announced a new M Performance M50i powertrain based on its 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine that will power performance versions of its X5 and X7 SUVs. The M50i models use an updated version of the 4.4-litre BMW unit found in the existing X5 and X7 xDrive50i models. The 8-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox has also been modified in the M50i models with, new mapping designed to make the most of the extra performance on offer. A launch control system appears, and the xDrive 4x4 setup gains an M Sport differential that can send up to 100 per cent of the available drive to the rear of the car. Suspension updates are included, with firmer springs and dampers on each model. The X5 M50i gets adaptive dampers but the X7 uses its standard variable air suspension - an option on the X5. Both get standard 20-inch wheels with larger wheel sizes on the options list. The result of the performance modifications are claimed 0-62mph times of 4.1s for the X5 M50i and 4.5s for the X7 M50i, with both models capable of hitting an electronic muzzle of 155mph flat out. To help with stopping duties, the braking system uses upgraded callipers and new two piece steel discs. To underline the extra potency that鈥檚 been added under the skin, both the X5 and X7 M50i get sporty styling enhancements with more aggressive bumpers and pronounced sills. Inside, M division logos are sprinkled around the cabin and support sports seats replace the standard items. What do you think of the BMW X5 and X7 M50i options?
Norway isn鈥檛 the usual destination for a car launch. Manufacturers tend to head south, where the sun shines and the roads are great. But when it comes to electric cars, Norway is the place to be - as Mercedes was this week. You can read our first verdict on the new EQC, but the picture above sums up why Norway is the destination of choice for electric car launches. I took the snap as I left the airport and walked through a car park. A whole floor was dedicated to electric cars - rows and rows of Teslas, Jaguar I-Paces, Nissan Leafs, BMW i3s and many more cars with leads running to charging points. Then you get back to London and Heathrow Airport where, with the exception of the newest Terminal Two with 26 plug-in points in its short stay, there are just a handful in its other car parks.
Electric cars are everywhere in Norway - as are charging points. I even drove past a pizza restaurant with a line of four Renault Zoes plugged in, ready for their nightly delivery duties. The UK is catching up on the infrastructure front, but it seems like every other car in Norway is electric. And soon it will be; this year over 50 per cent of all new cars sold are set to be electric. It was 58.4 per cent in March. That鈥檚 a bold target, but for the right reasons. So how does Norway do it? Simple: consecutive governments have agreed on a range of incentives to encourage people to buy and run electric cars. They range from VAT reductions, company car tax benefits and no road tax to free parking, driving in bus lanes and lots more besides. We need the same. All parties need to agree on consistent and generous UK incentives. Yes, it鈥檒l cost us. But it鈥檚 got to be done. Do you agree with Steve's views on the UK's electric car future?
Sleeker than the 911 Cabriolet and more potent than the 718 Boxster, the 911 Speedster follows in a grand tradition of chopped-down, open-cockpit Elfens. The manufacturer first showcased the new concept with a throwback livery at its Zuffenhausen home in Stuttgart this past June, before taking it on tour around the world. And to coincide with its production announcement, Porsche is showcasing it again in Guards Red at the Paris show. The crimson paintjob is drawn from the 1988 original, as the car also features 21-inch cross-spoke alloys and a black leather interior. Otherwise it looks pretty much like the one we already saw, right down to the chopped windscreen and double-bubble rear cowling - which is no bad thing, considering how striking it is. The finished product will be produced by Porsche Exclusive in a limited run of 1,948 examples, referring to the year in which the company was founded. Porsche has released little in the way of technical details as to the production model鈥檚 specifications. But it points out that the concept鈥檚 bodywork was based on the Carrera 4 Cabriolet, with carbon-fiber fenders and hoods, plus the suspension from the 911 GT3. The six-speed manual transmission and titanium tailpipes were also furnished by the GT division, while the naturally aspirated flat-six engine was tuned to develop over 500 horsepower. With production set to begin early next year, we鈥檒l just have to wait for Porsche to release more details about the final product. Of course, you can bet it鈥檒l be rather pricey.