[S8, E17] BMW iX3: In Depth Review Of "500 Mile" EV
About this episode
The hosts take an immediate, raw look at the new BMW iX3 during its UK launch, focusing on its touted 500-mile electric range and driving experience. They discuss the car's advanced digital displays, intuitive controls, and the balance between traditional BMW driving pleasure and modern EV technology. The episode covers the car's single-pedal driving, upcoming hands-off motorway driving features, and the contrast between the tech-heavy briefing and the actual driving feel. Their candid impressions highlight both the innovations and the realities behind the iX3's range claims and usability.
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BMW iX3
"...just going to give you raw, immediate, first impressions of the all-new BMW iX3. Oh, no, mate."
The BMW iX3 is a fully electric car that looks like a regular SUV but runs only on electricity instead of gas. It's BMW's way of making a clean, green car that still feels like a BMW to drive.
The BMW iX3 is an all-electric SUV from BMW, representing their push into electric vehicles with a model based on the popular X3 SUV but powered solely by electricity. It combines BMW's traditional driving dynamics with zero emissions and modern electric vehicle technology.
iX3 (G08)
"Okay. So we can we say iX3? Yeah."
The iX3 is an electric SUV made by BMW. It looks like a regular SUV but runs only on electricity, so it doesn't use gas. People talk about it because it offers a quiet and smooth ride with no emissions.
The BMW iX3 (G08) is an all-electric version of BMW's popular X3 SUV, combining the practicality of a compact luxury SUV with a fully electric powertrain. It is significant as BMW's effort to electrify its lineup while retaining familiar driving dynamics. The iX3 is often noted for its balance of range, performance, and comfort.
electric car
"Which, look, yes, let's get it out of the way. It's an electric car. Yeah. You know. We like electric cars."
An electric car is a car that runs on electricity stored in batteries instead of using gas. This means it doesn't make smoke or pollution when you drive it.
An electric car is a vehicle powered entirely or primarily by electric motors using energy stored in batteries, instead of an internal combustion engine using gasoline or diesel. Electric cars produce zero tailpipe emissions and typically offer instant torque for quick acceleration.
enthusiast-based podcast
"This is an enthusiast-based podcast. Can we say that? I think, you know, we're talking to petrolheads."
An enthusiast-based podcast is a show made for people who really love cars and know a lot about them, especially fast or special cars that use gas.
An enthusiast-based podcast is a show targeted at passionate fans of a particular subject, in this case, car enthusiasts or 'petrolheads' who are typically interested in traditional internal combustion engine vehicles and performance cars.
petrolheads
"I think, you know, we're talking to petrolheads. We assume. Most of the time, yeah."
Petrolheads are people who really love cars that use gasoline. They like the sound and feel of these cars when they drive.
Petrolheads is a slang term for car enthusiasts who have a strong passion for traditional gasoline-powered cars, often valuing performance, sound, and driving experience associated with internal combustion engines.
Ferrari
"And most of the time they just want to hear about Ferraris and Lamborghini."
Ferrari is a famous car company from Italy that makes very fast and expensive sports cars. Many car lovers admire Ferrari cars for their speed and style.
Ferrari is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer known for producing high-performance supercars and racing cars. It is a brand highly regarded among car enthusiasts for its speed, design, and racing heritage.
Lamborghini
"And most of the time they just want to hear about Ferraris and Lamborghini."
Lamborghini is a car company from Italy that makes very fast and flashy sports cars. People who love cars often talk about Lamborghinis because they look cool and go very fast.
Lamborghini is an Italian manufacturer of luxury sports cars and SUVs, known for its aggressive styling, powerful engines, and high performance. It is a brand iconic among car enthusiasts and collectors.
electric vehicle
"The reason why this is theoretically an important EV, one that we've been so excited about for a while, is that it's the first mainstream production actually electric vehicle to claim a range of 500 miles."
An electric vehicle is a car that runs on electricity instead of gas. It uses batteries to store power and doesn't make pollution from the exhaust.
An electric vehicle (EV) is a car powered entirely or primarily by electricity stored in batteries, rather than by gasoline or diesel fuel. EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions and are considered more environmentally friendly.
heads-up display
""In this cabin, we have multiple displays. There's various different heads-up displays going on.""
A heads-up display shows important driving info right in front of you on the windshield, so you don't have to look down at the dashboard.
A heads-up display (HUD) projects important information such as speed, navigation, and alerts onto the windshield or a transparent screen, allowing drivers to see data without looking away from the road.
electric consumption
""...which not only shows us our normal trip data, but a lot of our electric consumption, which I love because we're currently using, although our total consumption is 1.1 kilowatt in the last 10 minutes we've been sitting here.""
Electric consumption means how much battery power your electric car is using while you drive or use things like the heater or lights.
Electric consumption refers to the amount of electrical energy a vehicle uses to operate, including driving and powering accessories. Monitoring this helps drivers understand how efficiently their electric vehicle uses energy and how it affects driving range.
climate
""67% is climate. Well, that just goes to show, because that is true, by the way, because if you're driving down a road and your electric runs low on a normal electric car, you turn the climate up and the range goes up.""
Climate means the car's heating and air conditioning system that keeps the inside warm or cool.
In automotive terms, climate refers to the vehicle's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that controls the interior temperature and airflow to keep passengers comfortable.
ADAS
""Oh, Tony, help me. ADAS off. Let's do that. So. Didn't you just turn it all off?""
ADAS means the car has special technology to help the driver, like automatic braking or lane keeping, to make driving safer and easier.
ADAS stands for Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems, which are electronic systems in vehicles designed to assist the driver in driving and parking functions, improving safety and convenience.
single-pedal driving
"There's a lot of single-pedal driving going on."
Single-pedal driving means you mostly use just one pedal to go and stop the car. When you take your foot off the pedal, the car slows down by itself, so you don't have to press the brake as much.
Single-pedal driving is a feature common in electric vehicles where the driver can accelerate and decelerate using only the accelerator pedal. Releasing the pedal causes the car to slow down significantly, often regenerating energy back to the battery, reducing the need to use the brake pedal frequently.
motorway self-drive
"But coming or will be available from the summer is motorway self-drive, hands-off driving... Which you'll be able to activate in this kind of moment, like cruise control, hands-off... Let's turn that on. Assisted driving."
Motorway self-drive means the car can drive by itself on big roads like highways. It can keep the car in its lane and control speed without the driver needing to touch the steering wheel all the time.
Motorway self-drive refers to advanced driver assistance systems that allow a car to drive itself on highways or motorways, including features like lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, and hands-off driving at certain speeds.
assisted driving
"Let's turn that on. Assisted driving. Do I let go? No. This feels sketch."
Assisted driving means the car helps you drive by doing some parts of the driving, like steering or stopping, but you still need to watch and be ready to take over.
Assisted driving is a technology that helps drivers by controlling some driving tasks like steering, braking, and acceleration, but still requires the driver to be attentive and ready to take control.
electronic door handle
"This is very odd. This is electronic. Very odd. Very odd. Apparently, there's like a little micro switch behind the handle. The handle, handles sit very flush in the door. And obviously, when you unlock it, they come out."
Some cars have door handles that hide inside the door and pop out when you unlock the car, making the car look smooth and cool.
Electronic door handles are door handles that sit flush with the car body and extend outward electronically when the car is unlocked, improving aerodynamics and aesthetics.
Land Range Rovers
"... come out. We've seen that on a lot of cars now, Range Rovers. There's a lot of BMWs that you can have it as w..."
The Range Rover is a big, fancy SUV made by Land Rover. It is designed to be comfortable and can drive on rough roads as well as smooth city streets. People talk about it because it has a lot of useful and fancy features.
The Land Rover Range Rover is a luxury SUV known for combining off-road capability with high-end comfort and advanced technology. It is significant for setting a benchmark in the luxury SUV segment and often features innovative features that later appear in other vehicles. Its mention likely relates to its advanced tech or luxury features that are becoming common in premium cars.
floating display
""So this floating kind of display we've got in front of us, which for some reason, my eyes are struggling to adapt to.""
A floating display is a screen inside the car that looks like it's floating above the dashboard. It shows important information and controls, making it easier to see and use.
A floating display is a screen that appears to hover above the dashboard or center console, often designed to reduce glare and improve visibility. It is a modern interior feature in many new vehicles, enhancing the futuristic look and user interface.
one-pedal deceleration
""Perfectly judged, perfectly smooth, fantastic one-pedal deceleration. Oh, one of the brake lights come on.""
In some electric cars, when you take your foot off the gas, the car slows down by itself without pressing the brake. This is called one-pedal deceleration and helps save energy.
One-pedal deceleration is a driving technique common in electric vehicles where lifting off the accelerator pedal causes the car to slow down significantly using regenerative braking, often eliminating the need to use the brake pedal in many situations.
regenerative braking
""Because it's doing, but it's literally just regenerating and do it on its own. Well, it's doing it totally on its own. It's judging it perfectly with whatever cameras and sensing... But do you think the brakes are actually working or do you just think it's regen? Because if the brakes are, I mean, it's never going to need a set of brake pads or discs.""
When you slow down an electric car, it can save some of the energy it uses and put it back into the battery. This is called regenerative braking and helps the car go farther.
Regenerative braking is a system in electric and hybrid vehicles that recovers energy during deceleration by using the electric motor to slow the car and convert kinetic energy back into stored battery energy, reducing wear on traditional brakes.
SAV
"They didn't even call it an SUV. They call it an SAV. Sports Active Vehicle or something like that."
SAV means Sports Activity Vehicle, which is BMW's way of saying their SUVs are more sporty and fun to drive than regular SUVs.
SAV stands for Sports Activity Vehicle, a term BMW uses to describe their SUVs with a focus on sporty driving dynamics and versatility, differentiating them from traditional SUVs.
BMW X3
""But would you buy an X3 M40i? Um, yeah. Mmm. Over this? No, no. In general.""
The BMW X3 M40i is a sportier version of the BMW X3 SUV. It has a stronger engine and is designed to be more fun to drive while still being a practical car.
The BMW X3 M40i is a performance-oriented variant of the BMW X3 SUV, featuring a more powerful engine and sportier tuning compared to the base models. It combines practicality with enhanced driving dynamics typical of BMW's M Performance lineup.
BMW M3
""I feel like you're coming at it from I just have an M3 touring instead, thank you. Which, obviously, that's not what this car is.""
The BMW M3 Touring is a fast and sporty car that looks like a wagon, which means it has more space for stuff. It's like a sports car and a family car combined.
The BMW M3 Touring is a high-performance station wagon variant of the BMW M3, combining the M3's sporty performance with the practicality of a wagon body style. It offers powerful engines, sharp handling, and increased cargo space.
BMW 120I
"... what more do you need? Because as you said, the 120i, which you've been barking on about for the last..."
The BMW 1 Series is a small car made by BMW that is comfortable and fun to drive. The 120i is a version with a good engine that works well for everyday driving. People like it because it feels sporty but is easy to use.
The BMW 1 Series is a compact luxury hatchback or sedan known for its sporty handling and premium interior in a small package. The 120i variant typically features a turbocharged petrol engine offering a balance of performance and efficiency. It is often discussed for providing a dynamic driving experience at a relatively accessible entry point into the BMW brand.
Silverstone
""...actually going to Silverstone and GT3 RS. No. And that's what I think driving an EV briskly feels like.""
Silverstone is a well-known race track in England where many important car races happen. It's a place where fast cars are tested and raced.
Silverstone is a famous racing circuit in the United Kingdom known for hosting Formula 1 British Grand Prix and other major motorsport events. It is a benchmark track for testing sports cars and race cars.
BMW X3 M40d
"There's a third X3 in my life from an M40i to an M40d to now get one of these."
The BMW X3 M40d is a version of the X3 SUV that uses diesel fuel. Diesel engines give more power at low speeds and can be more fuel efficient.
The BMW X3 M40d is a diesel-powered variant of the X3 SUV, known for its strong torque and fuel efficiency. It offers a different driving experience compared to gasoline or electric versions.
extended range
"Because of the extended range, it would fit into my lifestyle more because I do a lot of unpredictable miles."
Extended range means the car can go a long way before the battery runs out and needs charging again.
Extended range refers to an electric vehicle's ability to travel a longer distance on a single full battery charge compared to typical EVs. This makes it more practical for varied driving needs.
charging
"We haven't tried any charging now, but let's assume that we can gain 50 to 200 miles pretty quickly."
Charging is plugging the car into electricity to fill up its battery so it can drive again.
Charging refers to replenishing an electric vehicle's battery by connecting it to an electric power source. Charging speeds can vary, with fast chargers providing significant range in a short time.
Porsche Taycan
"I'd put this up there on a Taycan level of impressiveness. I would agree."
The Taycan is a fast, electric car made by Porsche. It doesn't use gas and is known for being quick and smooth to drive. People mention it because it shows how electric cars can be exciting.
The Porsche Taycan is a fully electric luxury sports sedan that has been praised for its performance, handling, and advanced electric drivetrain technology. It represents Porsche's commitment to electric mobility while maintaining the brand's sporty character. It is often discussed as a benchmark for electric vehicle performance.
optional equipment
"So basic vehicle. We've got nine grand of optional equipment on here."
Optional equipment means extra things you can add to a car that don't come with the basic version. These extras usually cost more money.
Optional equipment refers to additional features or packages that can be added to a vehicle beyond the base model, often increasing the price. These can include luxury upgrades, technology packages, or performance enhancements.
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