A Glimpse Into The Future With BMW

There are generally two types of car people: those that love cars and those that simply drive cars. However, there is one car brand that manages to polarise people to such an extent that they form an entirely new group, namely ones that loathes a specific brand. That brand?

Those who own a BMW love the driving experience. Whether it is the power, the luxury, or the smoothness of the ride, the car seems to fulfill all their automotive desires. People who don’t own a BMW often see it as an overvalued waste of money, a means of compensating for something missing in one’s life, an indicator of some unflattering personal characteristics, and probably the car with the most well-hidden indicator switch. People also get very creative with the meaning of the BMW initials. It is doubtful whether or not there is another car brand in the world that garners this much attention based on its name and customers.

Needless to say, BMW does enjoy a modest appreciation in Namibia. The country’s connection to Germany probably plays a big role in the equation. Then there is also the company’s reputation for making cars that just want to be driven regardless of the terrain. Given this background, it is time to take a closer look at the latest iteration of the iconic BMW 3 series: the G20 (specifically the 320d).

Unsurprisingly, the 320d is the diesel model with a 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine under the hood. It pumps out enough power to be able to go from 0 to 100km/h in a mere 6.8 seconds. Namibian roads will likely never really get to experience its full potential. In fact, the only place that is likely to happen is on the Autobahn. Where else can you legally drive at 240km/h on a daily basis? (This is not a serious question. Driving at such speeds is very dangerous. In fact, Germany is seriously considering placing a speed limit on the Autobahn. Remember, just because the car can go that fast doesn’t mean it should go that fast.)

With an automatic transmission and 60-liter fuel tank, BMW estimates that you can achieve a fuel economy of 5.2l/100km. This ends up being just shy of 1200km per tank. The exterior of the car still sports the unmistakable BMW-look: sleek sides and a prominent grille. The interior, on the other hand, will be a breath of fresh air for BMW aficionados and might even elicit grudging respect from the nay-sayers. Clever design decisions have made the dashboard display all the important information to the driver without requiring them to flip through multiple screens at a time. It is elegant, intuitive, and definitely trend-setting. And then there’s what is effectively a tablet installed as an infotainment system. The seats are very comfortable, with ample legroom for adults both in front and in the back. The boot is still able to load 480 liters worth of luggage. All in all, the interior certainly does do justice to the perception created by the exterior and technical capabilities.

Unfortunately, all of this comes with a hefty price tag. A new model, without any of the optional extras, starts off at a relatively steep N$770 000. Luckily you can get close to new second-hand models ranging between N$500 000 and N$620 000. While it’s still a lot of money, chances are good that this might be the one car you actually do want to live in. But still, given the current economic situation, definitely book a test drive and try before you buy.

At the end of the day, this isn’t a car for everyone.

Published on 14.09.2020 by NamCars.net

Like6

Dislike0

Tweet 2 Send 8 Share 18

Latest NamCars News

Celebrating Ford’s new Fiesta

Back when I was at university, I overheard a classmate loudly share his experience of various cars up to that point in his life. While most of his stories have faded away with the passing of time, one nugget managed to stick around in memory. “Do you know what Ford stands for?” he asked his ...

All Hail The King Of The Namib

Shhh! Do you hear that? That deep, thunder-like growl rolling across the Namib desert? Can you see where it’s coming from? No? Is it coming at you from all sides? Yes? Well, chances are that you are likely in the belly of the beast. Or, rather, stuck behind the wheel of (or at the very least a ...

The Electrifying Future of Cars

Here in Namibia we often hear the winds of change blowing a long time before we see their effects. In 2016 the United Nations started initiatives aimed at developing the local market for Electrical Vehicles (EV), as well as implementing a Vehicle-Grid-Integration (VGI) network. VGI is a means by which ...