OV9

Fuckin LOL - I don't know if me falling for that says more about me or about BMW

I had a look at the Electric Everything (formerly Fully Charged) vid about it, and if you believe the BMW marketing it is actually quite interesting, in terms of the design, efficiency and sustainability; the car build is something like 13 tons of CO2 (partiallly due to reusing already mined cobalt and the like) ; Polestar, the previous kings of sustainability, list their most efficient (At build) car as 20 tons, so that's pretty impressive.

They also claim very advanced chassis control and ADAS stuff that's easier to live with (IE it can tell when you should be trying to stay in lane, and when it shouldn't get in the way because you're trying to pass a parked car) and other generally interesting progressions to the state of the art.

It'll be interesting to see how that pans out in road tests.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new- ... s-flat-six

New Coxster to have ICE top of the range vehicles using 992.2 engines

Plus Bentley has stated they are developing a new ICE for their 3 models replacements.. it’ll soon be Chinese or Tesla if you want an EV (oh, and Jaguar I guess )

Excellent mock-up there by photoshopping the Taycan's headlights onto the 718 Cayman

Jobbo wrote: Fri Oct 03, 2025 2:46 pm Excellent mock-up there by photoshopping the Taycan's headlights onto the 718 Cayman

Tbf that’s probably what Porsche will do aswell!

Ooh I wonder what kind of engine Bentley will develop ?

It would be great if they did something characterful just because they could. Try and keep the fizz of an exciting engine with noise aswell as power.

Dave!

Local Mini dealer was doing a special deal on older car MOTs so took son’s R50 Cooper in for the test. Went to drop it off the evening before with him ( as we both start work early ) so he could have a lift back and rather unexpectedly, without prompting, he got offered a loan car. Bit surprised as they don’t usually offer.
Anyway, maybe a bit of covert marketing, was expecting him to get an old R56 diesel runaround ……but he was quite excited to see this



255bhp of JCW Electric



The dealer actually insured it for both of us so I did take it for a quick spin to see what it was. Book figure is sub 6 to 60 and certainly felt that quick - similar ‘feel’ to recent Cooper S ( although did notice it felt heavier and bit more front drive ‘fight’ over bumps )



Using all the acceleration prompted a strange little tune through the speakers which was amusing the first couple of times - presume you could pick some other thing to play though. The ‘boost’ paddle was
also an interesting feature although I was thinking why can’t you have it available all the time……



I’m too much of an engine dinosaur but for local motoring it was great

This has given me a thought- How’s it work for returning with regard to charge level? With an ice car you’d be expected to return with similar fuel levels, do they expect the same with the electric

When I had a Volvo EX40 loan I was just told there’s plenty of charge to get you home and back.

Got to be an intentional marketing thing, MOTs only take about 40 minutes!

Rich B wrote: Sat Oct 04, 2025 8:45 pm Got to be an intentional marketing thing, MOTs only take about 40 minutes!

Exactly my thoughts

Was very surprised - never even got a loaner when took the Cooper S in for a service!

They must have a load of them sitting, depreciating, degrading.
I've only seen a handful of the Mini EVs in London and they're not exactly a new car. The old models were like pigeons...

Rentals are 80% charge, obviously not as quick to charge one up so they have very expensive admin charges.. EV Minis aren’t selling, so was definitely a marketing move for a potential buyer

jamcg wrote: Sat Oct 04, 2025 7:07 pm This has given me a thought- How’s it work for returning with regard to charge level? With an ice car you’d be expected to return with similar fuel levels, do they expect the same with the electric

They never mentioned anything
It said it had about 202 miles range when we picked it up - son’s 20 mile round trip and about 20 miles of performance ‘exploration’ had almost halved that on return

jamcg wrote: Sat Oct 04, 2025 7:07 pm This has given me a thought- How’s it work for returning with regard to charge level? With an ice car you’d be expected to return with similar fuel levels, do they expect the same with the electric

I've had a few EV courtesy cars now when mine's been in for its annual service/MOT - the return 'level' is never mentioned, nor the electricity charged for (pardon the pun).

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/electr ... tail/50391
Seeing a picture of an electric motor doesn't exactly get the pulse going does it? Wall Street aren't happy along with their weaker profit guidance - presumably due to the EV stuff coming soon so the stock is taking a tumble too.
Also the stats seem rather sensible for an electric supercar...

Want!

Barry wrote: Tue Oct 14, 2025 7:48 pm Want!

Nerdy goodness! enjoyed that, good find Barry!

There has been some very very clever calibration gone into that.

Not what I expected and very cool.

Dave!

Found Tiff’s review of the Alpine rather disappointing. Why have a screen with a load of instructions on how to drift if it doesn’t have enough power Don’t really see the point of it over a regular R5