You’re driving along a two-way highway at high speed, when the car in front of you suddenly stops. You swerve onto the opposing lane to avoid the collision, but there is a car driving towards you so you immediately swerve back. But at no point did you actually hit the brakes – that’s because you’re driving a Beemer.
The latest line of the BMW models are a breeze to drive, simply because you’re not doing the driving on your lonesome. A variety of advanced mechanisms within the car rectify any human errors such as under steering for example, to readjust the state of the car in context of the surrounding conditions.
The comprehensive term Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) includes a bevy of systems which include – take a deep breath – an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Automatic Stability Control (ASC), Hill Descent Control (HDC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and Tire Pressure Indicator (TPI). That pretty much covers all bases.
Additionally, the four-wheel drive models also boast Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), which in laymen’s terms means that power is redistributed among the four tires according to the required ratio to assist in driving conditions. So if on a desert trek one tire is spinning in the air because of the uneven surface, the DTC will redistribute the car’s power to the remaining tires to keep the car from toppling over.
This concept was branded xDrive, and allows the vehicles to split the power in almost any way it pleases – in a threatening situation, the xDrive will automatically kick in, possibly before the driver reacts.
It used to be that DTC was only available on BMW’s signature 4wd the X5, but now it is also present on its smaller cousin the X3.
A desert trek in Sinai seemed the appropriate locale to test drive the new X3. Off the paved roads of Sharm El-Sheikh a convoy of X3s headed into the desert to see what the new model could do in bumpy conditions. Led by three professional drivers from France, a group of automobile journalists set off to try out the new models.
One thing about Beemers is that they are very responsive, and on the road they are extremely smooth. They work for all drivers; the limited drivers, like yours truly, because the car rectifies your bad driving habits, as well as hardcore drivers, who can unleash the engine power seething under the hood.
The 3.0 liter, six-cylinder X3 was surprisingly stable and responsive on the road considering it’s a 4wd. And off-road it’s a reassuring car to be in. Driving it in the desert is a piece of cake because of the DSC and DTC, it never lets things spiral out of control, no matter the terrain.
Halfway through the trek the professional drivers gave a demonstration of what the X3 is capable of, and crazy is the key word here. The DTC kicks into gear with one wheel in the air and the DSC will help you drive down hills at a 35 degree angle.
The X3 proved it’s on road and off road credentials. The one caveat is aesthetic: The backlights make it look clunky from behind. If the lights were redesigned to look like the X5, it would complement the curviness of the rest of the car.
However, if you’ve got a few more pennies in the piggy bank, then up-scaling to the X5 is certainly worth thinking about. The difference in interior luxury is noticeable and the 4.8, V8 engine means more power. It’s also considerably bigger so parking in Cairo might be a problem, with the X3 a more suitable size for the bustling city. There was enough time on the trip to test drive the new 1-series models, which are the BMW hatchbacks and entry level cars. The previous models on the Egyptian market were only available in manual transmission, but the new models will finally have automatic transmission if you want it.
The 1-series also sports the DSC system, though not the DTC of the 4wd models. Because of this and its size, the car is stable especially around tight corners. Even if you get yourself in a bind the car will automatically brake to a stop.
The 1-series will come in three- or five-door versions, and mounts a 4 cylinder 1.6 liter engine to keep the price down due to customs specifications in Egypt which taxes 1.6 liter engines at a much lower rate.
The final lowdown on Beemers is that no matter the conditions, the Beemer has everything under control.
