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Last time I attended (three? years ago), the track cars were the new G20 330i and M340i. This year, (not surprisingly,) it was the year of the EVs: Track cars were the i4 M50's, and although a variety of cars were available for the street courses, the new iX 50's were prominently featured. Due to covid protocols, instructors no longer ride along with the drivers, instead watching from the tents and providing live guidance over radio about turning, braking, and handling. It's a short track and they're very perceptive, so it's not all that different than having them onboard. (Also, per covid: A cleaning technician fogs and wipes down the driver's area between every driver change, and there is no longer any timed trials/team competitions for the laps.)
So, quick impressions...
- The i4(M50) launches very hard; that instant EV torque is lustworthy and easy to tap into anytime. It handles fairly well — much better with the 20" performance tires; The track was still damp from overnight rains, and they provided a lot more grip and control than the 19's. They take a fair bite into the range, but if you're stepping up to the M50, you might as well get the performance wheels/tires...
- ... but you still feel its 5000-pound weight when hustling it in tight turns. Again, the car keeps its composure very well, but you have a sense of the mass.
- B mode (regen braking) works well, especially on a track when you're either accelerating or braking. They asked us to keep it engaged to help preserve the batteries, and although it was odd at first, I quickly got used to it. Perhaps coasting on a normal commute would be weirder.
- It's also eerily quiet (save for the silly Hans Zimmer soundtrack). If you want a comfortable commute, this is a good thing! If you'll be nostalgic about timeless motoring, this might not be as good for you.
- I played a little with iDrive 8, both on the i4 and the iX. The screen is gorgeous, the graphics are crisp, and it responds well to user input. However, the digital dash seems to put form over function (though the HUD was a nice and useful complement), and I'm still not convinced that a digital menu system for things like climate control is better than physical buttons, especially when you need to scroll horizontally to see all the options. That's just bad UX design, and I hope they fix it (and/or retain more physical buttons for the non-i cars).
- I then test drove the X3MC — the only M car available — on the short road course nearby, and it felt like I had jumped into an old-fashioned muscle car. The weight penalty felt similar to the i4 — though the X3 was also taller — but the rumbling engine and transmission shifting were like a warm embrace from an old friend.
- Next up was the iX 50. The EV and iDrive interface experience was pretty similar to the i4, but the ultra-modern interior felt very different. The quality was high and worked well, but it was so far removed from traditional BMW interfaces, including garish seat and iDrive controllers rendered in crystal, that it left a weird taste in my mouth. Still, the car drove and handled very well; If I were in the market for one, I wouldn't even think about the M60; there was more than enough thrust with the 50. (Aside: I'm not certain whether that car had the B&W system, but I felt a subwoofer in the back of my seat that I first thought was a massage function.)
- Bonus: Attendees received a 20% coupon for Performance Center driving schools/events, which I'll be taking advantage of to coincide with my M3 delivery later this summer.
