A techie’s dream car

BMW X7: LIKE BEING IN THE COCKPIT OF A LUXURY AIRCRAFT

Nothing in this car needs to be manually operated, from the seats to tailgates.

The BMW X7 is the premium offering in the brand’s SUV range, so I was excited to test the latest model which, most notably, features updated headlights and front bumper, that set it apart from the previous model.

I love tech, and the latest X7 was just up my alley because it is loaded with tech.

From the moment you get in, it feels like you are entering the cockpit of a luxury aircraft.

There are buttons and dials everywhere. Nothing in this car needs to be manually operated – everything from the seats, to the window blinds and tailgates worked with the touch of a button.

At first it can be a bit daunting to figure out how all these gadgets are operated, but once you get the hang of it, all you need to do is sit back and let the car do its magic.

The model I tested was the M60i with xDrive, which is powered by a 4.4-litre V8 with a turbocharger which has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds.

I expected this SUV to be thirsty on fuel, considering it is a V8, so I was surprised at how efficient it was compared to many of the other six-cylinder cars I have test driven.

Here are some of my favourite pieces of technology that the X7 features: 1. Double tailgate with seating area

The tailgate of the X7 opens up in two stages: the top and the bottom. Both open at the touch of a button, but what’s nice is that the bottom of the tailgate also acts as a seat.

2. Adaptive air suspension

The adaptive air suspension allows you to raise or lower the vehicle for clearance, but I found this feature works particularly well with seating on the tailgate – if the seat is too high you can just lower it.

3. Collapsible seating

Another feature is the collapsible seating. You can have a seven-seater, five-seater or a two-seater configuration, where you collapse all the rear seats to give you maximum loading space. The coolest part is that all of this is operated by the flip of a button, albeit it a little bit slow.

4. Automatic window blinds

The rear door windows and sunroof feature automatic blinds to block out the sunlight. This can be particularly handy when you want some privacy.

The only downside to this marvellous piece of technology is the price tag, as it cost more than an average person’s home at R2.5 million.