The bold but practical BMW X4

and even assist in driving, parking and lighting up your vehicle. The ease of functionality is intimidating for me; I grew up in a time when power steering was considered an incredible concept.

We blaze towards the award-winning Karkloof Safari Spa and Nature Reserve with its smooth river of gravel that allows us to explore the x-drive system again; the handling still defies belief. Early turn in allows the suspension to steer you thorough the corner at reasonable speeds with no fuss. The steering input is a little too precise; it forces you to adjust turning inputs in small doses, but maybe I should drive slower.

We arrive at the lodge, waltz through the hot towel and icy-cold pink lemonade entrées and walk onto a balcony that evokes an Alan Grantlike response in some dinosaur movie. Except there were no shrieks and chases, just tranquil herbivores meandering along the slopes and malva pudding with homemade ice cream to drool over.”

We up the pace for the return dirt drive. We swap seats and watch as the Natal skyline deteriorates into a misty drizzle that makes us feel like we’re in England. The sugar cane waves at us, as the green stalks catch slivers of sunlight; it feels like we’re being encouraged by ardent fans. The X4’s suspension displays no body roll, no matter how hard we turn in, the updated model having evolved from the first generation X4’s in 2015 or thereabouts.

After the sheer driving pleasure of BMW’S well-planned, well-executed and well-delivered new model, we are subjected to long delays, fumbling excuses, confused parking attendants and a general amount of stupidity from ACSA; a round of applause for Airports Company South Africa, which still manages to stuff up an otherwise perfect day.