This week on Chasing Cars: BMW iX M60 reviewed, M4 CSL revealed and Ford Ranger release date delayed

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With the election now in the rear-view mirror, it was time to jump back into the car world and this week’s theme was definitely ‘the future’.

There is never really a lull in the car launch calendar of 2022 but with everything from the new-generation Honda CR-V midsize SUV to the new-gen Amarok dual-cab ute on the horizon, there is a lot to get excited about.

With the launch of the BMW i4 and Mercedes-Benz EQS sedans making a huge mark, Genesis is determined not to be left behind in the electric vehicle offensive and this week we had our first drive in the ‘Electrified’ Genesis GV70 midsize SUV and G80 luxury sedan.

Our hard-working team has covered all this and so much more so let’s begin our wrap up of this week in car news.

BMW iX M60 reviewed

Editor Tom Baker is in Germany right now and, aside from making the rest of us jealous, he’s been hard at work reviewing the iX M60 large SUV and a few other cars you’ll hear more about later.

The iX M60 will be the first fully-electric BMW to come to Australia wearing an M badge of sorts, but as Tom found out, it has so much more to offer than just outright grunt.

By switching to an electric powertrain, BMW has created a car that is incredibly quiet to drive and, despite a hefty circa-2500kg kerb weight, the suspension does a superb job of coasting along European roads – though a full test on our potholed Sydney roads will be required for a proper evaluation.

However, the question of ‘value’ has to be asked, and at $222,900 before on-road costs, does the iX M60 make sense? Well, that’s something you’ll have to ask yourself.

If you find the iX M60 appealing, however, we’ve written up a dedicated article that dives into the price and specifications, or simply just read or watch our full review.

BMW M4 CSL revealed

It’s fast. It’s utterly bonkers fast, in fact, and it’s coming to Australia. That’s right – BMW has made a CSL variant of the M4 and while we haven’t driven it yet, the numbers really do speak for themselves.

Set to arrive in Australia during the fourth quarter of the year in limited numbers, the M4 CSL is priced from $303,900 before on-road costs.

BMW engineers have somehow removed 100kg of weight from the M4 Competition, with the M4 CSL clocking in at 1625kg. Power has also been increased from 375kW to 405kW, with torque holding steady at 650Nm.

The M4 CSL has also lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7min 15.677sec – making it the fastest M car to ever fly around the ring.

Ford Ranger released date delayed

Ford Australia has confirmed its new-generation Ranger ute will be delayed by a month, with the first deliveries now arriving in July due to several supply-chain setbacks.

The closely-related Everest four-wheel-drive and high-performance Ranger Raptor have also been pushed back and will launch in August. 

Demand for the new Ranger is absolutely fierce so the latest news is sure to upset some Aussies, but if the new ute lives up to its claims, we expect it will be worth the wait.

All the cars and SUVs we reviewed this week:

The arrival of the Ford Escape plug-in hybrid has been long-awaited and now that it’s finally here, should you consider it? Well, the Escape PHEV makes a solid case for itself with its silky-smooth drivetrain and efficiency, but the purchase price does need to be considered.

Journalist John Law got behind the wheel of Genesis’s Electrified GV70 midsize SUV, which is a terrible name, but the overall package is a great effort from the budding luxury car manufacturer.

Mr Law also found himself behind the wheel of the Genesis Electrified G80 luxury sedan, which sees some benefits from its electric underpinnings but there are some changes that lead to compromises in its core mission as limousine transport.

Other car and SUV news we covered this week:

• Toyota Motor Corporation has again been forced to pause the production lines of its RAV4 midsize SUV, Land Cruiser 300 Series, Lexus NX and many more due to chip shortages.

• Why is petrol STILL so bloody expensive despite the $0.22/litre cut to fuel excise? It’s a complicated and evolving issue which we explained in a dedicated article this week.

• Skoda has priced the facelifted Karoq from $42,990 driveaway in Australia, with new equipment such as a digital driver’s display fitted as standard.

• Volkswagen has been fighting to bring more Touareg luxury SUV stock to Australia and recent negotiations have seen it secure more than 1000 cars for the second half of 2022.

• Previous leaks have already exposed the look of the new-generation Honda CR-V midsize SUV and now official teaser images have confirmed they were indeed the real thing. 

• Volkswagen has released uncamouflaged teaser images of its inbound second-generation Amarok dual-cab ute,confirming that its clever IQ Lights will be available. 

• Suzuki Australia says it has been forced to raise the price of its Jimny compact 4WD by $1500 across the entire range due to rising production costs. The entry price now starts at $28,490 before on-road costs – but good luck securing one for under $40,000!  

• Volkswagen is celebrating 20 years of the Golf R and has released a special edition variant to celebrate, with power boosted by 10kW to 245kW. Expect it on our shores by Q3 2022.

• A team of budding Skoda engineers have taken a Kamiq small SUV and transformed it into the ‘Afriq’ rally concept, armed with the Octavia’s AWD drivetrain and some pretty serious modifications all made in the name of speed.