Major car brand discontinues ‘funky' motor after 10 years with ‘no plans to replace it'
A MAJOR motor brand has announced it will axe a popular "funky" luxury SUV from its lineup with no plans to replace it.
The unique motor is expected to be
2
The BMW X4 is a compact luxury crossover, and has four doors, though sometimes referred to as a coupe
2
The larger and more refined second-generation X2 was a big part of the discontinuation of the X4
BMW is scrapping its popular
First revealed in 2014, the SUV quickly became popular with motorheads who love to drive adventure vehicles with a bit of luxury.
However, over the decade, the car failed to maintain its position as the leading Coupe SUV, with passionate motorists eventually falling out of love with the vehicle.
Due to a lack of popularity, the German brand is expected to stop the production of X4 after the 2024 model year.
Read More Motors News
BMW
the X4 after the 2025 model year.
Company officials additionally confirmed the Mercedes GLC Coupe rival won't live to see another generation.
But its not all bad news, as BMW still has the new X2 crossover coupe as an alternative.
The price gap between the X4 and X2 has also been substantially narrowed.
Most read in Motors
And those who are after a larger, or more stylish SUV can look into getting their hands on the big X6.
BMW M135 is a power-packed hot-hatch that's precise, solid & slick… everything about is 'sheer driving pleasure'
The
It is not yet known exactly when BMW will end production of the X4.
This year has already seen 30 cars on the chopping block, with already 20 more set for next year.
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The Irish Sun
10 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Map reveals UK's 10 most stressful junctions including a high-accident intersection & infamous ‘Magic Roundabout'
The UK's most stressful junctions have been ranked and rated - each infamous for causing numerous problems for motorists. 3 London's Hanger Lane Gyratory tops the list as the UK's most stressful junction, with its complex layout and high accident rate Credit: Alamy 3 Swindon's Magic Roundabout is a multi-mini roundabout system that confuses many but surprisingly boasts a strong safety record Credit: Getty 3 Drivers can navigate the Magic Roundabout's central island in an anticlockwise direction, adding to its unique complexity Credit: Alamy These responses were then used to build a unique 'Stress Score' out of 100 - helping reveal the road layouts that most vehicle owners would rather avoid. London's mind-boggling Hanger Lane Gyratory came on top as the most stressful to navigate. The gyratory - which is essentially a large, circular intersection - is located in the north of the Ealing borough in West London and serves as a major junction where the A40 (Western Avenue) and the A406 (North Circular Road) intersect, with the A40 passing underneath in a tunnel. It also connects to Ealing Road towards Wembley. Read more Motors News Outrageously complex, the confusing layout boasts a high accident rate and often causes a bottleneck for traffic At peak times, it's known to take on some 10,000 vehicles per hour - making it not only very busy but also quite intimidating. The infamous Magic Roundabout in Swindon followed closely behind in second place. A multi-mini roundabout system, the roundabout - which gets its name from the popular British children's television show, "The Magic Roundabout" - is made up of five mini roundabouts arranged in a circle around a central island. Most read in Motors Though the mini roundabouts are all driven in a standard clockwise movement, it is possible to navigate the central island in an anticlockwise direction. But despite being wildly confusing, the Magic Roundabout boasts a surprisingly good safety record - with only 14 serious accidents and approximately 100 minor incidents over the last 25 years. Chilling moment thieves steal car with wireless device in seconds as new doc reveals how Brit motors end up in Lithuania UK's top 10 most stressful junctions Hanger Lane Gyratory - London (Stress Score: 44/100) Magic Roundabout - Swindon (Stress Score: 42/100) Cromer Road & Boundary Road Junction - Norwich (Stress Score: 40/100) The Crooked Billet Interchange - Waltham Forest (Stress Score: 38/100) Ynysforgan Roundabout - Swansea (Stress Score: 38/100) Black Cat Roundabout - Bedfordshire (Stress Score: 38/100) Larne Road Roundabout - Ballymena (Stress Score: 36/100) Shalesmoor & Netherthorpe Road Roundabout - Sheffield (Stress Score: 36/100) Springwell Road & Queen Alexandra Road Junction - Sunderland (Stress Score: 35/100) Sheriffhall Roundabout - Edinburgh (Stress Score: 35/100) TRAVELLING PAINS Scrap Car Comparison not only ranked the most stressful junctions in the UK but also created a global leaderboard, ranking some of the world's most anxiety-inducing intersections. For globe-trotting drivers, it might be best to avoid the Meskel Square Roundabout in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which picked up a Stress Score of 56 out of100. Meskel Square lacks basic road markings and formal traffic control, relying instead on driver intuition… and honking. Despite appearances, it's functional for locals but is known for being deeply unnerving for outsiders. The Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange in Los Angeles, a towering 8-level highway structure, came in close behind in second place with a score of 51/100. This score was matched by Paris' Arc de Triomphe roundabout, known for its 12 converging avenues and reversed right-of-way rules. Indeed, Europe features heavily in the rankings - with five of the top ten most stressful junctions located across the continent - with Paris, Rome, Madrid and London all making the list. Matt Clamp, Customer Service Manager at Scrap Car Comparison, said: 'Driving through unfamiliar junctions can rattle even the most experienced motorists. 'Junctions often combine high traffic volumes, poor signage and confusing layouts, making preparation essential. 'Our advice? Start by planning ahead, tools such as Street View or route planners can help you visualise the road before you set off. 'Once you're behind the wheel, try to get into the correct lane early by watching for signs and markings. 'If you start to feel overwhelmed, take a breath and don't let other road users rush you - it's perfectly okay to go at your own pace. 'Always signal clearly and confidently to show your intentions, especially if you need to change lanes. 'And if you're really nervous, consider driving at quieter times of day when the roads are less busy. 'A little preparation can go a long way in turning a potentially stressful drive into a safe and confident journey.' World's top 10 most stressful junctions Meskel Square Roundabout - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Score: 56) Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange - Los Angeles, USA (Score: 51) Arc de Triomphe Roundabout - Paris, France (Score: 51) Newark Airport Interchange - Newark, USA (Score: 48) Place de la Bastille Roundabout - Paris, France (Score: 48) Shibuya Crossing Intersection - Tokyo, Japan (Score: 47) Piazza Venezia Roundabout - Rome, Italy (Score: 45) Plaza de Cibeles Roundabout - Madrid, Spain (Score: 45) I-5/I-8 Interchange - San Diego, USA (Score: 45) Hanger Lane Gyratory - London, England, UK (Score: 44)
Irish Daily Mirror
14 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Michael Schumacher's close friend gives heartbreaking update on F1 legend
Michael Schumacher's former boss and close mate Flavio Briatore has given an emotional insight into the Formula 1 icon's current state. The racing legend suffered a catastrophic brain injury following a skiing accident in December 2013, with his wife Corinna keeping details of his treatment incredibly private. The number of visitors Schumacher has had is extremely limited, yet it's known that he still requires round-the-clock care over 11 years post-accident. Briatore, who was instrumental in Schumacher's move to Benetton where he clinched two world championships, is one of the rare few who have seen the German since the tragedy. Speaking to Italian daily Corriere della Serra about Schumacher's present condition, Briatore reminisced: "If I close my eyes, I see him smiling after a victory. I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed. Corinna and I talk often, though." Schumacher was in a medically induced coma for 250 days post-accident before being permitted to go home for further care. While updates are sparse, Corinna did offer some insights in the 2021 Netflix documentary 'Schumacher'. She expressed her longing in the documentary, saying: "I miss Michael every day," and added, "But it is not just me who misses him. It's the children, the family, his father, everyone around him. I mean, everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here. Different, but he's here, and that gives us strength.", reports the Mirror. "We're together. We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he's comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond. "'Private is private', as he always said. It's very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible. Michael always protected us and now we are protecting Michael." Jean Todt, who was Ferrari's team principal when Schumacher clinched five consecutive world titles, has also visited the F1 legend post-accident. "Michael is here, so I don't miss him," Todt shared with L'Equipe in 2023. "[But he] is simply not the Michael he used to be. He is different and is wonderfully guided by his wife and children who protect him. His life is different now and I have the privilege of sharing moments with him. "That's all there is to say. Unfortunately, fate struck him 10 years ago. He is no longer the Michael we knew in Formula 1."
Irish Examiner
15 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Renault 5 EV review: retro looks meet modern tech in electric supermini reboot
it might not go terribly far, but it does so brilliantly JUST like the movies, it would seem, the motor industry appears incapable of allowing past great moments to simply revel in their greatness. Seeing as how Hollywood — or wherever is the epicentre of the movie world these days — has seemingly re-made every single great movie from the past, apart maybe from Gone With The Wind, to try and turn it into profitable dollars for a second time, car makers sometimes feel equally in thrall to their own greatest hits. Consistently, they go back to the font of greatness which spawned wonderful originals to either attempt to revive currently dire circumstances, or simply to trick the public into believing they have not lost the magic which made those cars great in the first place. We are not talking here about such as, say, the Toyota Corolla, which has rolled from generation to generation without a pause in profitability or popularity. No, we are talking about cars which were once generational icons and which have been revived spectacularly. The most obvious example has been BMW's Mini; the Germans took over Austin Rover (or whatever it was called when it was sold off for a few quid and a McDonald's voucher), with the sole intention of reviving the Mini brand. That must have been the case because they, in turn, sold everything else off — MG, Rover, Land Rover, etc, apart from the Mini brand. Their success in revitalising it has been inspirational. So too the Fiat 500, the modern version of which possibly single-handedly saved the Italian company's bacon and spawned a whole family of cars with everything in there from a speedy Abarth version to the dull-as-ditchwater MPV. Lately, though, we have seen a raft of former greats being dug up from the grave, dusted down, and given a second life. Most recently, Renault has been close to the top of this pile, with old hit makers being given a chance to top the charts again. The Renault 4 — the new one — will be with us soon, but while we are waiting for that, we can ogle at the new Renault 5. Already a European Car of the Year (COTY) winner last year, the original R5, of course, vanished into the mist when it was replaced by the Clio in 1990. Now, while the Clio itself was a hugely successful car (one of only two cars to have won the European COTY prize twice), there was always a place for the car it took over from in the hearts of motoring savants everywhere. That being so, Renault decided to build a new one, and that's what we're testing this week. Like so many reenvisioned motors these days, the R5 has been reawakened solely as an EV, so it's not quite the car it once was, but that's OK too, because we have moved along somewhat in the intervening years. The end result, however, is spectacular. Renault 5 futuristic interior Those of you who remember the old 5 will see the new one and, more than likely, think: 'Wow, they sure got this one right.' While the designers have woven in plenty of modernity in the new car, there is just enough retro character imbued in it for people of a certain age to get misty-eyed. And I would be one of them. Not long after coming to Cork to work for this august organ, I owned one — GIO 84, was the registration number, and that identified it as originally having been registered in Kildare under Ireland's pre-1987 registration system. Dark blue, it was and very pretty, although by today's standards of technology, it was most certainly prehistoric. There was no central locking, no power steering, no radio, no auto gearbox, no ABS — none of that malarkey. But it was a tiger and made it through many experiences which, undoubtedly, the designers had never intended it for. Roomy, practical, and possibly quicker than many other contemporary superminis, the R5 amounted to more than the sum of its parts and, interestingly, that is a conclusion I also arrived at when assessing the new one recently. In its 'pop yellow' overcoat, it certainly caught the eye, and the bi-colour roof further stood it out from the crowd. That the body is roughly the same shape as the original and yet still looks of this moment is a tribute to the detailed work of the designers who truly have forged something new from old building blocks. Certainly, it is not perfect as there are a couple of things that should annoy most sensible people, but it sure comes close. The new R5 is new from the ground up and is the first car based on the AmpR Small platform, which will underpin a bunch of new Renault models, including the R4. That fact means the car has been built to do loads of things, including supporting vehicle-to-grid technology, so you can power your home from it. Cool, or what? New too is the whole interior, and it is largely made from recycled materials, including the vivid yellow and grey upholstery. So French is it that you can even specify a baguette holder, but quirks like that aside, it really is very modern and stacked with tech, to the point you're left wondering how the original managed to function at all. The new Renault 5 EV The infotainment system is excellent — much is shared with the new Megane and Scenic — but one downside is the stalk arrangement on the steering column for the lights, indicators, wipers, and sound system control, which is fussy and takes a while to get used to. This is not a big car, and that's reflected in the amount of room afforded to the rear seat passengers, and the boot is tidy rather than generous. Performance-wise, there is an element of Jekyll and Hyde going on. The test car's battery — 52 kWh — is the bigger of the two offered and produces some 148bhp, as well as a top speed of 150km/h and a 0-100km/h time of eight seconds dead. By way of reference, that's only a smidgen behind the capability of the R5 GT Turbo of the 1990s, which was regarded as very hot back in the day. It is thus quite quick, but has the handling nous to cope, and at no point did you get the feeling that the chassis was overwhelmed. That was in stark contrast with the original, it has to be said. The ride, too, is accomplished and very forgiving in Irish conditions. If, however, you were expecting deal-breaking range performance from this, most modern of hatchbacks, forget it. The claimed range is 410km, but I found that wildly optimistic. I know I have a heavy right foot at the best of times, but the 320km maximum I extracted from the car suggested to me that — in reality — this is a town car that'll only get a little way beyond your urban boundaries. Moderate journeys are possible, but getting to Aunty Maisie's funeral in Ballybofey will be challenging. Despite the downsides, this is still a fantastic piece of kit, and while some might blanche at such things as the colour schemes, their antipathy should be ignored. I found pretty much everything about the new R5 to be delightful, and that's why it gets a five-star rating. Read More Volvo XC90 review: hybrid SUV blends luxury with practicality but shows its age on the road
