It has been a week of stark contrasts for BMW. On one hand, the Bavarian marque provided one of the most memorable moments of the Goodwood Festival of Speed as nine-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi spun a BMW V12 LMR race car through a flawless 360-degree pirouette. On the other, a new Chinese competitor – the Zeekr 7GT – has outperformed BMW’s acclaimed iX3 in the latest Euro NCAP safety tests, raising questions about the brand’s competitive standing in one of its most important model segments. Add to that a mixed global sales picture and lingering uncertainty over the 3 Series Touring’s future in the US, and BMW fans have plenty to digest.
Valentino Rossi’s Flawless 360 at Goodwood
Rossi, wearing the Monster Energy livery, was piloting the iconic BMW V12 LMR – the Le Mans-winning prototype from 1999 – when a dirty section of the track caught the car out. The result was a high-speed spin. But instead of a crash, Rossi executed what can only be described as a perfect 360-degree rotation, kept the engine alive, and continued on his way without a scratch. According to a report from BMW Blog, the incident was a spectacular display of car control from the motorcycle legend, who has become a fixture in the BMW racing family in recent years. For enthusiasts, it was a reminder of both the visceral power of the V12 LMR’s naturally aspirated engine and the razor-edge grip of a car designed for the Circuit de la Sarthe. The moment also highlighted Goodwood’s unique charm: when else do you see a world champion spinning a historic prototype and turning it into a crowd-pleasing stunt?
Zeekr 7GT Outguns BMW iX3 in Euro NCAP
Moving from track spectacle to the safety lab, a more sobering story emerges. The Zeekr 7GT, an electric fastback from the Geely-owned brand, has scored a five-star rating in its first-ever set of Euro NCAP tests. More notably, according to the test results, the 7GT outperformed the new, multi-award-winning BMW iX3 across all four assessment categories – adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection, and safety assist. The BMW iX3, which has been widely praised for its balance and efficiency, now finds itself trailing a direct competitor on the safety front. For shoppers comparing premium electric SUVs, this is a significant data point. It suggests that while BMW continues to lead in driving dynamics, other manufacturers are raising the bar in passive and active safety technology. The iX3 remains a fine vehicle, but Euro NCAP’s verdict indicates that Zeekr – a relative newcomer – has prioritized structural integrity and crash avoidance to an even higher degree.
BMW’s Sales Picture: Mixed Signals
On the business side, BMW Group released mixed sales results for the first half of the year. According to the company, the weakness is primarily concentrated in China and the Asia Pacific region, where economic headwinds and intense competition are taking a toll. BMW has high hopes for the Neue Klasse platform, which is expected to reverse the downturn and reinvigorate the brand’s EV lineup. In the United States, the picture is slightly different: overall sales rose 13%, yet combined EV and PHEV deliveries fell 18.1%. Plug-in hybrid sales actually grew 22.9%, which means the decline in pure battery electric vehicles was considerably steeper. The new iX3, which is based on the Neue Klasse architecture, could be the model that reverses that slide. For American enthusiasts, the data suggests that while BMW’s core internal-combustion and plug-in hybrid lineup still appeals, the pure-EV transition is more of a challenge than the brand anticipated.
Is the New BMW 3 Series Touring Coming to the US?
Rounding out the week’s news is a tantalizing hint for wagon lovers. BMW has already confirmed a fully electric i3 Touring, while also signaling that another generation of the 3 Series wagon with combustion engines is under consideration. Codenamed G51, the gas-fueled version is believed to be in the pipeline, but BMW has not committed to a US launch. The situation remains complicated – the American market has historically favored SUVs over wagons, and the previous 3 Series Touring was not sold here. However, with the growing popularity of premium wagons among enthusiasts and the success of the Audi A4 Allroad and Volvo V60, there is a glimmer of hope. For now, BMW is playing its cards close to the chest, but the mere existence of the G51 codename suggests that the company is at least considering a return to the US wagon segment.
Looking ahead, BMW fans have much to anticipate: the spectacle of Rossi’s Goodwood spin will live on in highlight reels, the safety challenge from Zeekr will push BMW engineers to refine the next iX3, and the possible arrival of the 3 Series Touring – whether electric or gas – could finally give American enthusiasts the long-roof BMW they’ve been craving. Stay tuned.