We had asked Mahindra SA to fit a tow bar in case of towing duties and have already borrowed a trailer and carted a load of oat hay with more similar chores to follo Even with 550 km of trailer towing out of the 1 870 km covered, we see an initial and impressive fuel consumption figure of 8,85 L/100 km. The W8 model is packed with numerous features that we will explore over time, and that includes putting the seven seats and the tow bar to good use.

Favorite Features: bags of cabin space

Suggested Improvements: interior door handles that are awkwardly placed

Clearly a BMW M3, less clearly a BMW M3 with the new Competition Pack fitted. But you don’t have to look too closely to spot the design tweaks: the exhaust tips are black, so are the grille, window surround, mirror caps and side gills, and even the badge. I like that last one – it looks stealthy and cool. Plus there are new wheels: 20-inch rims running 265/30 and 285/30 tyres (the standard M3 runs 19s that are 10mm narrower front and rear). I’m not sure about the design, although they’ve got plenty of visual clout.

Favorite Features: I’d have the M3, not because it’s the cheapest, but because it looks the best. No-one else agrees – I think the sales split is well over 80 per cent M4. BMW expects take up of the Competition Pack to be around the 75 per cent mark. I’m not sure why you wouldn’t have it. The Competition Pack takes the slack out of standard car, and the waywardness, too. It’s purer and more focused, usefully sharper and no less refined to live with. I reckon it’s borderline transformative, the car the M3 always should have been.