Cool Screens, Hollow Feel

In this issue of autoevolution weekly:

• Editorial: How the tech boom gutted interior quali …

• Driven: 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive

• The best electric car lease deals in June, and other EV stories

• Spy photos & videos of the week

• Car gadgets & apps round-up

• Games that caught our eye

• The Finish Line (+bonus video)

Editorial: How the tech boom gutted interior quality

By: Sergiu Tudose (editor-in-chief)

Step inside any random brand-new car in 2025, and you’ll notice the massive size of its touchscreen display, clever software, versatile ambient lighting technology, and tons of recycled materials throughout the cabin. But then take a moment to feel the door panel and tap the center console – something's missing.

Car interiors have always been a key battleground for automakers, from the materials used to how the switches and buttons feel. Every single tactile element plays a role in how we perceive quality and luxury. But roughly five or so years ago, something changed.

As the whole industry raced to develop and build electric drivetrains, shiny infotainment systems, and self-driving tech, the focus shifted away from craftsmanship and durability. Instead, we got larger screens, flashy interfaces, and loads of new gadgets most of us don’t even need. The physical experience of sitting in a new car, especially a premium model, had taken a noticeable hit.

I’ve been an automotive journalist for roughly 20 years, and I can honestly say that perceived quality for car interiors peaked sometime in the mid-to-late 2010s. Whether it was the tactile precision of a G30 BMW 5 Series or the sharp build quality of an Audi A4, you always felt as though you were driving something extremely expensive and well put together.

The switchgear felt substantial, the materials were solid, and the overall feel was rich. The balance was just right. It wasn’t all about tech alone. Then the pandemic came and that’s when things took a turn. From supply chain disruptions to chip shortages, coupled with the industry’s embrace of electric vehicles, car interior quality was put on the back burner.

Financially motivated, car manufacturers went on to shift cost-cutting to interiors, hoping we wouldn’t notice. Besides, every new car interior looks awesome in press images, but then you end up feeling your way around the cabin and you will notice the cheaper plastics on the door panels, surrounding the center console, and so on.

Another reason why this happened was because of weight. With EVs, weight is critical for range, so cheaper and lighter plastics are "better" if you’re hoping to keep curb weight down, even at the expense of perceived quality. So, when it comes to soft-touch plastics, real aluminum, or dampened switches, these are no longer the selling points they once were.

When carmakers cut corners on materials and build quality, they risk impacting the very essence of what makes their cars “premium”. Again, not everyone will notice the switch from solid plastics to cheaper alternatives, but once you do, the magic is gone. And once it’s gone, it’s hard to get back.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, though. With battery technology advancing at a fast rate, perhaps there won’t be a need to cut so many costs in the future. A lighter and more compact battery pack means you can once again drop some nice, thick plastics inside of your latest premium offering, instead of some lightweight scratchy alternatives.

Driven: 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive

By: Sergiu Tudose

In the absence of a genuine M Division variant for this latest-generation X3 SUV, the M50 xDrive specification currently sits atop the range. After driving it for several days, I can wholeheartedly say that it could make for an amazing purchase.

Note: this is an abridged version, check out the full article and photo gallery on our site.

The design language used on the all-new X3 is the same one you get on the current 5 Series or the XM flagship SUV. It’s a one-off, and you’ll never see it again, because BMW will be flipping the script for future SUVs which will follow in the footsteps of the Vision Neue Klasse X concept in terms of styling.

One-off designs are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they represent something the carmaker wasn’t entirely satisfied with, or willing to develop further into the future – see Boyke Boyer and Chris Bangle’s E60 5 Series. On the other hand, they tend to age surprisingly well, because they’ll always stand out in a crowd. The E60 basically comes with its own cult following, and the same might end up happening with the G60.

As for this new G45 X3, I don’t think it’ll get its own cult following, and although I don’t love the design, I think it’s fine, and it should age reasonably well.

In terms of size, the new X3 is slightly longer and wider than its predecessor, but the wheelbase remains similar, so it doesn’t feel more spacious. In fact, it feels kind of the same, which is a good thing.

Our test car comes with a Dune Gray Metallic exterior, 20” Jet Black wheels, both the M Sport and M Sport Pro packages, adaptive LED headlights, and the BMW Iconic Glow package (makes the grille light up). I’m a big fan of desert-inspired colorways, so anything with the name “Dune” in it is going to tickle me. I just think it looks great, both under direct sunlight and under artificial lighting conditions.

Even if you can’t swing for the M50 xDrive and you’re left with just the 30 xDrive variant, make sure to get the M Sport package and wheels measuring at least 20-inches in diameter. The entry-level 19-inch ones can look a bit too small.

Step inside the all-new X3 and you should be happy with what you get. It’s what you’d expect from a modern-day BMW, which isn’t to say it’s all positive, but you won’t be lacking in high-tech and active safety gizmos.

In terms of trunk space, you’re looking at 20.1 cu.ft (570 liters) with the backseat in place, and 60.0 cu.ft (1,700 liters) with it folded. It’s ever-so-slightly more than you got in the previous generation X3, which featured 19.4 cu.ft (550 liters) of trunk space and a maximum of 56.5 cu.ft (1,600 liters) with everything folded flat.

On the road, this speedy compact SUV is about as good as you’d expect. It’s easy to drive in-town and very competent in every other setting. It feels docile when maneuvering at low speed, and never scary or rambunctious when flooring the throttle.

I don’t think I could have been any happier with the dynamics – I'm certainly not a fan of these types of SUVs feeling too stiff or overly sharp to drive, which can happen. I’m also not a big fan of overspending, so trust me when I say that pound for pound, this might just be one of the best drivetrains ever assembled by a German carmaker.

We’re dealing with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, working alongside a 48-volt mild-hybrid system consisting of a 13 kW (18 hp) electric motor and a 0.96 kWh battery. Total system output is 393 horsepower (398 ps) and 428 lb-ft (580 Nm) of torque.

With the help of its 8-speed automatic transmission and xDrive all-wheel drive system, this flagship-spec X3 crossover can rocket to 60 mph (97 kph) in just 4.4 seconds, which technically means it’s nearly as quick as the old X3 M.

Then there’s fuel efficiency. The X3 M50 xDrive is about as efficient as the entry-level X3 30 xDrive. We’re talking 30 mpg (7.8 l/100 km) versus 33 mpg (7.13 l/100 km). During my time with it, I never got anywhere close to those figures, but that’s because I wasn’t trying to be frugal in any way, shape or form. In any case, people who buy flagship spec premium models tend not to stress too much about the fuel economy. Don’t think I’m breaking any news here.

As for pricing, if you live in the United States, you can buy this SUV from just $64,700, and yes, that is amazing value for money.

The 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive is a terrific all-rounder. It drives extremely well, it’s practical, very quick, and it’s competitively priced. If you want an X3 and you like having a bit of pep in your step, this is 100% the way to go.

The best, non-affiliate, electric car lease deals in June and other EV stories

By: Cristian Agatie

Among the economic measures included in Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), canceling the incentives in Biden's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) occupies the top spot. This already means more expensive EVs next year, but that's not all. Trump wants to scrap battery and energy infrastructure incentives.

On top of all this, there are 25% tariffs on all imported cars except those that comply with the USMCA. In this case, carmakers can certify the US-made content and pay tariffs only on the parts that aren't made in the US. Currently, prices are still affordable because dealerships have non-tariff cars in inventories, but that will change quickly.

That's why the window of opportunity for buying or leasing a cheap EV closes fast. It's not only because stocks are selling out but also because removing the EV tax credit will lead to a gold rush for buyers who want to benefit from the $7,500 point-of-sale credit before it's taken off the table. Considering all this, June might be your last chance to get an EV at rock-bottom lease rates.

To help you decide, I've gathered the best EV lease deals available this month (note: these are not affiliate deals). They all have monthly payments below the $300 mark, some even below $150. However, your mileage may vary, depending on your local dealership policies.

If you think the OBBB has no chance of becoming law, think again. Especially in light of the Musk-Trump feud that erupted on Thursday, you can bet Trump will make everything possible to have the bill passed through Congress just to stick it to Elon. The spat has already caused Tesla shares to plummet, but the consequences could be more consequential, as our analysis shows.

Tesla is especially vulnerable, but all of Elon Musk's companies depend on government contracts. Musk hasn't been honest about Tesla's plans, especially regarding the affordable EV project canceled in March 2024. This might not go down well with regulators, specifically the Security and Exchange Commission.

Spy photos & videos of the week

By: Mircea Panait

The first week of June 2025 was a little busy for the carparazzi, who snapped a great deal of prototypes. BMW, for example, has been spied testing its first-ever M3 without an internal combustion engine. To be produced concomitantly with the G80's replacement, the Neue Klasse sedan may be joined by an electric wagon.

While on the subject of upcoming electric vehicles, the Genesis brand prepares to unleash the first Magma performance model in the form of the GV60 Magma. Pretty much a fancier take on the Ioniq 5 N and technically similar EV6 GT, said crossover should pack 641 ponies at the very least from a dual-motor setup.

The spy photographers further managed to get up close to the punchiest iX5 of them all, which is believed to be called M70. Whether it features the very same 650-horse powertrain as the i7 M70 full-size luxury sedan, we aren't exactly sure. On the other hand, we know for certain that BMW plans to debut sixth-generation electric drive motors and batteries with the second-gen iX3, motors and batteries that should carry over to CLAR-based vehicles such as the forthcoming iX5.

Remember when Porsche claimed that all-electric vehicles would account for more than 80 percent of the automaker's global sales in 2030? Said overly ambitious plan has been shot down repeatedly in the past couple of years, and Porsche hesitantly did a mea culpa in this regard with the Cayenne mid-size luxury SUV. To be refreshed for the 2027 model year, the internal combustion Cayenne was recently spotted testing in the Alps in what appears to be the GTS specification.

As for the most exciting prototype spied in the past week, that would be Ford's 2026 Mustang Shelby GT500. Equipped with more production-intent panels than ever before, the S650 is rumored to hide an evolution of the forerunner's 5.2-liter Predator supercharged V8 under the hood. As long as it gets close to the 2025 Ford Mustang GTD's 815-horse rating, the new Mustang Shelby GT500 should be a pretty tantalizing upgrade over the 2020 to 2022 models.

Car gadgets & apps round-up

By: Bogdan Popa

The top tech highlight this week is a Google Maps error that caused chaos in Germany. The application suddenly flagged all highways closed, sending drivers on secondary (and slower) roads, leading to massive traffic jams. Google hasn't yet come up with an explanation, but many people plan to switch to a Google Maps alternative to avoid a similar blunder. Waze wasn't affected by the bug and displayed all highways as open. 

If you need another reason to choose Waze, we have an in-depth look at why the application is better than Google Maps. Compared to Google Maps, Waze offers more traffic data, making the road more predictable. However, it's important to remember that using Waze does not eliminate your common sense behind the wheel. A woman thought otherwise and followed the application, ending up in a river. 

On another continent altogether, Hyundai has started to sell its own Android Auto and CarPlay Wireless Adapter. It seems at least some Hyundai models get the part bundled for free but, lacking an official announcement, we’re not sure which. If you’re interested you shuld know the adapter uses the large USB Type-A port, so it won’t be a great fit for cars that only have USB Type-C.

Meanwhile, Apple finally looks more committed to rolling out a major CarPlay overhaul, with recent reports suggesting iOS 26 (due in the fall) will include a major transformation of the experience behind the wheel. No specifics are available, but with WWDC just around the corner, we should get more information in a few days. 

Lastly, these are the features that CarPlay should get in this highly anticipated iPhone update, though as we all know by now, Apple's FBI-inspired secrecy means we must wait for an official announcement before putting on our party hats.

Games that caught our eye

Formula Legends, the upcoming F1-inspired racing game with a “through the decades” history twist, got a new trailer during this year’s summer edition of the Future Games Show.

Despite the arcade vibe, the game comes with a fair bit of content and customization options and will require you to go into the strategy bits of racing too (car tuning, weather management, pit stops and the like).

It will be available later on Steam, Epic Store, GOG, Playstation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. There’s a demo on Steam right now, so why not give it a shot? We think it looks great and we might end up liking it more than the “real” F1 videogame of 2025 (here’s our review).

Still here? Congratulations for reaching the finish line!

🏁 🏁 🏁 🏁 🏁

Thank you for reading! Feel free to reply with suggestions. Replies to these emails are monitored.

Here’s a bonus video from our Youtube channel showing our own Dragos Chitulescu’s impressions driving the Porsche 911 Carrera T through the hills of San Diego.