Jeff Wilson is loving his BMW X5 25d. Pictures / Ted Baghurst
Jeff Wilson is loving his BMW X5 25d. Pictures / Ted Baghurst
Double All Black signs up to help promote carmaker as it sponsors major sports events
It's timely that BMW New Zealand has announced its new brand ambassador - Sky Sports presenter and former double international Jeff Wilson.
"Goldie" - one of only seven men to represent New Zealand at both rugby and cricket - will be busy in the next few weeks in his new role with BMW because it is the major sponsor of several high-profile sporting events.
After appearing at the BMW New Zealand Polo Open last weekend, Wilson has more ambassadorial duties this weekend as the company has partnered with Auckland Racing Club for today's Derby Day and next Saturday's Diamond Day.
The keen golfer heads to Queenstown for the BMW NZ Golf Open from March 12-15.
BMW NZ CEO Nina Englert (L) poses for a photo with new BMW New Zealand brand ambassador All Black legend and former Black Cap cricketer, now Sky Sport Commentator Jeff Wilson and the BMW i8.
Wilson not only has the sporting pedigree but he has the racing knowledge and is a keen follower of harness racing. When Wilson and his wife, former Silver Fern Adine Wilson, owned a Canterbury dairy farm, he worked towards a licence to be a trotting and pacing trainer.
The couple moved to Auckland six years ago when Wilson became involved in coaching rugby and joined Sky Sport full-time as a presenter and commentator two years ago. BMW NZ approached him late last year after he fronted a sports television production company in Australia that looked at golf courses whilehe drove a BMW X4 and X4 SUVs.
The Wilsons were also BMW owners, buying a recently launched 2 Series Active Tourer.
As 2015 is a double World Cup year, the carmaker was looking for an ambassador who had a connection with sports and Wilson was keen to be aligned with the company.
"It's absolutely fantastic to have a world-recognised and esteemed sportsperson such as Jeff as part of our family and we look forward to involving him in events such as the BMW NZ Golf Open in March, our Ultimate Drive Days as well as Alpine xDrive Experience," said BMW NZ's managing director, Nina Englert.
Jeff Wilson with his BMW X5 at Ellerslie Race Course.
"You are talking about a premium brand - and that was really important to me, you are talking about a company committed to excellence," Wilson said.
"Whatever I've been involved in it's been about being the best you can be and finding ways to innovate and improve, whether coaching or playing."
Not only will Wilson attend sports events in his role, he'll speak to customers at dealerships around New Zealand.
"I'd like to think I can give some people insight into what it's like inside professional sports and what athletes are going through, plus aspects of TV with my role with Sky, and where the sport is heading."
His first vehicle is the BMW X5 25d with the M Sport kit and already the vehicle has the approval of his sons, Harper, 6, and Lincoln, 5.
Jeff Wilson is keen on the X5's ConnectedDrive system that allows you to ring a concierge to find out such information as restaurants at trip destinations.
"The boys call it the spaceship, and keep asking me to change the [interior strip] lights that change from blue to red or white," said Wilson.
So what do your Sky colleagues think about the X5?
"There were a few comments about whose car it was but most of the time people say to me 'you're driving my dream car'," he said.
Wilson is also keen on the X5's ConnectedDrive system that allows you to ring a concierge to find out such information as restaurants at trip destinations.
"If I'm running late and I need information you can get someone else to get it for you. It's a luxury but it's also very practical."
He's also a fan of the practical Bluetooth-connected handsfree system in the car, especially as a "golfing tourist", as the former Southlander refers to himself as.
"I can make phone calls I have to make on the way to courses, and then have time free to play," said Wilson.
Jeff Wilson with his BMW X5
The premium SUV is also a step up from Wilson's first car as a 19-year-old living in Invercargill.
"It was a brown Datsun 200B with sofa-like rear seat," he said. "I remember driving it one day and the clutch fell out."
Soon after the demise of the Datsun, rugby moved from amateur to professional, so due to Ford's alignment with the sport, Wilson was given a number of cars, from Falcons to Mondeos.
But his dream car purchase was a 1965 Ford Mustang convertible that he bought sight-unseen in 1998 with only two requirements. "I wanted a good convertible and wanted a classic," he said.
The Mustang, which spent a number of years sitting in a barn on the couple's farm, is now in Auckland - but it's relegated to the garage while Wilson enjoys driving the X5.
