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BMW
BMW Motorrad’s exclusive high performance HP2 Megamoto
By Mike Hanlon
July 14, 2007 One of the more interesting new motorcycles of recent times is BMW’s HP2 Megamoto which will be arriving in Motorrad showrooms in July. As motard motorcycles have grown in importance and market share, some manufacturers such as Ducati, have developed 1000cc plus uber motards, and now here comes the the most uncompromising and single-minded street bike BMW Motorrad has ever produced. The iconic Boxer-twin powerplant pumps out an impressive 113 bhp with a whopping 115Nm of torque. Built with some remarkably exotic composite and metallurgical materials for a street bike, the Megamoto weighs in at just 179kg, thus giving the bike a mightily impressive, arm-wrenching power to weight ratio. Read More
Pikes Peak - going sideways at 100mph towards a 3000 ft drop
By Mike Hanlon
July 3, 2007 The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest automotive motorsport event in the United States. An annual happening since 1916, the race takes place on July 21 when very brave riders and drivers attempt to scale this 12.42-mile (20-km) course that begins at 9,390 feet (2,862 metres) and finishes at the 14,110-foot summit (4,300 metres) of the spectacular Pikes Peak Mountain. One rider’s experiences: “At the speeds we are going now the road gets very skinny, and at the edge is a 50-3,000-ft drop-off! I was battling for the lead one year when my handlebars got locked with the other rider’s. We were going about 100 mph (160 km/h) towards this turn with a 3,000-ft drop on the outside. At the last second we were able to break apart and turn…...” Read More
World’s most powerful production six-cylinder diesel introduced to BMW 6 Series
July 2, 2007 BMW has for the first time combined its twin-turbocharged, six-cylinder diesel with the marque’s flagship Grand Tourer in the form of the new 635d. Coinciding with the revamp of 6 Series model line-up to include Active Headrests, Brake Energy Regeneration and other fuel saving and emissions-cutting technology, the 635d Coupé and Convertible will hit showrooms in the UK in October with world’s most powerful production diesel under the bonnet. Read More
The new BMW X5 4.8i M Sport
By Mike Hanlon
June 1, 2007 BMW’s ever-popular M Sport derivative is to be introduced to the new X5 range for the first time. The introduction of M Sport to the BMW X5 range has been eagerly awaited by buyers as 90 per cent of models sold to date have been ordered with “Sport” specification. On sale immediately in most countries, the new 355 bhp flagship offers customers a substantial level of sports-orientated standard equipment, a 0-100 km/h time of 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 150 mph. Read More
BMW dominates the 2007 “Engine Oscars”
By Mike Hanlon
May 9, 2007 BMW’s 3-litre twin turbo engine was today crowned International Engine of the Year 2007 at the ninth annual International Engine of the Year Awards, which were presented at Engine Expo in Stuttgart, Germany. In an award independently judged by a jury of 62 motoring journalists from 30 countries, BMW has always fared well, but this year it has excelled itself, taking the prestigious crown for the third consecutive year and taking seven of the 12 awards on offer with its 2.5-litre inline six and 5-litre V10 also winning gongs. Of the remaining awards, Volkswagen’s 1.4-litre turbocharged and supercharged TSI unit triumphed for a second year in the 1-litre to 1.4-litre class, with its larger sibling, the 2-litre turbo developed by Audi and housed in the Golf GTi and Audi A3, topping the 1.8-litre to 2-litre category. Toyota meanwhile saw its 1.5-litre hybrid that powers the Prius named Best Fuel Economy engine and its 1-litre 3-cylinder from the Aygo and Yaris take the honours in the Sub 1-litre category. Porsche won its first IEOY award taking the 3-litre to 4-litre category for its 3.6-litre Turbo. Read More
Pfeiffer in Red Square
By Mike Hanlon
May 7, 2007 We’re obviously huge fans of stunt rider Chris Pfeiffer, so excuse us for being a bit indulgent and running these amazing pics. No Adobe Photoshop is involved whatsoever – that’s Chris doing his thing on his F 800 stunt bike in Moscow's Red Square. "Moscow is an amazing place and I had been doing some stunt shows for BMW Motorrad over there as well as some 'guerrilla' activity with Red Bull," said Chris. "I knew it would be quite difficult to get these pictures but luckily for me one of the guys from BMW had a contact with the local police - who all ride BMW bikes - and he had seen one of my shows, so we were able to get permission to make these pictures close to the Basilica with the distinctive onion domes on the Red Square!" People have been shot for less, and not all that long ago either! Read More
BMW's 450cc enduro prototype impresses on its first outing
By Loz Blain
May 2, 2007 BMW whipped the covers off its new 450cc enduro prototype on the starting line of a World Enduro Championship race in Puerto Lumbreras, Spain last weekend. It's BMW's first serious enduro contender - the brand's GS twin-cylinder bikes and recent 650 singles have all been more adventure-sport oriented than built for serious enduro racing. Still, the new bike leapt out of the blocks, scoring championship points in both races and looking like a genuine contender. Clearly BMW is set to invade the lucrative serious off-road segment which has helped to build its Austrian neighbour KTM into Europe's second largest motorcycle manufacturer. Read More
The BMW M3 Concept Car
By Mike Hanlon
March 7, 2007 For two decades, the BMW M3 has embodied the athletic heart of the brand in its most fundamental and succinct form. Now BMW has given us an inkling of the future of this lineage with the presentation of the new BMW M3 Concept Car. The concept study being presented to the public for the first time at the 77th International Motor Show in Geneva (8th to 18th of March, 2007) gives a first impression of what a future BMW M3 might look like. At the core of this concept study is an M3-typical V8 engine tuned to the high revving M concept. Read More
BMW focusses supercomputer on F1 aerodynamics
By Mike Hanlon
January 16, 2007 The seemingly endless amount of money available in Formula One is directly related to its audience size and the influence it has. Success in Formula One, the world’s most watched sporting series, is the world’s most visible gauge of automotive technological prowess, and it is so sought after because it adds value to the company brand name. With BMW entering the fray under its own name last year, it isn’t about to settle for anything less than the top step of the podium and has embarked on its quest with the aid of one of the world’s most powerful computers. The BMW Sauber F1 Team new super brain, Albert2 is Europe's fastest computer currently used in industry. It’s roughly three times faster than its predecessor and is employed solely in the study of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Rather than going with the current trend where many teams are building a second wind tunnel, BMW invested its racing budget in Albert2, which is quite a specimen. It’s main memory is 2,048 Gb – it 256 nodes with two Intel Xeon 5160 processors each, and each of these has two cores. This results in a total of 1024 cores and a maximum computing power is 12,288 GFlops. This means that Albert2 is capable of performing 12,288,000,000,000 floating-point arithmetic operations per second. Read More
Retractable hardtop for new BMW 3 Series Convertible
By Mike Hanlon
December 30, 2006 Retractable hardtops are fast becoming part of every major automotive range – having the option to turn your sensible and quiet sedan into an open-top sports car at the press of a button might turn out to be an appealing functionality capable of growing a sizeable share of the market. The latest recipient of this capability is BMW’s fourth generation open four-seater 3 Series Convertible which will be shown to the public for the first time at the 100th North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit on 7 January 2007. The new retractable hardtop closes in 23 seconds and closes in 22, offering open top motoring in the summer months and interior comfort in inclement weather and at high speeds. Boasting an advanced chassis and body with torsional stiffness exceeding any previous BMW Convertible, the range-topping 335i Convertible is powered by an all-aluminium 3.0-litre straight-six with twin-turbos and direct gasoline injection, giving it a maximum output of 225 kW/306 hp (300 hp in the USA). Read More
World’s first Hydrogen Luxury Performance Automobile – the BMW Hydrogen 7
By Mike Hanlon
December 3, 2006 The world’s first hydrogen-drive luxury performance automobile – the BMW Hydrogen 7 – celebrated its world premiere at the Los Angeles International Auto Show with the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, congratulating the hydrogen initiative. The Hydrogen 7, which has fulfilled all of the criteria of BMW’s rigorous product development process, will be built in a limited series and for selected users during 2007. Based on the familiar 7 Series model, it is equipped with an internal combustion engine capable of running either on hydrogen or on petrol. Read More
BMW Motorrad introduces Neck Brace System
By Mike Hanlon
November 21, 2006 We’ve written before about the groundbreaking work being done by South African physician Dr. Chris Leatt in the area of motorcycle safety and the Neck Brace System which offers a major safety improvement for motorcyclists. The Neck Brace significantly reduces the risk of injuries around the neck area, on the cervical spine and collarbone, in the event of a severe fall. Although accident-induced injuries to the neck area are rare in statistical terms, when they do occur, they constitute a far greater risk for the rider. Developed by Leatt in cooperation with KTM and BMW and a team of specialists made up of accident researchers, bio-mechanics, accident surgeons, the Neck Brace System is now ready for release and will be sold worldwide by BMW Motorrad, from early in 2007. Read More
BMW Boxer engine saves a life
By Mike Hanlon
October 20, 2006 For most people high-speed car chases and action heroes are something that they only encounter when they go to the movies but for Jason Bishop (below, right) it’s all part of his job as a motorcycle police officer for South Wales Police in the UK. Police Constable Bishop’s company vehicle is a BMW R 1150 GS Adventure. As part of the Motorcycle Intercept team he uses it to help catch the criminals of south Wales. But Jason got a bit more than he bargained for when he was on routine patrol recently at a roadside checkpoint near Swansea. “I noticed a Volvo T5 turning off the motorway to avoid the checkpoint up ahead,” explained Jason. “It looked suspicious so I started to follow him, but when he realised I was a police officer he accelerated and tried to lose me.” What followed was a series of events that would usually be found in a Hollywood action movie. “I followed the fugitive down a narrow residential street with cars parked on both sides of the road,” PC Bishop explained. “At the end of the street another car was blocking the driver’s path, so the thief put his car into reverse and accelerated back towards me at high speed.” The car hit the Adventure on its front wheel and right-cylinder, knocking it and PC Bishop to the ground. “I really think the BMW’s cylinder configuration saved my life,” he explained. “I was being pushed along the floor trapped under my BMW. The only thing that stopped me being crushed was the fact that the car thief couldn’t drive over the exposed cylinder head of the bike.” Read More
BMW's new range of 650 singles
By Mike Hanlon
October 13, 2006 The new Single-Cylinder BMW G 650 X Model Series. BMW Motorrad’s new range of single-cylinder models clearly show it is broadening its model line-up with a clear focus on additional target groups and proceeding from the same technical foundation, the Company has created three new motorcycles absolutely different in their features and characteristics: the G 650 Xchallenge Hard Enduro, G 650 Xmoto Street Moto, and the G 650 Xcountry Scrambler. With their outstanding product substance, their purist looks, and their exceptionally sporting riding characteristics, these single-cylinder models are filling attractive niches in the market. And through their low unladen weight of less than 160 kg or 353 lb according to the DIN standard, they offer dynamic performance for both the connoisseur and the sports-minded rider. The new G 650 X model series is planned for Q2, 2007. Read More
BMW's new K 1200 R Sport
By Mike Hanlon
October 13, 2006 The new K 1200 R Sport from BMW Motorrad took its initial public bow at INTERMOT 2006, and will become the fourth model in the Company’s most powerful model series. And as the model designation already indicates, the new K 1200 R Sport is based on the BMW K 1200 R. Perhaps the most essential feature of the new K 1200 R Sport is the semi-fairing mounted firmly to the frame and bearing the same headlight as on the R 1200 S. Integrated harmoniously into the overall design of the motorcycle, the semi-fairing ensures a clear view of the impressive engine and running gear technology. The fairing not only emphasizes the sporting character of this Big Bike, but also enhances its wide range of riding opportunities and general use versus the K 1200 R. Read More
BMW releases the surprising Megamoto 1200
By Mike Hanlon
October 13, 2006 BMW Motorrad was once a staid company that took few risks with its Blue Chip brand, but these days its difficult to guess just exactly what the company might do next, other than be absolutely sure that at least some of its thinking will be a long way “outside the square.” True to recent form, BMW announced five new motorcycles at INTERMOT 2006 in Cologne this week, and several of them were big surprises, with the most outrageous being the new Megamoto. Based on the 1200cc BMW HP2 Enduro machine, the unique Megamoto is a mega supermotard style motorcycle weighing less than 200 kilos in road trim, and with no claimed horsepower figure yet announced other than that it will offer “significantly more power and torque” than the 105 bhp HP2. Other motorcycles to be announced by BMW at INTERMOT include a sports version of the BMW K 1200 R, the K 1200 R Sport, and an all-new single-cylinder model series including three brand-new motorcycles quite different in their features and character – the G 650 Xcountry, the G 650 Xchallenge, and the G 650 Xmoto (another motard). Read on for all available details of the Megamoto. Read More
BMW Hydrogen 7 - production-ready, hydrogen-gasoline V12 Saloon
By Mike Hanlon
September 12, 2006 BMW has become the first auto maker to present a hydrogen-drive car which has successfully completed the process of series development: The BMW Hydrogen 7 with its hydrogen combustion engine is the result of a consistent development strategy now rendering this trendsetting concept of sustained mobility fully suitable for regular use in today’s world. The Hydrogen 7 Saloon is powered by a 191 kW twelve-cylinder engine and accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 9.5 seconds with a top speed limited electronically to 230 km/h. Ingeniously, the dual-mode power unit switches quickly and conveniently to conventional premium gasoline providing an overall range of more than 700 kilometres. The integration of hydrogen drive in an existing vehicle concept which has already proven its merits in the market paves the way for an alternative to conventional drive concepts fully accepted in the market and with all the assets the customer is looking for in practice. Read More
BMW incorporates thermal imaging into newly available Night Vision driver assistance system
By Mike Hanlon
August 23, 2006 Thermal Imaging has long been used by the military to see in the dark in mission-critical situations, so it’s not surprising that it is being used in BMW’s new Night Vision driver assistance system. In using thermal imaging as the basis for the system, BMW engineers have opted for an approach that places greater focus on detecting people and animals at danger. Objects which radiate heat are shown particularly bright and are therefore drawn to the attention of the driver. In urban areas, lighting is usually sufficient for drivers to recognise dangers with the naked eye, but BMW Night Vision is most effective on country roads where pedestrians, cyclists and animals can be detected earlier. The system also has advantages on unlit streets or dark courtyards and poorly lit car parks. Australian accident statistics show that 45 per cent of fatal road accidents occur at night, even though more than two thirds of all driving is done during the day, so the new system addresses a serious issue - driving at night represents a significant potential danger. The Night Vision system is now available as an option in the BMW 7 Series, 5 Series and 6 Series. The thermal imaging camera covers a range of up to 300 metres or almost 1,000 feet ahead of the car, almost twice as far as near infrared systems on the Mercedes S Class and the Lexus LX470. Great image gallery with video. Read More
The all-new BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV)
By Mike Hanlon
August 9, 2006 The original BMW X5 has been an unqualified success since it hit the showroom floor seven years ago as the first SUV-type vehicle to offer a genuinely sporty car-like drive, and still holds its own in a very competitive category. Yesterday, BMW took the wraps partially off its successor, which comes with more power, lower emissions, better fuel consumption, an all-new six-speed automatic gearbox and a range of technologies which are new to the market segment such as a head-up display, run-flat tyres, and Adaptive Drive suspension management. It’s also BMW’s first ever car with a third-row of seating for added practicality. Read More
BMW redefines Safe Parking
By Mike Hanlon
August 1 2006 BMW drivers will soon be able to garage their cars by remote control and boost child safety at the same time. The prototype BMW Remote Park Assist allows drivers to stand beside their car while it parks itself in their garage. The car can be reversed from the parking place with the driver monitoring pedestrian traffic, removing the risk of reversing into children or pets. Vehicle guidance is controlled via the key fob and the car moves at 2.5 km/h, half walking speed. As soon as button on the key fob is released the car stops moving. Guidance is controlled via sensors and a special mirror mounted in the garage. The car is retrieved from its parking space in an exact reversal of the parking manoeuvre. Sensors detect obstructions and guide the car around them. BMW Remote Park Assist is ideal for restricted inner city parking spaces such as town house developments and apartment buildings. The prototype system was revealed in Munich at the BMW Innovations Day last month. Read More
BMW to introduce new integral ABS and ASC
By Mike Hanlon
July 8, 2006 BMW’s announcement of its next generation Integral ABS this week could easily be overlooked as just another slightly better mousetrap, as anti-lock braking is not new. Indeed, in terms of function, the new ABS is not nearly as significant as the underlying technology and what it will mean for the future. The new Integral ABS incorporates the braking system into a fully networked system and provides the foundation for additional dynamic riding control systems. The first step in this direction will be known as BMW Motorrad ASC (Automatic Stability Control) and will be introduced on both K and R series motorcycles as an option next year. The idea behind ASC is to prevent the rear wheel from “spinning up” when accelerating on slippery surfaces or the front wheel from getting airborn under acceleration. ASC is the logical counterpart to ABS. The ABS wheel sensors determine the speed at which the wheels are turning. Registering any sudden change in the difference in speed front-to-rear, the electronic control unit is able to detect any risk of the rear wheel spinning. The immediate response is to interrupt the ignition to reduce engine power. If this is insufficient to restrict wheel slip, fuel injection is also interrupted. Of course the rider is able to deactivate the ACS at anytime, even on the move. Acting together, these two functions enhance riding stability and thus help to ensure a higher standard of safety on the road. Read More
The New BMW M6 Convertible
By Mike Hanlon
June 20, 2006 The world-famous performance division of BMW, M GmbH today unveiled the BMW M6 Convertible, continuing its tradition of producing ultra-performance luxury vehicles for the genuine motoring enthusiast. In terms of performance, it’s just the open air version of one of the world’s most capable performance vehicles. It shares all the same features as the M6 Coupe, including the back-to-back Engine Of The Year 5.0-litre V10, the variable M Differential Lock, the M Power button, Electronic Damper Control, new generation Dynamic Stability Control, Head-Up Display, a Sequential M Gearbox (SMG) complete with Drivelogic, a suspension developed for supreme dynamics and lap times on the longer Nordschleife loop of the fabled Nurburgring circuit are almost as fast as in the Coupe. The M6 Convertible immediately slots into the top bracket of the most desirable open sports cars available. Read More
BMW 328 MM Roadster Wins Mille Miglia 2006
By Mike Hanlon
May 29, 2006 Seventy years after its launch, the Giuliano Cane’s BMW 328 has continued its remarkable run of success in one of the world’s most premier automotive events, the Mille Miglia. The 60-year-old entrepreneur from Bologna has won the Mille Miglia nine times, eight with his wife Lucia Galliani as navigator, and once with Marino Auteri in a Ferrari in 1999. The husband/wife pairing has dominated the event since first combining to win it in a BMW 507 in 1992, taking it out again in a Lancia Aurelia B20 in 1994, then using the BMW 328 to win in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006. This run of alternate year wins must go down as one of the oddest records in history but looked certain to be broken this year after the couple got off to a poor start. They had worked their way back to fourth at the end of the second lap in Rome, but such was their knowledge during the six time trials around Vico Lake, that they managed to get to the top of the table and strenuously defend their position to the finish. BMW obviously banked on the couple winning as it unveiled the gorgeous BMW Mille Miglia Concept Coupe for the event. Read More
BMW Mille Miglia Concept Coupe
By Mike Hanlon
May 12, 2006 The world’s most expensive travelling museum gets its annual showing this weekend when the fabled Mille Miglia is run over the original course from Brescia to Rome and back. The most famous motor race in the world in the immediate pre- and post-WW2 period, the Mille Miglia was held on public roads over 1000 miles with Sterling Moss setting a record for the journey in a Mercedes 300 SLR averaging 157.65kph in 1955. Banned in the late fifties, it is now run as a reliability trial where some of the most memorable automobiles in motoring history participate. Each year more than 20 cars are liberated from motoring museums to drive in the event, and the total value of the 375 entries would be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. This year, the magic of the event was heightened when BMW unveiled a concept vehicle to commemorate the BMW 328 Touring Coupe which won the event in 1940. The chances it will ever be built are very low – which is an enormous shame because under that gorgeous skin are the mechanicals of the 252 kW BMW Z4 M Coupe. Perhaps there’s a market for retro sports cars built with modern methodology? Read More
BMW dominates the International Engine of the Year Awards
By Mike Hanlon
May 11, 2006 BMW has dominated the 2006 International Engine of the Year Awards held at the annual Engine Expo in Stuttgart, winning the Best Performance Engine and International Engine of the Year for the second year running with its 5-litre V10. The Bavarian car maker also won awards for its Z4 M 3.2-litre (3-litre to 4-litre ) and twin-turbodiesel 3-litre (2.5-litre to 3-litre )in this year’s competition, and hence took ALL awards for engines greater than 2.5 litres, giving it a total of five trophies. The V10 unit saw tough competition from the likes of Volkswagen’s new 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger (which won Best New Engine) and the previous IEOY title holder, Toyota’s 1.5-litre Hybrid Synergy Drive Prius, which in 2006 also won the 1.8-litre and the Fuel Economy categories. Subaru picked up its first ever gong in the 2-litre to 2.5-litre category for its 2.5-litre Turbo engine used in the Impreza and Forester models and Saab’s 9-2X. Read More
Freedom Glen
- November 25, 2009 @ 02:47 UTC
