BMW

BMW dominates French round of World Touring Car Championship

By Mike Hanlon

May 1, 2005 The prediction that BMW would dominate at French round of the World Touring Car Championship at the weekend (1 May 2005) at Magny Cours was born out by a total German domination in both races. In race one Jorg Muller lead the BMWs home after a spectacular start that saw Andy Priaulx overtaking Alfa Romeo's Augusto Farfus and Rickard Rydell before entering the first corner. The 2004 FIA ETCC title holder did not surrender this advantage and crossed the line in second place 2.882 seconds behind the winner. Rydell represented SEAT Sport on the podium by finishing third in his SEAT Toledo Cupra after an exciting duel with Gabriele Tarquini's Alfa Romeo. Antonio Garcia, Dirk Muller, Jordi Gene and Farfus filled the other point positions, while Peter Terting made a daring move on the very last corner of the race to overtake Fabrizio Giovanardi, enabling the German rookie to claim ninth place. Read More

BMW's 1200GS gets (very) serious!

By Mike Hanlon

It’s now a quarter of a century since BMW released the R 80 G/S and in so doing created a new class of motorcycle – the large capacity off-roader. An ideal off-road tourer with great manners on a dirt road ithas not really had much more sporting pretence than that. Yes, it did win the Paris-Dakar Rally at different times but only through superhuman riders and massive machine development. Though the showroom machine has evolved through massive engine redesigns and a capacity increase to 1200cc, no-one in their right mind would seriously contemplate going into a harsh off-road environment on a BMW GS model for fun until now. The new BMW HP2 is a genuine large capacity, lightweight boxer-engined high performance off-road machine. How lightweight? VERY - try 175 kg dry!!!! Read More

BMW 3 Series Wagon Variant announced: The

By Mike Hanlon

April 20, 2005 BMW has announced a wagon variant of the new 3 Series Sedan that will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The “Touring” shares a strong visual link with the 3 Series Sedan, largely identical to the Sedan from the front to the A-pillars. From the A-pillars back the car's sporting, almost coupe-like silhouette hides the immense degree of practicality for families and professionals seeking more space, grace and style.

The fourth-generation BMW 3 Series Touring has been developed as an entirely different and unique car in parallel to the Sedan. Read More

World Touring Car Champs Rd 1: Alfa Romeo 1, BMW 1

By Mike Hanlon

April 11, 2005: The inaugural World Touring Car Championship, which has lifted touring car racing to the same level as Formula One and the World Rally Championship, got underway at the weekend (9-10 April 2005) in Italy, with race honours split between the two top teams, BMW and Alfa Romeo. Alfa Romeo went into the race the favourites, after a dominating first practice two weeks ago at the historic Monza track. But conditions for Round One - cold and bleak - were very different and after the cancellation of Friday's practice due to the funeral of The Pope, BMW's Dirk Muller clinched pole position on Saturday for the first of the two races in round one of the 2005 WTCC. Read More

BMW K1200R for MotoGP Power-Cup

By Mike Hanlon

March 24, 2005 BMW Motorrad hasn't wasted any time in getting its performance-oriented K1200R at the forefront of motorcycle competition, and is replacing the popular BMW BoxerCup that is run in conjunction with each European MotoGP round with a series based on K1200R racers. Powering the new one-make championship is a race honed version of the K 1200 R with some added carbon fibre aerodynamic enahncements and an even warmer version of the bike producing 175 bhp (129 kW). Read More

BMW's K1200R - a radical new direction for the once conservative Motorrad brand

By Mike Hanlon

March 20, 2005 This was the first the world saw of BMW’s new K1200R roadster muscle bike when the machine made its world debut at the Intermot motorcycle show late last year – almost certainly the first time the image-savvy BMW brand managers have ever condoned one of their roadgoing vehicles to be displayed in such vulgar hoon-like behaviour. When the smoke cleared, we could see why. Using the same donk built for the K1200S ultra high performance sports machine, the K1200R is quite unlike anything we’ve ever seen from the normally understated German marque. The aggressively-styled unfaired street bike has 163 bhp and an uncompromising “street fighter” attitude. Read More

BMW's new 130i - six into 1 really goes

By Mike Hanlon

February 12, 2005 It had to happen. When BMW announced their diminutive 1 Series, it fitted perfectly with the upmarket, luxury, high-tech image of BMW in almost every way except one - where was the performance model? So it was no surprise when the enthusiast element at BMW shoehorned the new high performance in-line six cylinder engine into the vehicle to produce the widely anticipated 130i. Boasting a power output of 190 kW, with an awesome 300 Nm of torque, performance figures of 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h are the tantalising results. The BMW 130i will make its international debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Read More

BMW M6: New V10 Super Coupé

By Mike Hanlon

December 15, 2004 BMW's high performance M3 and M5 cars are set to be joined by the M6, a sporting rendition of the two-door luxury 6 Series Coupé. Powered by the same 500 horsepower Formula 1-inspired V10 motor and seven-speed sequential manual transmission fitted to the M5, the thoroughbred M6 will be available in very limited numbers towards the end of 2005. Read More

BMW release new M3 Coupe Competition Package

By Gizmag Team

November 25, 2004 BMW Australia

has released the new BMW M3 Coupe Competition Package option for the iconic M3 Coupe. Drawing a myriad of components from the AUD $210,000 M3 CSL, the new BMW M3 Competition Package option delivers increased responsiveness and agility, M Track Mode dynamic control, optimised suspension settings, a quicker steering rack, M3 CSL-style 19-inch light alloy wheels with beefed-up brakes and a unique BMW-Williams F1-inspired Interlagos Blue metallic paint to transform your M3 Coupe into the ultimate racing vehicle. Read More

The New BMW 3 Series

By Gizmag Team

October 29, 2004 BMW has released details of its all-new BMW 3 Series. To be shown for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show next March, the E90 3 Series is will go on sale in mid-2005.

The E90 3 Series adds an armoury of impressive, innovative improvements for engine, chassis, safety technology as well as driving comfort.

Three new engines.

The new BMW 3 Series comes with three engine options: two all-new six-cylinder engines and an optimised iteration of the famous 2.0-litre four-cylinder slots into the 320i entry model Read More

BMW Sets Speed Records with Hydrogen fuelled V12

By Mike Hanlon

Hydrogen propulsion moved from rockets to racers this week as BMW set nine new speed records for hydrogen powered automobiles. The record attempt was conducted at the high-speed Miramas Proving Grounds in France, where the 210kW hydrogen prototype proved BMW's point that hydrogen can replace conventional fuel without a performance compromise. The H2R Record Car uses a six-litre 12 cylinder power unit and accelerates to 100 km/h in approximately 6 seconds with a top speed of 302.4 km/h (185,52 mph). Based on the 760i power unit, the main modifications involved the fuel injection system being adapted to the special requirements of hydrogen. Read More

Landmark BMW helmet system

By Mike Hanlon

BMW has shown a landmark new helmet system designed to reduce noise via noise cancelling technology inside the helmet and enable crystal clear voice communications and music. The helmet uses state-of-the-art materials (kevlar, carbon fibre) to create an ultralight, aerodynamic and very quiet helmet wind-tunnel tested to be the quietest helmet on the market. The helmet will enable communication with the pillion, or anyone via your bluetooth phone, or to listen to music clearly and wirelessly ON ANY MOTORCYCLE. The entire system is inside the helmet so it can be used on any motorcycle. Read More

BMW's new V10 engine in detail

By Mike Hanlon

Each time BMW M introduces a new model, the focus of attention is centred on what lurks beneath the domed bonnet bulge. For the E60 M5 sedan due on sale in Australia mid-2005, the answer is a high-revving ultra-powerful V10 - a superb, state-of-the-art engine which BMW recently detailed for the world's press. Read More

BMW enters the high-performance motorcycle market

By Mike Hanlon

BMW's K1200S is the first model from BMW to directly address the ultra-high speed sports bike market dominated by the "big four" Japanese manufacturers. The new K1200S high performance sports bike began production on the June 1, 2004 with more performance credentials than any previous BMW two-wheeler - 167 horsepower and a top speed in excess of 300kmh. Read More

BMW Brake Force Display

By Mike Hanlon

BMW will incorporate a new Brake Force Display on most models from May 2004 - Brake Force Display is a simple yet effective way of communicating to following traffic that the BMW in front is stopping quickly, providing extra advance warning of a potential road hazard ahead. Read More

BMW shows the new 1 Series

By Mike Hanlon

BMW has announced an all-new 1 Series five-door rear-wheel drive sports tourer hatch which will be unveiled to the public at the Paris Motor Show this September. The new premium compact will make its Australian debut just weeks later at the Sydney International Motor Show where it is sure to be one of the stars of the show. Read More

BMW announce new 6 Series Convertible

By Mike Hanlon

BMW has announced the arrival of the BMW 6 Series Convertible, a variant on the 6 Series Coupe that incorporates a side fin roof designed to give the same visual impact as wide C-pillars and maintain the unique balance between coup'-like styling and the new 2+2-seater Convertible form. Read More

Limited Edition BMW 645Ci sells out in less than 7 minutes

By Mike Hanlon

Friday October 24, 2003: The 2004 BMW 645Ci featured in this year's Neiman Marcus Christmas Book went on sale recently via a phone hotline - six minutes and 57 seconds later, all 50 of the limited-edition models were sold. Read More

BMW's Electric-Booster Research Engine

By Mike Hanlon

Wednesday August 13, 2003: BMW researchers have recorded fuel savings as high as 15 % and produced 1,000 Nm of torque at low revs by using a high-power electric booster motor positioned between the combustion engine and gearbox of an experimental BMW X5. Read More

BMW and MINI release Data Storage Watches

By Mike Hanlon

A portable USB drive incorporated into a wristwatch - we were impressed by the idea when we first discovered the MEMIX watch, and now BMW and MINI have jointly released their own versions of a Memory Watch. Storing up to 128MB of data via an internal memory card, both watches emulate the style of the automotive namesakes... Read More

New BMW 6 Series Coup' features head-up display and glass roof

By Mike Hanlon

Friday July 11, 2003: BMW has given the world a sneak preview of its second generation 6 series BMW - a car slated for its first public showing at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The first models will be available in the Australian market from the second quarter of next year. Read More

Australia to get 20 hand-built BMW CSL supercars

By Mike Hanlon

A limited production run of just 20 BMW M3 CSL supercars will reach Australia later this year. The fire-breathing M3 CSL boasts an output of 265 kW (81.5 kW per litre) and a 10% improvement in power-to-weight ratio over the standard M3. Read More

19,000 RPM BMW Formula One engine

By Mike Hanlon

Though Ferrari dominated the F1 in 2002, the engine with the most horses was the Williams V10 BMW. Read More

BMW develops head-up display for Ralf Schumacher's helmet

By Mike Hanlon

BMW Technology Office has taken the wraps off an innovative Formula One product - a miniature (6x8 mm) head-up display system will be integrated in Ralf Schumacher's helmet next season to create a "visual information window" enhancing pit-driver communications and safety. Read More

Trekking on the Mothership - BMW LT1200

By Mike Hanlon

BMW'S K1200LT is a showcase of techno-wizardry. If you were travelling to somewhere a long way away, and wanted to go by bike so you could smell and feel the place better, this is one of the bikes you would consider. Satellite navigation, an awesome sound system, heated grips and seats, a torquey, economical 1200CC motor and a suspension and brake package which matches the weight. There's even a reverse gear.Satellite NavigationEvery bike should have one, particularly when being ridden in parts unknown. Once you've mastered the two-button interface, which was possible even when being ridden (we're not sure if this skill shows extremely high intelligence, or the opposite), it interupts themusic momentarily to give clear, precise verbal instructions in a soothing female voicethrough the speaker system, with the tankmounted display offering directions in writtenand diagram form. Bloody marvelous! Read More