Happy Birthday BMW

Two days ago BMW celebrated a centenary. They are now focused on BMW�s vision for the future of mobility in the next 100 years. As part of the celebration, they unveilled their Vision Next 100 Concept Car. Four key factors underpin the BMW VISION NEXT 100

  A genuine BMW is always driver-focused.
 For autonomous driving, it�s no longer a question of �if� but �when�. The BMW Group believes that BMW drivers will let their cars do the work � but only when the driver wants. The BMW VISION NEXT 100 remains a genuine BMW, offering an intense experience of Sheer Driving Pleasure.

  Artificial intelligence and intuitive technology become one.
 Artificial intelligence will learn from us, anticipating many of our wishes and working away in the background to perform the jobs we delegate to it. The way humans and technologies interact will be transformed: screens and touchscreens will be replaced by more intuitive forms of human-machine communication and interaction. Better yet: technology will become more human.

  New materials open up breathtaking opportunities.
 In the future, how will cars be manufactured? At some point, presses that punch out hundreds of thousands of steel parts may well become obsolete � the use of carbon may already be a first indication of the sea-change that is imminent in the world of automotive materials and production. Technologies such as rapid manufacturing and 4D printing will produce not components or objects but intelligent, networked materials and could soon replace conventional tools to open up unimagined possibilities in design and engineering.

  Mobility will remain an emotional experience.
 BMW vehicles have never been a means of getting from one place to the next. Far more, a BMW is about looking to the next bend in the road, feeling the power of the engine and enjoying the sense of speed; it�s about the sensory experience, the adrenaline rush or that intimate moment at which a journey begins. Moving into the future, that�s not set to change � because the emotional experience of mobility is firmly fixed in our collective corporate memory. By keeping the driver firmly in the foreground, the BMW VISION NEXT 100 will heighten this emotional experience in an unprecedented way.

 

BMW's hands-free driving technology - BMW AirTouch

BMW recently unveiled their i Vision Future Interaction Concept Car at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. They showcased some of the future teach that we hope to see sometime in the near future.

The Vision Car is based on the BMW i8, and it includes a first in hands-free driving technology which they call the BMW AirTouch. It allows you to control the entire in-car display with a range of intuitive commands that use your whole hand, without having to touch the screen itself. Sensors record the hand movements in the area between the central console and the interior mirror, enabling the driver or passengers to change the content displayed on the large panorama display. Simple confirmation selects the relevant menu item or activates an icon.

 AirTouch has another option to confirm actions - a concealed AirTouch button on the rim of the steering wheel. Within easy reach of the driver's left thumb, it lights up when a menu or icon can be activated. One tap is sufficient to activate the desired program or change a setting. A similar button is positioned in the side sill door area for passenger use, enabling them to use one hand to navigate through the menu, and the other hand to confirm inputs.

The intelligent AirTouch menu control system reduces the number of steps needed to make a selection. For example, when activating the phone pad, the system automatically brings up contacts or call lists to the top select level, so that a call can be made with just one further action. AirTouch recognises which selection and control steps are required next and displays them in advance. This allows the driver to concentrate on the road ahead, and offers additional convenient control options when the vehicle is travelling in highly automated mode.

New BMW 1 series

The new BMW 1 Series has had key elements reshaped and redesigned, and a high standard specification.


The BMW 118i M Sport 5-door sports hatch has 18� M Sport alloy wheels, M Sport suspension, Sport seats and BMW EfficientDynamics.

The new BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer

BMW is set to launch their new BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer this summer.

This spacious seven seater is clearly targeted at families and features large windscreen, optional panoramic roof and intelligently redesigned pillars to provide superior all-round vision. You can create even more space by folding down the third and seconds rows.

This extra efficient car has Auto Start-Stop (as standard) which reduces emissions when stopping temporarily at lights or in traffic. BMW also claims that their Aero Curtain provides optimised aerodynamics, thereby reducing emissions and improving fuel consumption.

There will be a range of preferences and driving styles to choose from including a range of petrol and diesel engines. Extra options include the xDrive 4 wheel drive and the latest generation BMW TwinPower Turbo engines which offer enhanced performance and efficiency.

BMW Hybrid cars: Top performance, stylish and economical

High performance and economical is not something you hear together when you are talking about cars. Well, BMW offers three varieties of hybrid cars offering the same exciting top performance and quality which we associate with the BMW brand, along with reduction in fuel consumption and reduced emissions.

When the first hybrid cars came out, I guess the design and styling was not what the car manufacturers had in mind � they simply looked horrendous. Thankfully that�s changing now as we can see from the range of sexy designs being launched annually. The BMW ActiveHybrid models across their popular 3 Series, 5 Series and 7 Series range are among the best looking hybrids available in the market now.

3 Series ActiveHybrid Sedan

The BMW ActiveHybrid 3 is the World�s first BMW full hybrid compact executive saloon and available as a Sport, Luxury or M Sport model. Prices for the BMW ActiveHybrid 3 in the UK starts from �42,145.

As for the technical specs, the ActiveHybrid 3 is powered by a Turbo six cylinder 3 litre (2979cc) VALVETRONIC with Double-VANOS direct injection, in-line petrol engine with a max output of 306hp (let me catch my breath). The engine is mated with BMW's eight-speed automatic transmission. The car stores and draws power when required from a lithium-ion high-performance battery. The electric engine comes on for silent urban driving for approx 1-2 miles with a maximum speed of 37mph. It also automatically recognises when the car is going up a gradient and the boost functions comes on automatically to support the combustion engine. The car also charges by itself when it is going downhill.

5 Series ActiveHybrid

The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 powertrain is very similar to that of the BMW ActiveHybrid 3. I have always had a soft spot for the 5 Series models - neither too small nor too large. Just the right size. The ActiveHybrid 5 is significantly more economical and with reduced CO2 emissions. Prices in the UK start from �47,790.

7 Series ActiveHybrid

The BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is squarely aimed at those with a taste for luxury but also want to do their bit for the environment. The car is powered by a 3 litre TwinPower Turbo V8 engine. The car features a 0.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. You have the choice of several options to personalise your BMW ActiveHybrid 7 including a choice of paint finishes and extensive range of alloy wheels.

M Sport package

Pictured is the optional 20" M light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design for the M Sport model. Prices for the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 start from �66,200.

There are actually several hybrid cars offered by other manufacturers available in the market and many of them cheaper than the BMW models. However, they simply cannot match the performance of the BMW ActiveHybrid models. And when it comes to design and styling, the BMW cars are heads above the competition.

Clarion Builds 974 BMW 2002 restoration project: Renovated Interior revealed

You may recall that I posted about the restoration of 30+ year-old BBS RS 001s rims as part of the Clarion Builds 974 BMW 2002 restoration project, some time back.

Well, they have come a long way and finally revealed what they did with the interior. All the gauges were also rebuilt and every part of the car�s interior was either replaced or reconditioned and re-plated.

They teamed up with CoupeKing and HushMat for the cabin insulation.

Watch the video below to see the fantastic job CoupeKing did with the leather upholstery and carpets.

To finish off the look and feel, the car was fitted with Nardi 390 steering wheel, shifter knob and parking brake handle (both Nardi as well).

Exclusive Preview of the New BMW i8 Ad

This is BMW's new ad for the BMW i8. The film was shot in the desert near Almeria, in southern Spain by acclaimed film director Tarsem.

The BMW i8 is a plug-in hybrid sports car. The car combines BMW eDrive technology and a BMW TwinPower Turbo 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine.

Restoring 30+ year-old BBS RS 001s rims

Car audio company Clarion is in the process of restoring an iconic 1974 BMW 2002. As part of the project, they got their hands on original 30-year-old Germany built BBS RS 001 wheels. They hired VR Wheels in Los Angeles to restore them to mint condition - actually the end product looks better.

Check the amazing video of how they refurbished the old wheels and gave it a new life:



Related link: Clarion Builds

BMW to recall cars over air bag fears

BMW is recalling about 1.6 million 3-Series vehicles produced between May 1999 and August 2006 worldwide. They will replace passenger-side front airbags made by Takata Corp because the inflators could break apart during deployment and injure passengers.

The recall is an extension of last year's recall of 240,000 cars globally for the same issue, he said.

The air bag supplied by Japan's Takata has also affected Honda Motor Co, Toyota Motor Corp, Nissan Motor Co, Mazda Motor Corp, Fuji Heavy Industries-owned Subaru, Mitsubishi, Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Chrysler brand.

This latest recall will affect about 574,000 in the United States, about 450,000 in Germany and about 189,000 in the United Kingdom.

The new BMW X4

A fusion of the power of the X model with the design of their classic coupe, the X4 is BMW's latest crossover vehicle.

3 different types of twin power turbo engines powering the X4: 

BMW X4 xDrive35d

• 6 cylinder in-line diesel engine with 313hp and 630Nm of torque
• Goes from 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds
• It has a top speed of 153mph (247km/h)
• Fuel consumption: 47.1mpg
• CO2 emissions of 157g/km

BMW X4 xDrive30d

6 cylinder in-line diesel engine with 258hp and 560Nm of torque

Goes from 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds

It has a top speed of 145mph (234km/h)

Fuel consumption: 46.3-49.6mpg

CO2 emissions of 149-159g/km

BMW X4 xDrive30d

4 cylinder in-line diesel engine with 190hp and 400Nm of torque

Goes from 0-62mph in 8 seconds

It has a top speed of 132mph (212km/h)

Fuel consumption: 50.4-54.3mpg / Automatic: 52.3-56.5mpg

CO2 emissions of 136-146g/km

Others options include a full-colour Head-up display, surround-view which offers the driver a bird's eye view of the area around the vehicle as well as reversing assist camera which shows the area behind the vehicle.

BMW 4 Series Gran Coup�

Roomy and sporty Coup�s from BMW. Four frameless doors and a large boot.

A great example is the BMW 435i, which is powered 6-cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol 225 kW (306 hp) engine and accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 5.5 seconds.
Average fuel consumption is quite modest at 28.3 to 29.0 mpg (Steptronic transmission: 30.9 to 31.4 mpg), accompanied by CO2 emissions of just 193 to 189 g/km (Steptronic transmission: 178 to 174 g/km).

The BMW i8

The BMW i8 plug-in hybrid is the perfect dream car for me - an eco friendly high-performance sports car. It features a passenger cell made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and BMW eDrive technology that enables it to be driven on electric power alone.

Here are some pics from Frankfurt:

2014 BMW M4 Concept

The BMW Concept M4 Coupe was unveiled at the �Concours d�Elegance� in Pebble Beach on the 16th of this month. A peek into their vision of the future sports car.

World Premiere of the BMW i3

The BMW i3 was launched today simultaneously in New York City, London and Beijing.

It is the first purpose-built plug-in electric production vehicle to be made primarily from carbon fiber.

Watch it here:




http://www.live.bmwgroup.com

BMW M5 Nighthawk

The limited edition BMW M5 Nighthawk. Limited to only 10 units for the Japanese market.

3rd gen BMW X5

Check out the third generation of the BMW X5  This Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) combines performance and luxury. The new model has enhanced aerodynamics, a few new engine variants, adaptive chassis options and a range of customisable design packages.