Wouldn’t you wish that this proposed BMW concept design will roll out into production in the future.
Designer Emil Baddal’s concept studies have been circling the web recently. Personally, we’ve been unable to locate any other examples of his impressive portfolio. Perhaps they are just too controversial to see the light of day. The BMW’s certainly looks stunning.
Check out the gallery below.
BMW Sauber are still progressing to enhance their car as to be competitive for this season of F1 racing
BMW Sauber can look forward to the rest of the season with fresh optimism, after the development updates introduced at the Spanish Grand Prix helped lift the team's performance.
That is the view of Nick Heidfeld, who has expressed some relief that the team's slip down the order has been reversed as one of its cars got through to Q3 for the first time in three races.
"It is never enough unless you are on pole position and win the race, but I am quite happy with the development because we made a bigger step than some of the other teams," Heidfeld told AUTOSPORT. "Our performance here is better than the last couple of races.
"I hope that we keep improving it further to make more use of the potential. I am also looking forward to the aero updates which we still don't have on the car, so then we can make bigger steps on the car.
"I am not happy that it didn't work out for me, but the positive thing is we made a step forward with the car. The qualifying result itself is not satisfying, but it is more satisfying looking at the next races knowing we made an improvement."
Heidfeld also reckoned that there was plenty more to come from the car- both in terms of extracting more speed from the current configuration, plus the introduction of an updated KERS package and a double-decker diffuser.
"There is more downforce everywhere, but it is not perfect balance wise yet so we can now give some feedback and try and improve it further."
BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen said: "I am satisfied about the performance of the car, although I have to say it was also due to an excellent performance from Robert, so the car has made a step forward. I am not happy with the result. It is definitely a good step."
A new breath of fresh air to an old icon.
Build a new BMW 328 off the Z4 and what do you get? Bavarian retro: the 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupe introduced at the Mille Miglia historic rally in Italy. An original 328 Mille Miglia Touring Coupe won the race in 1940, so BMW built a new one to commemorate 22 vintage Bimmer racers that competed in this year's event. That 1940 BMW set a record the company says survives today, running the 1000-mile race at an average of nearly 104 mph. The concept is based on the new Z4 M Coupe, with 330 horses from its 3.2-liter I-6. It's slightly longer and lower than the Z4 Coupe, with 245/40 tires on 20-inch wheels. The touring coupe has a hinged roof for entry and exit and apparently no iDrive system.
Great power from the Ultimate Driving Machine
Last year, BMW managed to stun motorsport fans with their official announcement for a S1000RR ultra-sport literbike that was supposed to take on established Japanese competitors. This year, all the hype is around the 2010 BMW S1000RR model. Dictated by aerodynamics rather than a designer’s pen, the new superbike follows an asymmetrical theme with a large, fox-eye headlamp on the left side paired with a smaller circle-shaped right-hand unit. Tailored with a four-mode ABS system and a Dynamic Traction Control system, the new S1000RR is light at only 189kg and fast thanks to an inline-four engine that outputs a good 182 bhp. What a beast! [via HFLM]
Following Ferrari's declaration that Formula 1 may not be 'a never-ending story' for the Scuderia, BMW has become the second major manufacturer to suggest that it could walk away from the sport in the event of a 'two-class' hierarchy being engendered within the top flight.
Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has blasted Max Mosley and the FIA World Motor Sport Council's £40 million optional budget cap for 2010 and beyond as being 'fundamentally unfair and perhaps even biased' [see separate story – click here], and liable to create a two-tier system amongst teams. BMW Motorsport Director Dr Mario Theissen has since hinted that the new initiative is not to the liking of the Munich-based outfit either.
The BMW board ratified the continuation of the BMW-Sauber F1 presence back in February, but Theissen has now warned that should the sporting landscape change dramatically, that would likely have 'the same impact on the project'.
“A two-class Formula 1 is not attractive to BMW,” the German said at a media event in Munich. “In one go you cannot just evaporate by a factor of three. A moving path, for example over two or three years, would be possible.”
Commercial rights-holder Bernie Ecclestone has conceded that the cap could be introduced at a compromise level of £60 million in its first year. The Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) is due to meet in London today (Wednesday) to discuss the new regulation, already viewed as antithesis to the very raison d'être of F1's big-spending manufacturer-backed operations.
BMW-Sauber is currently languishing woefully off the pace in 2009 – a season in which it had anticipated challenging for title glory – as it grapples with its uncompetitive F1.09 and boasts a scant four points on the board from the opening four 'flyaway' races, all courtesy of Nick Heidfeld's somewhat fortuitous if opportunistic second place in the rain-shortened Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang last month.
BMW is not letting Mercedes getting all the spotlight on their new 2010 E-class concept
It was previously referred to in BMW speak as the “Progressive Activity Sedan”
and is now called the BMW Concept 5 Series GT. This vehicle has the styling
characteristics of the 2009 BMW 7 Series and the SC Concept that was revealed
two years ago at the Shanghai Auto Show.
Although it is named a 5 Series, this GT actually rides on the 7 Series platform
which allows excellent interior space. Other features of this vehicle include rear
seats that move forward and back for increased legroom or additional cargo space
behind the seat. Furthermore, the rear seats recline for added comfort and fold flat
for added cargo capacity.
On the outside, this GT has a coupe-like roofline that finishes off with a hatchback
like trunk area. The rear opens as a hatch for easy entry of large objects or as
a trunk to accept smaller items.
This concept is similar to the recent release of the Toyota Venza. Both vehicles
are presented for people having an active lifestyle who might need to transport
bulk groceries for a large family or a large piece of artwork, etc. The BMW Concept
5 Series enables the coveted higher better view seating position than the 5 Series
car but a bit lower seating than the BMW X5 sport utility.
The first 5 Series GTs will likely be equipped with the choice of a 272 hp naturally
aspired or a 326 hp twin-turbo version of BMW’s 3-liter straight 6-cylinder engine.
Additionally, a 407 hp turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 will be available. Down the road,
a 245 hp single turbo and a 286 hp twin turbo 3-liter 6-cylinder common rail diesels
will be in the offering.
Transmission choices will include a standard six-speed manual offered on the base
gasoline and diesel engines and a newly developed 8-speed automatic mated to
the higher output engines.
How well will this new GT do in the upcoming economic environment? Only time
will tell. Meanwhile, BMW is not letting time stand still! Stay tune for additional
details on this multitask vehicle.
Fast & Furious
Car and Driver observes the 2009 BMW M3’s “bulging aluminum hood” and says “visually, there's no confusing the M3 with a standard-issue 3-series, even though both cars share doors, windows, headlights, taillights, and trunklid.” The other panels have been massaged, and BMW replaces the normal steel on top with a "carbon-fiber roof," says Cars.com; it’s the "the flared fenders and nose-low, hunkered-down profile that suggests a nearly audible snarl." Autoblog points out the "M-specific quad pipes" that "let Bimmer cognoscenti know that they're behind something special." "The BMW M3 appears as a 3 Series Coupe or Sedan that's been to the gym," explains MyRide.com, "not like a dude on 'roids but rather someone who's been doing twice-a-days and eating nothing but chicken and tuna." The front and rear fascias are "revised," the hood has "rippled aluminum" with vents, plus "additional vents on the fenders," they add, summing up its styling as "an exquisite machine that doesn't require exaggerated body kits to draw attention." Edmunds agrees that it has “more aggressive body styling” than the usual 3-Series coupe or sedan.
"Heavily-bolstered," the seats "feel custom-made to your body." Plus, the "thick-rimmed steering wheel" gives the driver a "sporty feel," while cruising down the highway. Additionally, "leather trim" and "door sills with the M logo" round out the interior of the "high-performance" M3 BMW, says MyRide.com, with the added comfort typically left out of such sporty vehicles. “The M3's interior has undergone fewer alterations than the exterior, but there are a number of significant changes,” Car and Driver proclaims. “The usual M treatment includes sportier seats with deep torso and side bolsters, a thick leather steering wheel, and a new M-badged tachometer.” The "aggressive design of the front seats" in the BMW M3 captures the attention of Edmunds.
Awesome design from HARTGE
HARTGE has just released a new aerodynamics kit for the new BMW M3 Convertible. Included is a front lip spoiler with carbon add-ons, bootlid lip, rear diffuser, side sills, and carbon casing for mirrors. No details on what kind of mechanical tweaks are in store but because the guts are the same as the 2009 BMW M3 Coupe, we can assume that you can still get the electronic speed limiter removed or raised upwards. As more detailed emerge we will keep you posted...
Source: HARTGE
