Tiga BMW Sabet Red Dot Mobil Berdesain Terbaik 2010

(JOERG KOCH/AFP/Getty Images)

BERLIN, 22 Maret 2010 - Seleksi tahunan desain produk terbaik, Red Dot, kembali mengumumkan hasil pemilihan terhadap 4.252 produk dari 57 negara. Para juri mengelompokkan produk otomotif dalam 17 kategori berdasar inovasi, fungsi dan kemampuan mobil.

Hasilnya, dewan juri yang terdiri dari para pakar berkaliber internasional itu menetapkan tiga kendaraan produksi Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) dan satu Roll Royce menyabet gelar Red Dot atau kendaraan terbaik 2010.

Roll Royce memenangi gelar “Red Dot : Best of The Best” sebagai kendaraan dengan kualitasdesain tertinggi untuk kategori kendaraan penumpang, transportasi, dan caravan. Sedangkan tiga model di keluarga BMW menyabet gelar terbaik untuk kualitas desain. Ketiganya adalah sedan BMW seri 5, BMW X1, serta BMW seri 5 Gran Turismo.

Penyerahan penghargaan akan dilakukan pada rencananya akan diserahkan di Aalto Theatre di Essen pada 5 Juli mendatang.”Rolls-Royce Ghost yang memenangi penghargaan ini adalah sebuah mobil yang memiliki karakter unik yang tercermin dari penampilannya yang eksklusif. Ini adalah simbol kejelasan desain yang merefleksikan nilai-nilai klasik dari merek dalam gaya modern untuk abad ke-21. Garis-garis tegas mencerminkan performa dinamis dari Rolls-Royce yang pernah diproduksi,” demikian pernyataan dewan juri Red Dot seperti dikutip autoevolution.

BMW X 1 memiliki dimensi panjang 4.454 milimeter (mm), lebar 1.798 mm, dan tinggi 1.545 mm dengan wheelbase 2760 mm. Di Eropa, BMW X1 dibekali mesin 2.996 cc, enam silinder yang menyemburkan tenaga 240 daya kuda dan torsi maksimum 250 Newton meter.

Dari sisi desain, BMW X1 lebih menonjolkan unsur elegan namun tetap mementingkan aspek fungsi. Pada bagian interior misalnya, BMW berupaya untuk menampilkan tren terkini namun tidak menghilangkan kepentingan fungsi. Hal ini terlihat dari penempatan piranti yang mendukung pengemudi di area cockpit dengan konsep forward-pushing lines.

Sementara seri 5 Gran Turismo dinilai memiliki beberapa keunggulan. Pada bagian eksteriornya dinilai sangat memperhatikan aerodinamika. Sementara bagian kabin crossover bermesin 3.000 cc Turbocharger V8 memiliki kenyamanan yang tinggi.

Kursi pada baris kedua misalnya, bisa direbahkan hingga dasar kabin. Kapasitas kabin, dirancang lebih besar ketimbang seri 7. Disitulah kenyamanan dan kemewahan BMW seri 5 Gran Turismo yang tetap mengutamakan fungsi terpancar kuat. Inilah nilai plus mobil ini.

Red Dot merupakan ajang penilaian desain produk paling bergengsi di dunia. Ritual ini yang digelar sejak 1955. Produk yang dinilai tak sebatas otomotif, tetapi juga arsitektur, perlengkapan rumah, elektronik bahkan desain busana hingga obat-obatan.

Sumber Foto

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BMW to Go Front-Wheel Drive

BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer has confirmed that the German carmaker will introduce a new front-wheel-drive entry-level model positioned and priced below the existing 1-Series as part of plans to help increase part sharing and to bolster the potential for production savings between the BMW and MINI brands, thus bringing an end to the era of rear- and four-wheel-drive-only BMW models.

Speaking to AutoWeek at the Geneva Motor Show, Reithofer said internal BMW studies revealed that despite the downturn in the world’s economy, there was continued demand for what he described as “premium vehicles” in the small-car class, before officially acknowledging plans that will see BMW produce a rival to the recently unveiled Audi A1 and a new smart forfour presently under development at Mercedes-Benz.

“We will be extending the BMW and MINI brands into the small-car segment with new models and variants,” he said.

Reithofer reconfirmed the plans for front-drive BMWs on Wednesday during the automakers annual shareholder meeting in Munich.

Being careful to separate the new price-leading front-drive model from BMW’s upcoming city car, which is being developed in a different project as part of its Mega City Vehicle electric-car initiative, Reithofer added, “For these new vehicles [the new BMW and MINI] we [are] developing a common architecture for both front- and four-wheel drive.”

While exact details remain shrouded in secrecy, AutoWeek can confirm the new entry-level BMW has been conceived to run the same front-drive underpinnings as the next-generation MINI Cooper.

But while the new MINI Cooper isn’t due out until 2014, indications are that the small BMW could be on sale as early as 2013 as part of a major thrust by the company to become the undisputed sales leader in the premium small-car class.

News of plans to base the new entry-level BMW on the same platform as the MINI Cooper also raises the question of where the new car would be produced. Although BMW is being vague, indications are it could be built alongside the MINI Cooper in Oxford, England, using a new generation of three- and four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines sourced from BMW’s British-based engine factory in Hams Hall.

AutoWeek understands that studies are also under way that could see the new platform structure referred to by Reithofer used for future generations of the 1-Series, although at this stage, BMW is undecided on whether the third-generation model due out in 2018 will be front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive.

“We are looking at alternatives,” a Munich insider told AutoWeek. “With the new platform set to support four-wheel drive, it wouldn’t be that hard to use the transmission tunnel for a rear-wheel-drive application.”

[Via http://newsautomobile.wordpress.com]

Decisions, Decisions

With the upcoming 2010 racing season beginning in April, I keep wondering what I’m going to do. Will I be able to race this year? Will I be working flags this year? Do I have enough money? Do I continue prepping and building the E30? Do I get it ready to sell? Do I track the WRX again for now? Is it worth selling the E30 or would I lose out on a lot of money? Right now, I have no idea what the answers are to these questions.

I sold my 240 last year and bought an E30 with the goal to race in the Spec E30 class with NASA. I loved my 240 but I would’ve been in a class where nobody was ever really going to be. It’d just be me. In order to be in a class where more were racing I would’ve had to make the car faster. I just saw myself digging myself into this hole where I would always want to do something to the car. So I figured Spec E30 would limit me. I would have to follow the rules and be limited to the modifications I could do. Therefore, I wouldn’t be continually spending money in order to make the car faster or whatever else.

Now I sit here wondering if I’m even going to be able to race. I still have a lot of work to do to the car in order to be race ready. This requires money, which I don’t have a lot of. Plus, since I don’t have a way of towing the car, I’d have to drive it to the track. If anything breaks, I have no transportation. Sure, I could still do track days as opposed to racing but I could also do track days in my WRX.

I’m weighing the pros and cons and I still have no clear decision. I probably won’t for a while. I just wish I were rich or had the money to be able to be fine keeping the E30 and building it and not have to worry.

[Via http://whiteliesandblacktruths.wordpress.com]

BMW Aftermarket

There is a HUGE aftermarket industry for BMW. The market opportunity was being missed by BMW for the majority of their company’s history. After establishing BMW’s racing program, Bavarian Motor Works saw the demand for the higher performance cars in the consumer market. The “M” division grew dramatically from 8 employees in ‘72 to 400 employees in ‘88, eventually dominating the company’s market presence.

The M cars were highly modified externally and internally, allowing BMW to provide customers with next-level cars. Following these modifications on engines, transmissions, suspensions & aerodynamics, many other companies jumped on this segment in the market. The BMW Aftermarket has changed the BMW image, in addition to creating an aftermarket industry to higher income consumers.

Here is a peek at the BMW X6M with aftermarket modifications by AC Schnizer:

[Via http://carmodexperts.wordpress.com]

The /5...a classic BMW ride

I spend a lot of time traveling on motorcycles, I’m a lucky man. I have a few friends that I travel with on a regular basis, most of them ride BMW’s, and older ones at that. It seems that this particular group of friends has a thing for the R75/5 model. Because of the influence of this circle of friends, I ended up with a classic BMW and am happy as can be with it.

I found this on eBay this morning and if you are looking for a classic ride that will make you feel good every time you hit the starter button I think this motorcycle might be calling your name. The seller has gone through this motorcycle to bring it up to almost new and it shows. A complete frame up resto with some upgrades that will just keep running and running

71 BMW /5

[Via http://vintagemotorcycles.wordpress.com]

BMW Performance

Creating a new car out of your current car can be challenging. Most people are looking for a good balance between remodeling aesthetics and remodeling everything under the hood. There are so many options out there that might screw up your car, waste your money, or get you in trouble with the law. Your goal should be to maximize performance and make the most out of your money, because cheap parts don’t always hold high quality standards. One way to find quality parts is to look at project cars made by professionals.

Right now sleek simple visuals are attractive. Especially BMW’s. The Vorsteiner VR-7 Sportiv Aero Package for the 7-series is a prime example of the modern sleek car. It’s elegance peeks through the carbon fiber spoilers on the front and rear end, completing the image of a confident driver. The car’s complementary wheels could find themselves beside sculptures in a modern house, making the car unrivaled. BMW Performance standards have grown so dramatically that even the most wealthy people find themselves looking to push their car to the next level.

[Via http://carmodexperts.wordpress.com]

BMW Lighting

The lighting on your car can dramatically change it’s appearance with a simple install. Most lighting upgrades are inexpensive, and provide long lasting light that looks much better than stock lighting. BMW lights are constantly updated to provide drivers with the latest technology in lighting accessories. More and more vehicles are coming stock with better lights, but new stuff always comes out to top the charts. These items are the products to use on your BMW.

[Via http://carmodexperts.wordpress.com]

BMW Response

After a day of hard work on Adobe Illustrator and Visual Basic… I went to my inbox and seen a response from BMW with regards to my enquiry about materials and methods of manufacture. The response was very much the same as Jaguar in the sense that they can’t disclose any information and invited me down to visit their warehouse. I’m hoping that Audi respond with details, but if they were to offer me a tour I’d have to take that!

“You might like to arrange a visit to one of the BMW manufacturing plants. BMW has two UK plants which offer tours – Plant Oxford www.bmwgroup-plant-oxford.com/e/index.html and Plant Hams Hall www.bmw-plant-hamshall.co.uk/english/plant_tour.”

[Via http://gublogbook.wordpress.com]