Not a company to pull punches, here is what BMW had to say about the second-generation X5 when it was launched last year:
“BMW will write the latest chapter in the story of the world’s first Sports Activity Vehicle®, the BMW X5. Originally launched for the 2000 model year in late 1999, the BMW X5 permanently changed the automotive landscape. It proved that the driving dynamics, responsiveness, and linear control signature to every BMW could be compatible with utility, versatility, and other-roads capability.”
My time spent at the Larz Anderson Museum has been quite fruitful so far this Summer. First, with the classic delights of British Car Day, and then with the thoroughly modern experience of getting behind the wheel of the all-new Porsche Boxster Spyder, its safe to say I’ve had my share of thrills.
That paled in comparison to what was to greet me Sunday June 20th (last Sunday). German Car Day was in full swing, and it was enormous. On the drive up to the museum, Porsche 356 roadsters could be seen darting up back roads in packs. Entering the grounds, I was greeted with the largest collection of cars ever to turn out for the German Car event (the largest single show was one of the past iterations of the Tutto Italiano, taking place August first this year). (more…)
Yesterday in WheelsTV I gave you a rundown (Actually it was a walkdown.) on some of Continental’s innovative technologies. But I saved one for special mention today: Continental’s Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal (AFFP). It’s one of Conti’s Human-Machine Interface (HMI) technologies, and I was able to evaluate it on a BMW 3 Series. Instead of having the driver watch an upshift light on the dash or listen for a tone, the AFFP vibrates or adds a counterforce as feedback to the driver to educate his right foot in driving more efficiently to save fuel and reduce emissions. Pedal vibration and/or counterforce are fully tunable. This technology can also be integrated into several other Conti safety technologies, as for example, providing feedback to the driver of his current distance to other vehicles. (more…)
I’ve never really been too partial to the look of the Z4, or to the man behind its lines. It came about during the much lamented/praised Chris Bangle era at BMW, and while the Z3 replacement was also conceived with the help of Danish designer Anders Warming, no doubt Bangle’s twisted notion of beauty was the guiding force in the Z4 coupe and roadster.
Bangle’s time at BMW is over, and we are just seeing the evolution of his (some say) revolutionary designs. The 3-Series and 7-Series for 2009 got just a little more softened visually, and in the process laid the foundation for the next generation of BMW road cars. The next example of this shift is the redesigned 2009 Z4.
While the overall shape of the new Z4 is continued, the silly “switchblade” design has been dropped for smoother head and taillights, flowing body lines, and an all new retractable hard top. (more…)
