We are always exhilarated by the little view of our favorite cars. From Porsche to Ferrari, from Lamborghini to BMW, etc. Now we can flaunt these car designs in our pockets through these geeky gadgets with engraved emblems of our beloved cars. Take a look.
The German manufacturers are all set to make the pulses of Indian consumers go racing – with the launch of their K 1300 R super-bike. The power of the engine has been pumped up, the looks have been touched up, and overall this version of the bike looks and feels a lot better than the predecessor. All that should, however, not matter to the Indian buyer, who will anyway get a taste of a beamer super-bike for the 1st time here.
BUILD & LOOKS:
The overall looks really get your attention, as you would expect from any super-bike. But, the thing that BMW has really excelled in, is the muscle power it seems to have added in the looks compartment of this particular R version. The K1300R rolls on a 1mm longer wheelbase than its predecessor due to the lower mounting point of the revised Duolever front end. It helps in saving 1kg of unsprung weight, but it transforms the wheel of the front end. Overall, it’s very well built, but it’s certainly not the prettiest. Just bold and raw muscle power.
ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE:
With an upgraded engine producing 173bhp @ 9,250rpm you would expect this bike to be a beast on the road. And that’s exactly what it feels like, most times. The only question is, would an Indian buyer find enough good roads here to enjoy this power-house of a bike? BMW have done a cracking job of integrating great features from other bikes in the BMW range into this new machine. The quirky quick shifter first experienced on the HP2 Sport has found its way onto the accessory list for the K1300R and the S. It works in the same way, allowing the rider to change gear without full throttle or shutting off; just applying a little pressure to the lever is enough. The system worked best if you made the change deliberate but unhurried - not always easy to do at full throttle.
CONCLUSION:
Even though you have to love and appreciate the engineering and quality that BMW has integrated in this bike, you are left wondering if it is worth your dough for Indian roads. If money is not an object, then it should not even matter. If it is, then you would be well advised to look for other options.
PROs: Excellent handling even at high speeds, Raw power for extra thrill, Awesome road presence
BMW has released the official details and images of the new Rolls-Royce Ghost (aka RR4), the new model series in the company’s ultra-luxury brand. Visually, the model remains mostly unchanged from its concept debut at the Geneva Motor Show last March.
Power comes from a new 6.6L V12 twin-turbo engine making 563-hp with a maximum torque of 575 lb-ft. 0 to 60 mph comes in just 4.7 seconds with a top-speed electronically governed at 155 mph. The engine is mated to a 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox. For those of you wondering, the Rolls-Royce Ghost manages an estimated fuel-economy of 17 mpg.
The Rolls-Royce Ghost will make its world debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show later this month and will be priced between €200,000 and €300,000 when it goes on sale. Buyers will have a choice of 12 exterior colors, each of which can be contrasted by an available Silver Satin bonnet.
2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost:
Press Release:
ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST
Autumn 2006, Paris motor show: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced that work had begun on a new model series. The new car would be in production and on sale by the turn of the decade. The only other facts confirmed at that stage were that it would be smaller than the Phantom saloon and priced somewhere between €200,000 and €300,000 before tax. Speculation about its style and specification began almost immediately…
Little was seen of the new car, codenamed RR4, until the spring of 2008, when Rolls-Royce released the first official sketches. The styling was instantly recognisable as a Rolls-Royce, although less traditional than previous models. At the time Chief Designer, Ian Cameron, said, “The RR4 has a more informal presence than the Phantom models with a greater emphasis on driving. In design terms this is expressed through its slightly smaller dimensions, yet with powerful, purposeful proportions. It is a true and uncompromising Rolls-Royce in every sense.”
As sightings of secret development models on the road increased, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled 200EX, the experimental forerunner to Ghost, at the Geneva motor show in March 2009. An instant hit, 200EX bore the trademark Rolls-Royce design cues but in altogether more compelling fashion. It was a clear statement of intent.
What the design team was seeking to create was a modern Rolls-Royce that achieved a new dynamism but remained true to its luxurious heritage. They had found inspiration in contemporary furniture, architecture and yachts but also in the spirit of the 1930s – that sense of adventure and endeavour – which they wanted to capture in the character of this new car.
“200EX is a modern execution of timeless Rolls-Royce elegance, breaking with some areas of tradition but retaining the core values that make our marque unique,” said Chief Executive Officer Tom Purves. “We expect the more informal design to broaden the appeal of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, attracting people who appreciate its fusion of refinement, new technology and contemporary style.”
After the show, 200EX embarked on a world tour, during which further information about the forthcoming production model became available. It would be powered by a new 6.6 litre V12 unique to the marque, delivering 563 bhp with extraordinary performance figures. It would ride on an intelligent air suspension system offering peerless ride and dynamics. And it would be called Ghost.
“Ghost is one of the most revered names in automotive industry,” said Tom Purves. “It evokes images of adventure and technical innovation. The first cars to bear the Ghost name were known not only for impressive dependability and refinement but also great flair and style.”
Following the overwhelmingly positive reaction to 200EX during its travels, very few changes were made in the transition to the production Ghost – a tribute to the remarkable achievements of Ian Cameron’s and Helmut Riedl’s design and engineering teams.
In September 2009, the new Rolls-Royce Ghost was formally launched to the world.
The company says the Rolls-Royce 200EX is a design study for a contemporary 4-door sedan that shows the direction for the Ghost, a new model series that enters production in 2009.
After all the spy shots and teasers, BMW has finally released the details of the new BMW Vision EfficientDynamics ahead of its scheduled debut; the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
BMW says that the high-performance concept study, with their ActiveHybrid technology, showcases “future demands in sustained mobility” and is “a symbol for the future of Sheer Driving Pleasure in harmony with trend-setting efficiency.” The automaker says that the aim of the Vision EfficientDynamics, is to realize “the performance of a BMW M Car and a highly emotional character combined with the fuel economy and emission management of a modern small car in the premium class.”
Power for the full-hybrid 2+2 seater BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept, comes from a 3-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, and two electric motors. The 1.5L 3-cylinder turbo-diesel engine features the latest generation of common-rail direct injection technology, producing a total of 163 horses with a peak torque of 214 lb-ft, and transferring power to wheels, via a double-clutch 6-speed transmission.
“Consistently applying the BMW ActiveHybrid strategy, BMW’s development engineers followed the principle of “Best of Hybrid”, choosing the optimum combination of a hybrid synchronous motor on the front axle and a full-hybrid system at the rear,” BMW said. In English that means that there is one-electric motor positioned between the combustion engine and the double-clutch gearbox. It produces 25 kW (33-hp) and is able to reach a peak of up to 38 kW (51-hp) with a maximum torque of 214 lb-ft. The second electric-motor, which powers the front axle, offers a continuous output of 60 kW (80-hp), and peak torque of 162 lb-ft. Extra power of 84 kW (112-hp) is available for a period of up to 30 seconds; the electric motor is even capable of delivering 104 kW (139-hp) for 10 seconds. All of this is transmitted through a two-stage, single-speed reduced-ratio gearbox.
With everything working in sync, the total system output comes in at 356-hp, with a maximum torque of 590 lb-ft. But all that power is used only when you need it; when overtaking, for example. 0 to 62 mph comes in just 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph and fuel-economy is estimated at 63 mpg.
Overall, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics comes with a total of 98 lithium-polymer cells. When connected to a regular 220v outlet, the Vision EfficientDynamics requires 2 ½ hours to fully charge. A full-charge allows the car to cover a distance of approximately 31 miles when running on electric-mode alone.
So will we ever see a production model? Not for now. BMW says that the “Vision EfficientDynamics offers a realistic impression of the unique potential of BMW’s ActiveHybrid technology and the great innovative thrust of BMW EfficientDynamics.”
BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept:
Press Release:
THE BMW VISION EFFICIENTDYNAMICS CONCEPT
The latest BMW Concept Car for the EfficientDynamics philosophy.
Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, 29 August 2009, 6pm Eastern… For decades, BMW has made the reduction of emissions and fuel consumption a key part of its product development strategy, just as enhancements to the dynamic ability of each BMW have been a lasting, sustained brand value. BMW’s EfficientDynamics engineering philosophy - the pursuit of an enhanced, athletic driving experience while simultaneously lowering the consumption and emissions of each vehicle - resulted in the most dramatic drop in fleet consumption of any automaker from 1990 through 2005, according to an Environmental Defense study.
Now, the BMW Vision concept car clearly demonstrates that the EfficientDynamics objectives are fully compatible when applied to a sports car. Conceived as a 2+2-seater with plug-in full-hybrid technology, this unique car combines the performance of a BMW M vehicle with a standard of fuel efficiency and emission management that exceeds even the current levels achieved by the latest small cars. This outstanding result is made possible by the combination of BMW ActiveHybrid components with an extremely economical combustion engine, and outstanding aerodynamic qualities.
BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is the result of a “clean-sheet” development process to ensure that the correct achievements were made in the areas of efficiency, driving pleasure, technology, and emotional design. BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is the most comprehensive implementation of the EfficientDynamics philosophy seen so far. The powertrain provides a top speed limited electronically to 155 mph, with acceleration to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. Average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is 3.76 liters/100 kilometers, equal to 62.6 mpg, and the CO2 emission rating is 99 grams per kilometer. CO2 emission management is even more outstanding when driving in the all-electric mode after charging the battery from a plug-in source: Taking all emissions in the generation of electricity into account, as prescribed by the EU formula, the car’s emission rating is just 50 grams per kilometer.
Through this unique balance of driving pleasure and fuel efficiency, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car clearly demonstrates the potential of BMW ActiveHybrid technology, which makes its world debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 and BMW ActiveHybrid 7 production models.
The power and performance are made possible by combining a fuel-efficient 3-cylinder turbodiesel with one electric motor on each axle. The intelligent combination of these units, together with precisely controlled energy management, simultaneously enhances the dynamic performance and the efficiency of the car. Overall system output is 356 horsepower, and peak torque is 590 lb-ft. The special arrangement of the two motors and diesel engine allows all-wheel drive when driving in all-electric mode. The result is minimum power loss and a harmonious transmission of the power available under all conditions.
In its design, BMW Vision EfficientDynamics for the first time conveys the dynamic look of a BMW sports car to a hybrid vehicle. Developed with decades of experience in Motorsport, the body of this unique sports car is a result of intelligent lightweight technology and aerodynamic efficiency. In the design of the interior, the focus was likewise on both the fascinating driving experience and, in particular, on transparent, hands-on technology and maximum reduction of weight.
Turbodiesel engine with unprecedented specific output.
Two electric motors for full-hybrid drive.
Lithium-polymer battery for electrical energy.
Plug-in solution: convenient charging of the electric power system from a conventional power socket.
Performance, fuel efficiency and emission management opening new dimensions in hybrid technology.
Are u shocked!!!! ya its right BMW shocked everyone by announcing to quit formula one at the end of 2009 as the German carmaker tries to focus on sustainability and the environment, at board meeting held on wednessday.
BMW's exit is the 1st prominent widrawl from the series after Honda quit in December due to tough bussiness competition.
The current championship leaders now use Mercedes engines.
eithofer said"Of course this was a difficult decision for us.But it's a resolute step in view of our company's strategic realignment."
"We will remain loyal to motor sports, but we will do this in series that enable us to transfer technology more directly and to realise additional synergies"
"It only tooks us three years to establish ourselves as a top team with BMW Sauber F1 Team. Unfortunately, we were unable to meet expectations in current season. Nevertheless,our ten years of Formula One experience have had a major impact on or development engineers. We have racing to thank for numerous technological innovations as well as the competitive spirit that drives us to develop mass-produced cars." Added Dr. Klaus Draeger, the member of Board of Management responsible for development.
