BMW are pulling out all the stops to beat Ken Livingston’s increase in the London Congestion charge. Porsche are heading to the courts while BMW are spending money on innovation.
To be revealed at the Geneva show, BMW’s Vision EfficientDynamics Concept is jam packed with innovative new state-of-the-art technology aimed at reducing emissions and improving efficiency. Based on the bulky X5, the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept is one of the first Diesel Hybrid applications in a passenger car. Only a few other manufacturers like Mercedes, PSA and Ford have shown Diesel Hybrid systems in the past. The vehicle employs a highly developed 2.0L turbo diesel four cylinder engine that uses variable twin turbo system and 3rd generation common rail technology to produce an impressive 204hp and 400Nm of torque. This powerplant is assisted by a mild Hybrid concept that uses a compact generator to provide up to 20hp more power and a whopping 210Nm of torque. All the torque is fed through a new 8 speed automatic transmission developed in conjunction with ZF. The greater spread of gear ratios should allow the engine to run at its more optimal speed/load point for a given road speed. BMW quote 43.5mpg or 172g/km CO2 of on the combined cycle, which is hugely impressive for a vehicle the size of the X5. The car is also equipped with BMW’s regenerative braking system and photovoltaic solar panels mounted to the roof.
It makes perfect sense to couple a hybrid system to a diesel engine. Diesel engines are significantly more efficient than a gasoline engines but generally cost substantially more as a unit. This is a result of their complex fuel injection systems and the obligatory turbocharger, in this case two. Modern diesels emit fewer CO2 emissions too as a result of using less fuel. The cost of the diesel engine has to be added to the hybrid generator and the batteries and all of a sudden you are looking at a very expensive vehicle. Nevertheless, directionally it is a great step forward and perhaps those central London dwellers can still have their SUV fix after all.
BMW is readying its mid-exec sedan and its derivatives which will be on sale in 2010. A new prototype was caught testing in Munich, Germany recently and its hidden shape suggests BMW is staying with the “flame surfacing” design style that has made them so much money over the past five years.
Codenamed F10, the new Fiver appears to have taken some design elements from the 7 Series as well, while probabilities point to a toned down Bangle/Hooydonk look like the current 3 Series. A slew of engines will appear as always, from petrol/ gasoline-powered naturally aspirated models to turbo petrols and diesels. We expect at least two new engines to make their debuts with 2010 5 Series, the one being a smaller petrol turbo and the other a more potent, bigger turbo.
M Division will also be working flat out to outdo Audi’s new RS 6 whose turbo charged V10 motor of 573 bhp (427kW) is currently top of the power charts as far as the three “usual suspect” Teutons are concerned. M5 will certainly match this, even surpass it. At least 600 bhp will be made, but the question is, can it all be organic or are we going to see the first turbo charged M car?
Such a solution is not out of the question, depending on developments in Formula One, environmental considerations etc. BMW has in the past produced 627 bhp/ 468kW out of a 6.1-litre engine; for the indomitable McLaren F1.
It has been almost four years since Lotus ended the production of the Esprit V8, and reports of its successor are in the air yet again. Earlier rumours claimed that Lotus was planning to release the new Esprit this year, but now it appears that it’s being pushed to 2010.
Spy photographers have caught various test mules for quite some time now, and from what we can see, the forthcoming car is indeed growing up well. In terms of design, nothing much is visible although we know it’s targeted to compete with supercars such as the Ferrari F430 and the Lamborghini Gallardo.
Latest report from Autocar suggests that the new Esprit will be powered by BMW’s V8 engine. This sounds promising enough, for we know BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer recently said that the Munich-based automaker has intention to sell its engine technologies to other companies. The most likely candidate for the power-train here would be the 4.4 liter V8 in the BMW X6, possibly tuned up to produce over 500bhp. The car will built between 1000 and 2000 units in the company’s home base Hethel in Britain.
Singapore - BMW is ready to introduce its hydrogen-fuelled 7 Series limousine in Singapore but it won't be for sale, the carmaker said on Wednesday. The car, called the Hydrogen 7, will be part of a BMW Clean Energy Exhibition to be held in the city-state next month.
Representing 20 years of research and development, the Munich-based carmaker has developed the first emission-free liquid hydrogen-powered luxury saloon suitable for everyday use, according to BMW.
The cars due to arrive in Singapore are part of a world tour which is currently in Australia.
The Hydrogen 7 has two fuel tanks, one for petrol and another for liqud hydrogen, BMW said. When operated only on hydrogen fuel, the car emits water vapour.
BMW tuning specialist Hartge has released a series of accessories for the new, V8-powered, E92 M3. The line-up includes an ECU modification unit that discards the electronic top speed limiter, a boot lip spoiler, carbon casings for exterior mirrors, alloy wheels, various leather steering wheel designs with or without carbon-fibre inserts, aluminium pedals, gearbox knob and handbrake handles.
Suspension specialist Eibach has introduced a new sports kit for the BMW 1-Series Coupe. The Pro-Kit performance springs set promises to enhance the bimmer’s handling by lowering the vehicle’s centre of gravity by approx. 1.2" (30 mm) without making it a less practical and comfortable daily run-around -or at least that's what the company supports. Eibach also offers the Pro-Spacer Aluminum-Wheel-Spacers which in turn promises to furthermore optimise the car's overall impression and handling.
Source: Carscoop.com
Eibach Press Details:
Pro-Kit
* top-performance handling
* lower
* progressive spring design
* excellent ride quality
* part of the Eibach Pro-System
Pro-Spacer
* made from high-tensile-strength aluminum alloy
* significant weight advantage compared to wheel-spacers made from steel
* exact fitment by using minimal production tolerances, resulting in exceptional wheel balance
* high-grade corrosion protection through a special coating process
(salt spray test acc. to DIN 50021)
* all applications tested in rigid durability- and fatigue tests
* available for most popular car models
Prices for three-day passes range from $168 to $1,388 for the Sept 26-28 event
By Leonard Lim
AFTER two false starts, the day local motor sports fans have been eagerly anticipating will arrive soon.
Public tickets to the inaugural SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, set to be Formula One's first night race, will go on sale from 9am tomorrow.
A total of 70,000 tickets will be available in this first phase, during which only three-day passes will be sold.
The cheapest of the passes to the Sept 26-28 event will go for $168. They are for the walkabout passes, which give fans access to most areas of the Marina Bay street circuit and stretches around the Singapore Flyer and Esplanade Park. There are 15,000 of these tickets.
The other 55,000 will be grandstand tickets, which start from $248 for an upper tier seat at the Marina Bay floating platform.
The priciest of the grandstand tickets will set fans back by $1,388 for a seat at either the premier pit or the Turns Grandstand, located along and after the start/finish straight respectively.
These seats will offer fans an unrivalled view of this straight and the first turn, likely to be the scene of spectacular overtaking manoeuvres by Lewis Hamilton and Co.
The ticket prices are comparable to that of other F1 races around the world. Tickets for the Monaco street race cost between $506 and $1,694. Those offered for the Sepang Malaysian Grand Prix cost between $66 and $897.
Fans welcomed yesterday's announcement, after organisers twice pushed back public sales - from last December to last month, and then to after Chinese New Year.
Generally, they felt the prices were reasonable.
Said banker Goh Chonghan: 'The prices, though high, seem reasonable given that it's the first F1 night race.
'But I may not pay as much in future years. It depends on how good the experience is this year.'
It is believed that the delay came about as the organisers were awaiting the green light for additional grandstands.
It turned out to be a worthwhile wait.
Three more grandstands have been added since the last announcement in November.
They are at the areas adjacent to One Raffles Link along Nicoll Highway, along Raffles Avenue just before the floating pontoon, and along the Marina Waterfront next to the pontoon.
Tickets to two Padang grandstands have not been released yet, as negotiations with Singapore Recreation Club and Singapore Cricket Club to lease the site are ongoing. It is understood that the parties are close to reaching a resolution.
All these mean that together with the 15,000 corporate hospitality tickets, a total of 85,000 spectators will be able to be part of the history-making event.
Whether or not one-day passes would go on sale would depend on whether the three-day passes sell out. If F1 ticket prices abroad are an indication, one-day passes on race day typically cost as high as 60 to 70 per cent of a three-day pass.
Meanwhile, all is being done to see if more fans can be fitted in.
A Singapore Grand Prix spokesman said: 'We're still looking to see if we can find additional spaces and increase the number of tickets, but at the moment that's all we have.'
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