BMW Motorrad Concept R18.

BMW Motorrad Concept R18
BMW Motorrad Concept R18

Against the backdrop of a bustling mix of the traditional and the modern on show at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, BMW Motorrad presents an engaging alternative for a time that is being increasingly characterised by rapid technological change. You could see it as a return to the brand’s core, but given a modern twist: the BMW Motorrad Concept R18 transports the essence of the big BMW Motorrad classics into the modern age, or in other words, it is taking a historical motorcycle design and giving it a modern, custom attitude. Dr. Markus Schramm, head of BMW Motorrad, describes the design as follows: “With this dream bike, BMW Motorrad presents its own version of an emotional and authentic offer for the large cruiser segment.”

The BMW Motorrad Concept R18 shows how a forward projection of a 1960s boxer engine could look like today as a purist custom bike in combination with all the classic design icons of BMW Motorrad design. “With its clear aesthetics openly on display, the Concept R18 embodies for me what motorcycling, at its core, is really about. It is all about feeling instead of thinking, and not using technology for self-staging, instead giving space for imagination. This concept bike appeals to something deep down – you just want to just get on it and ride off. But when you get off it again, you don’t just put it in the garage and walk away – you turn around again and give it a final parting glance”, explains Edgar Heinrich, head of BMW Motorrad Design.

Consistently purist design with timeless proportions.

The BMW Motorrad Concept R18 is the essence of motorcycling, a bike in its original, natural form. In true custom style, it celebrates the art of leaving out what you don’t need and then concentrating on what is left. “The biggest challenge in the design is to render everything visible. Every part has a functional purpose. There are not many who would dare to take such an absolutely honest approach”, says Bart Janssen Groesbeek, designer of the concept bike. The BMW Motorrad Concept R18 is immediately recognisable as a genuine BMW: boxer engine, cradle frame, exposed universal shaft and drop-shaped fuel tank with its black paintwork and hand-applied contrast lines interpret typical design icons of BMW Motorrad classics, while displaying confidence along with modern-style linearity. The balanced proportions are reminiscent of classics like the BMW R5, and convey – even from a distance – the timeless beauty that comes about whenever things are consistently reduced to their bare essentials. The frame and tank create a common line all the way from the steering head to the rear wheel hub and lend a flowing elegance to the side view. The large spoke wheels (front 21 inch, rear 18 inch) provide a secure stance and perfectly balance the dominant power unit. The tyres are a further reference to history: just as it was in its day, this bike is again fitted with Metzeler tyres.


The BMW boxer tradition brings out new splendour.

The heart of the BMW Motorrad Concept R18 is the large, newly designed, two-cylinder 1800 cc boxer engine. Its outward appearance is consciously reminiscent of the flat twin engines that BMW Motorrad used to build up until the end of the 1960s – but with a considerably bigger displacement and modern air/oil cooling. The big prototype boxer has been designed down to the last detail: the engine block and transmission are made of glass bead-blasted aluminium, providing an ideal stage on which to present the hand-polished aluminium components as well as the belt guard and valve covers. The engine badge bears the name of the concept bike and emphasises the overall quality. In addition, Solex dual carburettors – similar to those in the BMW 2002 – hark back to the brand’s construction history and add the final touch to the bike’s visual authenticity. 

Another optical highlight is the exposed, chrome-plated universal shaft that connects the back wheel to the drive. There are no further covers anywhere on the motorcycle, which serves to keep its engineering clearly visible. Similarly, the electronics of the concept bike are reduced to no more than starter and lights, underlining its purist design.

The BMW Motorrad Concept R18 is the third in-house interpretation of the large-capacity boxer engine to come from BMW Motorrad. Last December the model created by the Japanese customisers, CUSTOM WORKS ZON was presented at the Yokohama Hot Rod Show, on the basis of this new prototype engine. The ‘Departed’ won the biggest accolade of the event, the ’Best of Show Motorcycle’ award, thrilling motorcycle fans with its classic forms, modern production techniques and all manner of manual art and craft in the details. The next round was the interpretation by Revival Cycles.


The customisers from Austin, Texas created a spectacular bike with their ‘Revival Birdcage’ model, an ideal presentation platform for the Big Boxer. The specially developed titanium frame features an unobstructed view of the engine and drive from all angles. This American design created a furore at last month’s Handbuilt Show in Texas.

High quality details in fine custom work.

As for its colour design, the BMW Motorrad Concept R18 shows itself to be a classic. The theme is typical BMW: the white, hand-applied lines on the fork and fuel tank in combination with the black base colour represent the classic BMW colour theme. A discreet yellow-gold varnish effect lends the bright twin lines an exclusive touch, and the black effect paintwork on the tank and fork rods similarly reveal, in the best custom style, an unusual depth when the sunlight strikes the large metallic particles in the various layers of the paintwork.

The visual design of the imprinted single leather seat is borrowed from the classics of the 1950s. Reinterpreted and somewhat more comfortable, its quality embossing sits perfectly within the overall purist and high-class design. The cantilever spring strut is integrated beneath the seat. The graphics of the headlamp design are also reminiscent of the 1950s. The classic U shape of the original glass cover components are now interpreted as LED lamp elements.

Every one of these details contributes to the unique character of the concept bike and underlines its overall statement. The BMW Motorrad Concept R18 merges traditional and historic design language with the current functionalities of BMW Motorrad in a coherent and cohesive whole.

Moreover, an exclusive and suitably themed horse leather jacket, which recreates the aesthetics of those days, has been designed especially for the presentation of the concept bike at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The leather jacket features a very smooth surface with only little grain and the protectors are integrated almost invisibly.

A counterpoint to contemporary times.

“For me, motorcycles like the BMW Motorrad Concept R18 are a response to a growing need among the motorcycling community: instead of technology, the focus here is on simplification, authenticity and transparency. I observe an almost romantic yearning for real mechanical engineering. Our aim with this concept bike is to address this need and turn it into an analogue statement in a digital age. We have a rich history of iconic motorcycles, and they all bear the same design characteristics. We believe that this can still work well together today with the current technology,” says Edgar Heinrich in conclusion.

courtesy: https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/

Inspire rather than prescribe: BMW Group believes in technology openness for e-mobility

Inspire rather than prescribe: BMW Group believes in technology openness for e-mobility
Inspire rather than prescribe: BMW Group believes in technology openness for e-mobility

The BMW Group, a pioneer in electromobility, is rapidly expanding its range of electrified vehicles. Within two years, the company will offer five fully-electric series-production vehicles: Alongside the BMW i3, with more than 150,000 units built to date, this year will see the start of production of the fully electric MINI at Plant Oxford (UK). This will be followed in 2020 by the fully-electric BMW iX3 from Shenyang (China) and in 2021 by the BMW iNEXT, which will be produced in Dingolfing (Germany), and the BMW i4 from Plant Munich (Germany).

Including its extensive fleet of plug-in hybrids, the BMW Group has the widest range of electrified vehicles on the market. Updated, extended electric-range plug-in-hybrid versions of the BMW 3 Series, BMW 7 Series and BMW X5 alongside the new BMW X3 plug-in hybrid were presented at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. A few weeks later, the updated plug-in hybrid variant of the BMW X1 Long Wheelbase Version, which is produced locally for the Chinese market, was shown at the Shanghai Auto Show. This diversity of electrified drive concepts underlines the importance of technology openness on the road to sustainable mobility.

“Our market is global. We don’t want to tell people what to do; we want our products to inspire people all over the world. Our flexible electrification strategy underlines this approach and enables us to serve very different regions of the world, as the introduction of alternative drive trains is proceeding at a different pace in different markets,” emphasised Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, at the company’s Annual General Meeting in Munich on Thursday. “Technological openness is key to being prepared for the regulatory requirements and customer wishes in different markets,” he added.

The BMW Group will launch more than ten fully-electric and plug-in hybrid models onto the market by the end of next year – either completely new or updated models with the fourth-generation (“Gen 4”) of the company’s electrified drive train technology. By 2025, the BMW Group will offer at least 25 electrified models – half of them fully-electric.

“Technology openness also means continuing to improve our already efficient combustion engines. We are systematically driving e-mobility with both fully-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, and investing in new technologies such as fuel cells. We believe it would be a mistake to rely on just one technology, as that could jeopardise prosperity in Germany,” said Krüger.

The BMW Group has always promoted emission-free mobility and advocated for its effective support. However the demands of future mobility will be multifaceted. There will not be just one single solution that meets the mobility needs of all customers around the world. People living in rural areas, for instance, need different technological solutions for mobility than those in cities.

The effective role plug-in hybrids can play in achieving emission-free mobility in cities is demonstrated by the example from the Netherlands: In conjunction with the City of Rotterdam, the BMW Group has implemented a pilot project to increase the use of electric power by plug-in hybrids in the city. Preliminary results indicate that participating customers drove over 90% in electric mode in a specially defined “e-zone” within Rotterdam.

This underlines the fact that plug-in hybrids are both an important building block in ramping up e-mobility and a long-term requirement for customers who depend on flexibility. For this reason, the BMW Group has a strong interest in influencing user behaviour to increase the percentage of miles driven with electric power.

Krüger added: “We all have a responsibility to ensure a world worth living in for our children. We are bringing the right products to achieve this onto the market and have set ourselves the goal of purchasing electricity for our locations worldwide exclusively from renewable sources from 2020 on. By 2020, we also aim to have reduced the CO2 emissions of our new vehicle fleet in Europe by at least 50 percent compared to 1995 levels. By the end of 2018, we had already achieved 42 percent.”

Courtesy: https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/

MINI at Auto China Beijing 2018.

MINI at Auto China Beijing 2018.

MINI at Auto China Beijing 2018.

A unique combination of driving fun, premium quality and individual style, characterise the models with which MINI continues to increase its popularity on the Chinese automotive market. The model update for the MINI 3 door, MINI 5 door and the MINI Convertible set fresh impulses for the success of the brand. The Asian premiere of the new models will take place at the Auto China 2018 in Beijing. Furthermore, MINI will be presenting its range of models in the premium compact segment.

More than 1600 exhibitors from all over the world will be presenting current models, technological innovations and services at the Auto China 2018. The international automotive meeting, which began in 1990, takes place every two years and is spread over 220 000 square metres at the China International Exhibition Center. The 15th exhibition will take place between 25 April and 4 May 2018 with more than 800 000 visitors expected.

Fresh Update for the Original in the Premium Small Car Segment.

The three originals in the premium small car segment are now sportier, more advanced and more attractive than ever before, thanks to the model update. The new MINI 3 door, MINI 5 door and MINI Convertible boast specific design modifications, additional equipment features and individualisation possibilities as well as new digital services from MINI Connected.

The British brand’s new MINI 5 door will take centre stage at the Auto China 2018. The model, the first of the current MINI generation to be introduced, embodies the principle of creative use of space – used ever since the classic Mini – in a fascinating, modern form. Brand typical proportions are combined with the advantage of additional leg and head room in the rear as well as luggage space. Functionality, comfort and long distance suitability are improved thanks to the 161 millimeters extended body length, the two additional doors and the three seats in the rear. The mature character of the compact car model from MINI is, therefore, accompanied by an increase in product substance.

Distinct design accents and new equipment features.

The new MINI 5 door as well as the new MINI 3 door and the new MINI Convertible boast a distinct black trim as standard in its headlights as part of its precise design details. In combination with the LED headlights, the taillights also boast a new design. As a clear nod to the brand’s British heritage, the LED taillights feature a Union Jack motif. The MINI 5 door, on display at the Auto China 2018, will feature a new body colour, Emerald Grey metallic. There are three new colours available in total. The MINI 3 door, also at Beijing, is finished in Solaris Orange metallic and the MINI Convertible in Starlight Blue metallic.

New individualisation possibilities are offered through the option Piano Black Exterior, the additional alloy wheels and the Chester leather trim and Colour Line now also available in Malt Brown for the MINI 5 door and MINI 3 door. There is also the option MINI Yours Interior Style Piano Black illuminated which bears a Union Jack motif rear-lit strip on the passenger’s instrument panel. Furthermore, the enhanced compact car model boasts the new MINI logo. The control system now contains a Touch screen function for the display in the central instrument. There is also an expansion of the digital services as part of MINI Connected.

Three engine variants are available for the MINI 3 door (for the Chinese market combined fuel consumption: 6,2 – 5,4 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 148 – 129 g/km) as well as the MINI 5 door (for the Chinese market combined fuel consumption: 5,6 – 5,6 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 134 – 133 g/km) on the Chinese market. For the MINI Convertible (for the Chinese market combined fuel consumption: 6,2 – 5,8 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions : 147 – 137 g/km) two engine variants are available. Available here are the MINI One 5 door, the MINI Cooper 5 door and the MINI Cooper S 5 door as well as the MINI One 3 door, the MINI Cooper 3 door und the MINI Cooper S 3 door. For open-air driving fun the MINI Cooper Convertible and the MINI Cooper S Convertible are also available.

More space, more versatility: MINI Clubman and MINI Countryman.

Both models in the premium compact segment are characterised by MINI typical style, driving fun and extended possibilities thus enabling the brand to appeal to additional customer groups within the Chinese automotive market. The MINI Clubman owes its exceptional position to its unconventional body concept with four side doors und two split doors at the rear as well as its flexible interior. The MINI Countryman is more spacious and versatile than ever before. Its robust exterior and its all-wheel drive system MINI ALL4 ensure genuine driving fun and that it remains an absolute All-rounder within MINI’s model programme.

Ensuring a race track feeling during daily driving, the ultra-sporty John Cooper Works models are also enjoying a constantly growing fan base in China.

The MINI John Cooper Works Clubman will also be exhibited at the Auto China 2018. The power of its turbo engine is brought to the streets thanks to its all-wheel drive system MINI ALL4 (for the Chinese market combined fuel consumption: 7,0 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions:167 g/km) as standard.

courtesy: www.press.bmwgroup.com

DriveNow becomes wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW Group

DriveNow becomes wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW Group

DriveNow becomes wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW Group

With the acquisition of Sixt SE’s stake in DriveNow, the BMW Group continues its systematic development as a customer-centric mobility company. Today’s signing is subject to approval by antitrust authorities. With this move, the world’s leading provider of premium mobility is offering customers efficient, sustainable mobility solutions from a single source. The rapidly growing field of mobility services is one of the cornerstones of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT, as evidenced by the BMW Group expanding its offering in the areas of on-demand mobility (DriveNow and ReachNow), parking (ParkNow) and charging (ChargeNow) in a sustainable way. The acquisition of the Sixt shares is therefore the next logical step in this strategy, following the acquisition of Parkmobile LLC in early January of this year, a move which made the BMW Group the world’s leading provider of digital parking solutions.

“We have achieved extraordinary success with DriveNow over the past seven years – thanks to the efforts of the DriveNow employees and the excellent cooperation with our joint venture partner, Sixt. Sixt will remain a strong partner for us in the future,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for MINI, Rolls-Royce, BMW Motorrad, Customer Engagement and Digital Business Innovation BMW Group. “Our aim is to win 100 million customers for our premium mobility services by 2025. With DriveNow as a wholly-owned subsidiary, we have all options for continued strategic development of our services in our hands. Our experience with mobility services supports our development of future autonomous, electrified and connected fleets,” Schwarzenbauer continued.

Independently of the acquisition of the Sixt stake in DriveNow, the BMW Group and Sixt will continue their successful long-standing partnership through delivery of BMW and MINI vehicles for the Sixt fleet.

“The joint development of DriveNow impressively demonstrates the innovative strength of Sixt and the BMW Group. We would like to thank the DriveNow employees and the BMW Group for this success and look forward to continuing our strategic partnership with the BMW Group through our contracts for delivery of BMW and MINI brand vehicles”, said Alexander Sixt, member of the Managing Board of Sixt SE, responsible for Group Strategy.

DriveNow was founded in 2011 as a premium car-sharing joint venture between the BMW Group and Sixt SE. The service is already used by more than one million customers in 13 European cities. The fleet comprises more than 6,000 BMW and MINI brand premium vehicles across Europe. The electric BMW i3 is also available to users at all DriveNow locations.

“In 2017 our customers drove over eight million kilometres with the DriveNow electric fleet – that is equivalent to driving round the globe more than 200 times on electric power. DriveNow not only reduces traffic and improves the parking situation in urban areas, but it is also supporting the breakthrough of electromobility,” said DriveNow Managing Director Sebastian Hofelich. “We look forward to working with our franchise and city partners to continue actively shaping urban mobility in a sustainable manner,” he added.

The BMW Group seeks to improve quality of life in urban areas through its mobility offering. The company works with various partners and decision-makers in cities to help shape the sustainable mobility of the future.

courtesy: www.press.bmwgroup.com

The new BMW 8 Series Coupe undergoes vehicle dynamics testing on the racetrack

The new BMW 8 Series Coupe undergoes vehicle dynamics testing on the racetrack

The new BMW 8 Series Coupe undergoes vehicle dynamics testing on the racetrack

With the presentation of the BMW Concept 8 Series, BMW already offered a close-to-series glimpse at the design of their new luxury segment sports car. The dynamic qualities of the new BMW 8 Series Coupe are now also clearly manifesting themselves. A close-to-series prototype is currently undergoing intensive testing on a high-speed proving ground in Aprilia, Italy. The tests serve in particular to optimise the vehicle’s driving dynamics on surfaces with a high friction coefficient and mark yet a further decisive stage on the way to the launch of the new BMW 8 Coupe during 2018.

The test drives are being carried out with a heavily camouflaged prototype, which nevertheless gives strong indication of the new BMW 8 Series Coupe’s typical sports car proportions. As in the case of the BMW Concept 8 Series, the dynamically stretched lines, the flat silhouette and the powerful front and rear ends give a foretaste of the fascinatingly sporty driving experience.

This impression is confirmed with each lap completed on the proving ground in Italy. With its around 4 kilometres long oval circuit, including steep bends, the area situated in the proximity of Rome offers above all the perfect conditions for high-speed and high friction coefficient tests. Moreover, the acceleration, braking and steering behaviour of the new sports car are analysed on circuits, slalom courses and different road surfaces. The highly demanding test programme facilitates the targeted harmonisation of all drive and suspension systems. The new BMW 8 Series Coupe has shown that it offers maximum agility and precision in highly dynamics situations. Likewise, the car is also able to meet the highest demands in terms of supremacy and comfort.

“The test drives under the most severe conditions show that we are right on target with our concept for the new BMW 8 Series Coupe. The vehicle dynamics values already achieved are absolutely impressive. Our customers and fans can look forward to a genuine sports car,” says Klaus Fröhlich, member of the board of the BMW AG, Development and Research, who oversees the test programme in Italy.

The high vehicle dynamics potential results from an extraordinary close connection between motorsports and series production. The new BMW 8 Series Coupe is being developed parallel to and in close coordination with the BMW M8 and the BMW M8 GTE racing car. Whilst the prototype of the production model is undergoing endurance tests, the teams, which are supported by BMW Motorsport, are currently preparing in Daytona (USA) for the initial racetrack use of the BMW M8 GTE. On 27/28 January, the BMW M8 GTE will make its racing debut at the Daytona 24-hour race. In June 2018, it will then participate in the 24-hour race at Le Mans. The knowledge gained there and at numerous other racing events in the FIA WEC and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) in North America will directly benefit series development of the BMW 8 Series Coupe.

Likewise, the know-how gained during training and on the racetrack will advance development of the new BMW M8. In June 2017, a prototype of this new model from the BMW M GmbH was already presented during the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring. The Nordschleife of the legendary racing circuit is also the main proving ground for testing and further enhancing the new BMW M8.

The BMW Group has defined its strong presence in the luxury segment as one of the major pillars of its NUMBER ONE > NEXT strategy. With the consistent extension of its model portfolio through the addition of the new BMW 8 Series Coupe and the new BMW M8, the BMW Group creates the ideal prerequisites for winning over the most demanding target groups and convincing them with a unique combination of supreme dynamics and modern luxury.

courtesy: www.press.bmwgroup.com