Event date: 26 June 2022
Attendees: Graeme Bell, Jo Mawson, Jeff Palmer, Darryl O’Neill, Tim Oh, Graham Thomas, Lawrence Glynn, Nella Santisi, Mel Sedmak.
Instructor: Kym Eden – Author of Fun with First Aid
First aid, how well prepared are we if someone collapses in front of us on the footpath, in the supermarket aisle, we come across a car accident, at work, our partner or your child loses consciousness? A family member suffers from asthma; 1 in 9 Australian children do. Australia is the world leader in asthma affected members of the population. This DOES NOT earn us a gold medal. But it does mean that 550 people a year die from asthma! However, cardiac arrest is Australia’s major cause of death.
Do you know how to respond if one of the above scenarios occurred on your watch?
How confident are you to step up and take control of the situation until an ambulance arrives?
Would you be overcome by fear, uncertainty and doubt and prefer to let someone else carry the can? What if that’s how people reacted when one of your loved ones was the victim?
It’s a long time, decades, since I did a CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] course. It would have been 50 years ago at least; last century! Yeah, go easy, so I’m in my 70’s, cut me some slack. I’ve got three children and 6 grandchildren. I’d like to know what to do if they ever need crisis care.
Hands up if you’ve taken out the first aid kit in your BMW. Do you know where it is? You should, there’s a white cross on the cover of the compartment in the boot. I can’t see many hands!
True story. A month ago, I took my kit out and spread out the contents. I’ve had my car for a bit over 2 years, a 428i M Gran Coupe [Eat your hearts out ], 4 ½ years old when I bought it, 4 500 km on the clock. Why? And why did it take me 2 years to check it out. Anyways, it was interesting to be aware of the contents. Funny, but 3 days later, on my way back from my volunteering role, 8:30 at night on a chilly Mornington winter’s evening, I came across a car with flashing indicators, two women standing by and an 86-year-old, half on the footpath, half on the road. I pulled up, checked the state of play and rang 000. We proceeded to provide Bob, who was very lucid, but with a painful hip and who couldn’t get up, with some warmth. I thought, ‘Ahhh, there’s a space blanket in the first aid kit,’ which I retrieved, and Bob was quickly made as comfortable and warm as possible, considering the circumstances. It was a bugger of a job trying to refold it, to get it back in the pack.
Stop reading if you’ve never checked your car’s first aid kit, go and grab it and lay out the contents. You just never know!
On Sunday 26 June, 9 of your colleagues attended a first aid and CPR course at National First Aid in Cheltenham. Kym, a medic with 25 years’ experience, the last 10 as a MICA [Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance] medic, has suffered 3 heart attacks in his life; it’s in his genes. For many of us, that’s the case. He is such a laid-back guy but with a wealth of knowledge and wisdom, when it comes to medical support.
He took us through the process for performing chest compressions on an adult, a child and a baby. We looked at the process from both sides of the coin. What do we do if we come across someone who is experiencing significant discomfort, has collapsed but is conscious or has collapsed and is comatose. They may or may not be moving. And then we looked at how the process works from the 000 side.
Kym took us through how to apply a defibrillator and he outlined how Kerry Packer had gifted 5 000 units to groups throughout the community; because one saved his life. Kym had met him several times and holds Kerry’s contribution to the cardiac care of Australians in high regard.
The purpose of the defibrillator is to reset the heart. It functions by electrical impulses. The heart may develop arrythmia [it stops serving its purpose] which can continue for up to 10 mins before it becomes non-reversible, and the patient will be lost. If we’re the man or woman on the street, it’s our job to keep them alive until the ambulance arrives. 000 will talk you through the process, they start a metronome, so you get the pace right. Whilst that’s taking place, they’re scouring the data base to find the nearest defibrillator and arrange to get it to you as soon as possible. If the patient can be stabilised prior to the ambulance arriving, you’ve done your job, and a good one at that.
Using a defibrillator is not all that difficult. It gives step by step recorded instructions on what to do. Follow the instructions and the defibrillator does the rest. It can analyse the patient’s condition and will advise if a second jolt is needed.
We all came away from the training with more confidence in ourselves and certainly the 000 system in knowing what to do if we ever come across, what can be a, a very confronting situation. But if you follow the procedure, stay calm, reassure the patient if they’re conscious, do the compressions to keep oxygenated blood moving through the system and apply the defibrillator to reinitiate the heart’s natural rhythm, there’s a 74% chance that they’ll live to thank you. For every minute’s delay in treating a cardiac arrest, the patient’s chance of survival reduces by 7% - 10%. Without early intervention, the survival rate drops to 3%! The message here, is get cracking, but of course remain calm. 000 has your back. Australia is a world leader in recovering people from cardiac arrest. The medical service is always looking for ways to improve the patients’ chances of recovery. The key takeaway – it’s time critical. If there’s no intervention within 12 mins, they’re gone
Kym also took us through other common medical situations. Asthma attacks, anaphylactic shock – it mainly affects children, but adults are not immune, snake bite, stings, burns, button batteries and more. If you have button batteries in the house [who doesn’t?], and you have children or grandchildren, you need a process for storage and disposal of used batteries. If a baby/toddler ingests one, it’s likely to become stuck in their system and can have catastrophic effects on them, including death. They’ll be restless, coughing, unwell, but you won’t know why unless you saw them swallow one.
As Baden Powell said, ‘Be prepared.’ Are you? If you’ve never done a CPR course, we would all recommend you do. You never know when, and in what circumstances, you could become one of your countrymen’s saving grace.
National First Aid 1300 099 297 - www.nationalfirstaid.com.au - have lots of resources available. Books, Automated External Defibrillators [AEDs] and first aid kits.
Suggestions: Fun with First Aid and Handy Hints [a mini guide]
Graham Thomas | Member #534 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
Event date: 15 May 2022
This run was organised by Paul Holliday, and left from two Melbourne points, Port Melbourne and Officer, then on to San Remo to join up with the remaining members.
Weather on the Sunday was sunny and dry, but Saturday's racing was held on a wet track.
The State Series had the usual classes in the series, including Formula Ford, E30, Brabham BT62, HQ, MG and Invited British, Historic Touring, to name a few. There were 13 E30s racing.
Jo Mawson was Deputy Secretary for the meeting, and was also the "chequered flag waver" for the final E30 race, which she was thrilled about!
Graeme Bell and Tim Oh were busy helping in the pits - it was good to have pit access for everyone, and be able to chat with drivers and crews.
Walking around the pits and getting close up to numerous cars, as well as the racing, is what this day is all about.
The afternoon saw the lap record broken by Tim Slade in a Brabham BT62 Supercar. This record had stood for approximately 22 years, and it was good to see and hear this record being broken.
This was another brilliant BMWDCM event, thanks to all those involved for organising it.
Jeff Palmer | Member #682 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
BMW M GmbH will be focusing its activities at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (23rd to 26th June) on its 50th birthday celebrations. BMW M is showcasing numerous models from the past, present and future to mark the occasion. This includes global debuts like the one of the first-ever BMW M3 Touring MotoGP™ Safety Car. Festival visitors will be among the first people able to take a close look at the newest safety car from BMW M, the ‘Official Car of MotoGP™’ since 1999. The BMW M3 Touring MotoGP™ Safety Car will also make its first race appearance in Great Britain, in early August at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
The newest member of the safety car fleet is based on the first-ever BMW M3 Competition Touring with M xDrive (fuel consumption, combined: 10.4 – 10.1 l/100km correspond to WLTP, CO2 emissions, combined: 235 – 229 g/km correspond to WLTP)*, which is also set to celebrate its global debut in Goodwood. It combines the high level of technological capability, performance and know-how of the BMW M3 and BMW M4 family with the practical nature of a five-door touring model. Both cars, the series production vehicle and the safety car, will be unveiled on Thursday 23rd June at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and will then take place in the renowned hillclimb race on all festival days.
“The world premiere of the new BMW M3 Touring represents another highlight in our anniversary year, as we will be introducing a BMW M3 as a touring model for the very first time in our 50-year history,” said Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH. “Including this new high-performance automobile in our fleet of MotoGP safety cars is the obvious next step for us. Throughout our decades of partnership with MotoGP rights owner Dorna Sports, we have always set great store by providing the newest BMW M models for safety purposes at the circuit, and we are continuing this tradition with the BMW M3 Touring MotoGP Safety Car. We are very much looking forward to seeing it perform at the legendary Goodwood hillclimb and then appear later in the races at the top level of motorsport.”
The visual appearance of the new BMW M3 Touring MotoGP™ Safety Car is a tribute to 50 years of BMW M and to the decades of partnership with MotoGP™. The safety car will sport a special 50 Years of BMW M Livery, and all MotoGP™ safety cars from 1999 to the present day are listed on the car.
The BMW M3 Touring MotoGP™ Safety Car will be equipped with the entire product range from BMW M Performance Parts for its appearance on the racetrack. Further modifications to the MotoGP™ safety cars include Recaro race seats, 4-point harness, safety cross beam, roof lights, front flashes, emergency disconnector and a fuel extraction system.
BMW PRESS
Event date: 19 June 2022
In a “brisk”, misty 7deg start we readied the vehicles at Sandown for our 19 June track day. Then the weather-Gods shon favourably as, under a sunny sky, the engines roared to life.
Newbies were welcomed with in-car introductions to the course. Anyone can share a ride to hear “turn-in cone here & apex-cone there, close-wall here & run-off space there” advice from the more experienced drivers (I’m not in that learned group yet).
Cold tyres and track wet patches challenged many of us on the early laps and that gave plenty of room to improve skills through the day.
A vast array of experience was evident, from fast Porsches, newbies in M2s to Camrys, on that… Jessie joined our garage 26/27/28 squad for her very first track day. Jessie’s smile and energy we’re contagious as she replayed her in-car coaching session. “There is so much to learn”, to which I replied “we’re all learning, it’s only the angle of the learning curve that changes ”.
We experienced quite a few stoppages through the day, but mostly mishaps, which resulted in “poorly parked car” having to be moved.
My mishap had me rejoin the action from Turn 6. That provided my key learnings for the day, which gained me the day’s “Encouragement Award”: There is no need to rush back onto the track. If needed, safely move the car to provide good visibility of oncoming cars ensure good analysis of oncoming car speed.
Sandown provides much hard surface run-off space and offers grass beyond. One of our team used all that as he mowed through the mud off Turn 1. You can understand why his car “left a deposit” afterwards. Note the good practice of “clean up after your pets”. Again, no harm done that a Gerni can’t fix.
Thanks to the hard-core BMW DCM crew for all your hard work in prep, delivery and post-paper work.
I had a blast!
Cya next time.
Martin Taylor | Member #598 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
An early morning heading to Sandown…. The come try day. I was excited and nervous for my first track day.
After a chilly foggy morning where you couldn’t even see the track, we registered, set up the car, had the driver’s briefing then we were ready to rumble. LOL
I was so nervous but soon settled in with Igor as my instructor. Playing it very safe, learning the track and negotiating the corners. Keeping my speed pretty comfortable.
I got around the track in one piece feeling very proud of myself.
In my second run all that changed as I had Matt as my instructor, and boy did he push me harder telling me to trust him. With my foot hovering over the brake he repeated…. Trust me, trust me, foot off the brake, put your foot down. My fear reaching an all-time high!
I actually don’t think I did too badly, given my fear of speed and with each run, I think I actually improved, eventually trusting Matt enough to reach a top speed of 200k on the straight.
I am not sure if I’ll do it again but I am sure glad I gave it a go. I think I’ll stick to being Alex’s pit crew. My arms and neck were so stiff and sore from the stress and clutching the steering wheel for dear life.
It is always great to meet up with other club members and have a chat and check out their cars.
Alex and I have loved being part of this group. Jo and Graeme are great and the events they run are always so well organised.
In our retirement, we have been able to go to many events and have enjoyed each one of them and look forward to many more in the future.
Thanks for all your hard work and to all the officials and instructors that give up their time so we can enjoy the day.
Lots of thrills and spills during the day, but a bloody good day as usual with the club.
Lucy Walsh | Member #834 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
The BMW M GmbH model offensive continues in its 50th anniversary year with the addition of a fourth model type to the BMW M3/M4 range alongside the Sedan, Coupé and Convertible. The BMW M3 Touring will celebrate its world premiere at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June 2022. Orders for the new BMW M3 Touring can be taken from September 2022, ahead of a market launch that will get underway with the start of production in November 2022. The BMW M3 Touring will be produced alongside the BMW M3 Sedan at BMW Group Plant Munich.
The first BMW M3 Touring goes to particularly impressive lengths to deliver on the traditional M promise of dynamic flair, agility and precision combined with unrestricted everyday practicality and mile-covering ability. Extravagant exterior design shines a particularly vivid spotlight on its unique vehicle concept, ensuring clear differentiation within the line-up and a dynamic aura unmatched by any rival.
Cleanly designed surfaces and athletic forms signal the standout performance potential of the BMW M3 Touring, as do the M-specific design cues firmly invested in the functional requirements of cooling air routing and aerodynamic balance. Chief among these are the vertically arranged, frameless BMW kidney grille, large side air intakes, powerfully sculpted wheel arches and prominently extended side skirts which, together with the attachment parts for the front and rear aprons, form a Black high-gloss band around the whole of the car. Other distinctive features are the M gills in the front side panels and the exhaust tailpipes integrated into the rear apron to the left and right of centre.
Whatever exterior colour is specified for the BMW M3 Touring, its roof will be finished as standard in Black high-gloss. The standard roof rails and the model-specific Gurney air-directing flap on the roof spoiler are painted in the same shade. The roof can also be finished in body colour as an option, and an M Carbon exterior package can also be found on the options list.
The version of the six-cylinder in-line engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology developed for the Competition models in the BMW M3/M4 line-up produces maximum output of 375 kW/510 hp and peak torque of 650 Nm (479 lb-ft). Distinguished by the appetite for revs for which M engines are renowned, plus linear power delivery sustained into high load ranges, the 3.0-litre straight-six forms the basis for the unit in the new BMW M4 GT3 endurance racing car. Its cooling and oil supply systems are designed to handle extremely high longitudinal and lateral dynamic forces on the track. And the M-specific exhaust system with electrically controlled flaps generates an emotionally arresting soundtrack that brings an extra layer to the performance experience.
The engine joins forces with an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic, which offers three gearshift programs and can be operated using shift paddles on the steering wheel. The engine’s power is channelled through to the road via the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, which teams up with the Active M Differential at the rear axle. The need-based distribution of power across all four wheels optimises the traction of the BMW M3 Competition Touring with M xDrive, as well as its agility and directional stability. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes 3.6 seconds and the sprint from 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) requires just 12.9 seconds. Opting for the M Driver’s Package increases the electronically limited top speed from 250 km/h (155 mph) to 280 km/h (174 mph).
As well as the basic 4WD setting, the driver can also select 4WD Sport mode via the Setup menu. This provides an even more intense experience of the M xDrive system’s rear-biased tuning. Switching off DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) brings 2WD mode – a.k.a. pure rear-wheel drive – into play.
Chassis technology tuned both to the performance profile of the powertrain and to the specific vehicle concept of the BMW M3 Touring creates an ideal balance of sports performance and majestic ride comfort in everyday use and over longer-distance journeys. Detailed fine-tuning has been carried out as part of intensive testing on race circuits, country roads and urban routes. The high torsional stiffness of the body structure and chassis mountings imbues the car with even greater agility, dynamics and precision, and is further enhanced by model-specific bracing elements in the underfloor section and load compartment.
Both the double-joint spring strut front axle and the five-link rear axle have M-specific kinematics and combine lightweight design with particularly high rigidity. Adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers and M Servotronic steering with a variable ratio come as standard on the BMW M3 Touring. The integrated braking system offers two settings for pedal feel. Optional M Carbon ceramic brakes can be ordered as an alternative to the standard M Compound braking system. Meanwhile, forged M light-alloy wheels in 19-inch (front) and 20-inch (rear) format are fitted as standard and can be specified with track tyres as an option.
The DSC system includes wheel slip limitation integrated into the engine control unit. As well as M Dynamic Mode, the BMW M3 Touring also has the M Traction Control function as standard. In the M xDrive system’s 2WD mode, the driver can adjust the intervention thresholds for wheel slip limitation through ten stages in order to carefully approach the physical limits under hard cornering on the track.
The BMW Curved Display will be fitted as standard in the BMW M3 Touring from launch. It provides a fresh interpretation of the cockpit design focused on providing an intense performance experience. The fully digital screen grouping is made up of a 12.3-inch information display and a control display with a screen diagonal of 14.9 inches. It is positioned behind a single glass surface that is angled towards the driver. The information display behind the steering wheel presents all relevant driving information with new graphics and in an M-specific style. M-specific widgets with information on the car setup and tyre condition can be shown on the control display’s home screen. A BMW Head-Up Display with M-specific content is offered as an option.
Electrically adjustable M Sport seats with memory function and seat heating plus Merino leather trim come as standard in the BMW M3 Touring. The optional M Carbon bucket seats for the driver and front passenger offer a unique symbiosis of motor sport feeling, lightweight design, sumptuous workmanship and long-distance comfort. The use of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) in the structural elements of the seat cushion and backrest, together with cut-outs in the side bolsters and below the head restraints, saves 9.6 kilograms over the standard M Sport seats.
The rear compartment of the BMW M3 Touring has three full-size seats. The rear-seat backrest can be split 40 : 20 : 40. Folding down individual seat sections or all of them at the same time allows the car’s load capacity to be expanded from 500 litres to a maximum 1,510 litres, as required. Automatic tailgate operation and the separately opening rear window are both standard. A storage compartment underneath the boot floor provides space for the luggage compartment cover and boot partition net. Anti-slip rails that rise up automatically from the boot floor can be ordered as an option. These prevent items of luggage from sliding around in dynamic driving situations.
Comfort-enhancing features fitted as standard in the BMW M3 Touring include three-zone automatic climate control, the BMW Live Cockpit Plus including BMW Maps navigation system, ambient lighting, the hi-fi speaker system, and the interior and exterior mirror package. Customers can also benefit from a broad selection of automated driving and parking systems. Front Collision Warning, Speed Limit Display with no-overtaking indicator, Lane Departure Warning and Park Distance Control come as standard. Among the available options are the Driving Assistant Professional with Steering and Lane Control Assistant, Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go function, traffic light detection and Active Navigation, plus the Parking Assistant with Reversing Assistant.
The M-specific control/operation system includes the Setup button, which provides direct access to the settings options for the engine, chassis, steering, braking system and M xDrive. Two overall vehicle setups can be stored and called up using the M buttons on the steering wheel. As well as M Traction Control, the likewise standard M Drive Professional also contains the M Drift Analyser and the M Laptimer.
The M Mode button on the centre console can be used to adjust the responses of the driver assistance systems and the content shown in the information display and Head-Up Display. BMW M3 Touring drivers can also choose from the ROAD, SPORT and TRACK settings.
The latest-generation BMW iDrive vehicle experience system in the BMW M3 Touring represents the embodiment of progressive digitalisation. It is based on BMW Operating System 8 and, together with the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant and BMW Curved Display, has been designed squarely to deliver intuitive interaction between the driver and car using natural speech and touch control. The new BMW iDrive enables personalisation via the BMW ID and My BMW App, plus in-car use of the Personal eSIM. Smartphone integration for using CarPlay® and Android Auto™ is also part of standard specification. A 5G-compatible antenna system provides optimised connectivity.
By early 2023, the BMW Group will have a digital scan of every one of its vehicle plants worldwide. In this way, the company is systematically merging the real and virtual worlds and tapping into the enormous potential for highly efficient planning of future plant structures and production facilities. “This opens up entirely new possibilities for us to implement both extensive new planning and smaller-scale remodelling of existing structures in a highly efficient, precise and flexible manner,” says Michele Melchiorre, head of Production System, Planning, Tool Shop, Plant Construction at the BMW Group.
Alongside data science and artificial intelligence, virtual planning is a core element of digitalisation within the strategic vision of BMW production: the BMW iFACTORY. The aim is to make planning and simulation of all processes and the entire production system 100 percent virtual. Virtualisation takes planning for all processes to a new level, by enabling collaboration in real time between different locations and across different time zones. “Production planning can integrate the virtual product into the virtual factory at an early stage. This reduces planning effort and capital expenditure and, at the same time, ensures processes are more efficient and more stable during ramp-up,” explains Melchiorre.
For completely new future production structures, the BMW Group will rely on cooperation with NVIDIA and its Omniverse software platform. “We are entering a new dimension of factory planning,” underlines Melchiorre. This means planners can conduct a virtual walk-through of BMW Group plants at any time, from anywhere. They can develop production systems together in the simulated world, compare best practices and share information quickly and easily within the network. “This forms the basis for planning and developing our new vehicle plant in Debrecen in Hungary,” continues Melchiorre: “Today, around three years before the series launch, we are already able to simulate core processes at our future plant virtually.”
The BMW Group is digitalising its existing plants in cooperation with NavVis. The Munich startup is considered one of the world's leading providers of technology in the field of reality capture and digital twins. Mobile 3D laser scanners will be used to create photorealistic panoramic images, floor plans and scatter plots for all BMW Group vehicle plants, by early 2023, that are accurate down to the last detail, including all building structures, facilities and outdoor areas.
Since November 2020, around four million square metres of indoor space and nine million square metres of outdoor space at BMW Group plants have been scanned using portable mobile scanning systems and drone systems. As a result, digital twins are already available for the US plant in Spartanburg, the main plant in Munich and Plant Regensburg. Plants Dingolfing, Leipzig and Tiexi in China will also be captured by September of this year. By spring of 2023, digital data will also be available for the BMW Group plants in Mexico, South Africa, the UK and Dadong, China. The NavVis IVION Enterprise platform will then create a digital image of reality – the Digital Twin – from these huge data volumes.
Around 15,000 BMW employees are already working with this data, using a cloud- and web-browser-based software called the BMW Factory Viewer. With the help of this software and with just a few clicks, existing plants can be virtually inspected, specific points in production found via points of interest (POIs) and highly precise measurements carried out.
The system also allows individual sections of the 3D scans to be cut out and made available to external suppliers, for instance. This saves time and effort during production planning, improves collaboration with internal and external interfaces and eliminates planning errors.
3D scanning technology also allows both smaller and larger-scale remodelling projects at BMW plants to be transferred quickly and easily to the digital world, using the so-called re-scan process. The company is working in this area on developing its own autonomous scanning robots to keep the digital master data current in the long term, without requiring additional personnel effort. For this purpose, the BMW Group is using in-house solutions, such as the Smart Transport Robot (STR) developed by BMW Group subsidiary IDEALWORKS. Michele Melchiorre: “Partnerships like those with NVidia and NavVis allow us to combine our pioneering spirit and process know-how with cutting-edge technologies.”
With the official presentation in the run-up to the SRO race weekend at the VIRginia International Raceway (USA), BMW M Motorsport has rung in the sales phase of the new BMW M4 GT4, which is set to continue its predecessor’s run of success in the internationally established GT4 category as of the 2023 season. The car was on display with the BMW M Motorsport design for the first time on Friday, having previously successfully completed a test race in camouflage livery at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (GER). The new BMW M4 GT4 goes on sale with plenty of technical highlights and at a net price of 187,000 euros. Production is set to start in October 2022, to allow the first cars to be delivered to teams in time for the start of the 2023 season.
“We took on the challenge to develop a successor to the highly successful first-generation BMW M4 GT4”, said Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M. “Using a wide range of customer feedback, our experienced development team and the new sixth generation BMW M4 based production car has led to a faster, even more reliable and very emotional all new BMW M4 GT4.”
The new BMW M4 GT4 was developed to win races and titles, just like its predecessor. To this end, the latest key technologies from the production model have been combined with a range of components from its big brother, the BMW M4 GT3. The developers focused on four key areas: performance, reliability, cost efficiency and maintainability. In addition, further developments in ergonomics and electronics have considerably improved the customer experience. These include the M Track Cockpit, which makes many vehicle settings and checks possible directly via the control elements, thereby minimising the more time-consuming connection to a laptop.
When developing the new BMW M4 GT4, BMW M Motorsport had the backing of support from strong partners. Bcomp, H&R, PUMA, RAVENOL and RECARO shared valuable expertise in their areas, and in doing so made an important contribution to the success of the project.
After the presentation in the USA, the BMW M4 GT4 is entering the final phase of testing. This will include the car taking part in the next race of the Nürburgring Endurance Series and in the 24 Hours of Portimão (POR). Production for delivery to customers is due to start in October 2022. The net price of the BMW M4 GT4 has been set at 187,000 euros. Thanks to near-production development and the pending SRO homologation, the car can be used in all GT4 race series around the world.
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Electric, digital, sustainable and distinctive: the new generation of MINI models brings the brand’s driving pleasure, user experience and responsible attitude into a completely new era. Its forward-looking design language makes this transformation instantly visible. It melds the brand’s traditional values with state-of-the-art technology and acknowledges the elementary principles of vehicle design as well as the urban character of the MINI and its community’s innovative spirit. The principle behind Charismatic Simplicity is a design that helps each new MINI model develop a strong individual character of its own, intuitively focussing on the essence of the brand with a clear, reduced design language. Another central factor of the new design language is its choice of materials with a keen eye on sustainability. The next MINI model generation has a leather-free interior and dispenses almost entirely with chrome elements.
The MINI models of the future bring together a modern and purist exterior and an interior design that focuses on the essentials. This reflects the principle of creative use of space that the classic MINI is already renowned for. The new design language also exploits the opportunity of electrifying the powertrain to generate the driving pleasure you expect from MINI entirely without local emissions. “Purely electrically powered models from MINI give us a unique opportunity to rethink our design. At the same time, we retain the attention to detail, sense of tradition and passion for innovation that MINI is renowned for,” says Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design.
The vehicle architecture for the new MINI model generation has been developed for purely electric mobility right from the outset. Every inch of the available installation space is used even more efficiently for the comfort, well-being, emotional experience and driving pleasure of the occupants. This means that every MINI model, whatever its exterior dimensions, will continue to offer the ideal combination of a small footprint and available interior space in the future.
The core of the brand will also be embedded in the future model generation of the MINI 3-door – purely electric and consistently geared towards urban driving pleasure. The successor to the current MINI Countryman will also be hitting the road with a purely electric drive. MINI will soon also be presenting the concept study of a – fully electrically powered – crossover model for the premium small-car segment. “The MINI Design DNA will clearly come through in every model of this new generation, leaving its brand affiliation in no doubt whatsoever,” announces Oliver Heilmer. “At the same time, the MINI design team has successfully created strong product features with individual accents that more than ever before underscore a sense of independence.”
Creation of independent vehicle personalities is one of the central features of the new design language. Charismatic Simplicity gives each member of the future MINI model family its own individual charisma that is unmistakably based on the brand’s core, reinterpreting it confidently and in its own way. The authentic reference to the essential values of MINI is expressed in a very modern design language featuring clearly and cleanly modelled surfaces. Charismatic Simplicity reduces the number of components and concentrates on essential elements, helping the design of future MINI models achieve an emotional, intuitively perceptible identity.
“We combine the core of the MINI DNA with innovative, aesthetic and technological inspiration in our new design language,” says Oliver Heilmer. “This means that every new MINI remains a genuine and at the same time future-proof original.” For example, innovative LED technology gives the typical Union Jack design of the MINI combination rear lamps a variety of forms, creating an individual light signature for each model.
The combination of tradition and progress creates an immersive user experience in the interiors of future MINI models, further intensifying the traditionally strong connection between person and car at MINI. “MINI is an urban brand, every facet of whose design helps to make life in the city as enjoyable and eventful as possible,” explains Oliver Heilmer. The key to this is both in advanced digitalisation in operation and connectivity, and in a clearly designed interior with intuitive functionality.
In the cockpit of future MINI models, too, reduction does not mean having to do without. The OLED technology for the fully digital display and control unit presented for the first time in the MINI Vision Urbanaut means significantly more functions can be combined in a single control unit. This is presented in the archetypal MINI circular central instrument in the middle of the dashboard. MINI is the world’s first car manufacturer to offer a touch display with a fully usable round surface. The innovative display technology paves the way for a new user interface design. At the same time, the MINI design retains analogue control units such as the toggle switches below the central interface. These embody the attention to detail and distinctive design features that transform intuitive functionality into an emotional experience.
“The future of MINI design is based on the courage and determination to shape change and stamp a distinctive and inimitable profile on the brand,” says Oliver Heilmer. This also includes a range of materials with a relentless focus on sustainability. The new MINI model generation will move completely away from leather surfaces and also reduce its use of chrome components to almost zero. A fundamental attitude shaped by a sense of responsibility and a focus on the future is expressed through electrification, resource-conserving production, exacting environmental standards and a progressively increasing share of secondary raw materials as well as natural and recycled materials. A minimal ecological footprint is deeply anchored in the brand’s tradition and is incorporated more comprehensively than ever by MINI Design into the new model generation.
The concept study of a crossover model from the new, fully electric MINI generation will provide the first full preview of the new design language for the next-generation all-electric model family and will be presented to the public for the first time at the end of July 2022. With it, MINI Design showcases how technological innovations and a progressive interpretation of individual mobility are taking the brand’s design language far into the future with this concept car.
With just a few months remaining until the world premiere of the new BMW M2*, the final test phase in the development of the new high-performance car is in full swing. The new BMW M2 offers thoroughbred racing technology for the roads. In keeping with its affinity with the racetrack, the car’s driving dynamics were subjected to an intensive test at the Salzburgring in Austria.
The tests focussed on the driving dynamics and chassis, and the new BMW M2 impressed with outstanding characteristics. The new production car boasts a similar performance level to the BMW M2 CS**, the exclusive, special-edition sports car from BMW M GmbH. It allows the driver to experience that pure racetrack feeling in any conditions – even at the limit.
The power under the bonnet of the BMW M2 is provided by the tried-and-tested engines from the M3 and M4 models. The two optional transmission types, the manual 6-speed gearbox and 8-speed M Steptronic gearbox, guarantee that the power is applied extremely dynamically, redefining sheer driving pleasure. The sporty driving characteristics are intensified by the adaptive M chassis and the rear-wheel drive on the new BMW M2. The powerful brake system comes from the M3 and M4 and ensures the power is controlled effortlessly.
The sporty appearance of the new BMW M2 is rounded off by a selection of special equipment options. For example, a carbon roof to reduce weight, among other benefits. M carbon bucket seats for the driver and passenger, also available as an option, emphasise the racing look of the new BMW M2.
The world premiere of the new BMW M2 will be in October, followed by the market launch in April 2023.
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