BMW wins third International Engine of the Year Award in a row
There is no question that BMW has some serious engine technology in its arsenal, and now those engines have more awards to show just how good they really are. BMW has won its third consecutive International Engine of the Year award, due this time to the incredible twin-turbo 3.0L inline six that resides in the 335i's engine bay. The 300hp (or more) motor combines blistering performance (car magazines report 0-60 times in the 4.8-5.1 range) with very good fuel economy and virtually no turbo lag. It won three awards in all, with the Bavarians also taking the trophy for Best New Engine and best 2.5L to 3.0L engine.
BMW didn't stop its winning ways with the twin-turbo 3.0L, either. The 1.6L turbo four found in the Mini Cooper S and Peugeot 207, the 2.5L engine in the standard 3-Series, and the 5.0L V10 that powers the M5 and M6 were all winners. Toyota and VW each came away with two victories, and Porsche won its first ever International Engine award by virtue of the 3.6 turbo in the 911. Check out all the winners in the press release after the jump.
16:36 30.05.2007 | Paul
BMW CS
BMW surprised everyone with their Shanghai antics today. Showing that they can play the four-door coupe game as well as Mercedes, Aston and Porsche, the Bavarians unveiled their Concept CS. Expected to become BMW's new flagship model (8-series, perhaps?), the CS is believed to be almost production-ready. It sits on the newest 7-series platform under development, extending the length and width of the current 7 by a couple of inches, while dropping the roofl by a good five inches. it measures in at 200.8 inches long, 78 inches wide, and just 53.5-inches high. Even with the extra acreage, the CS is a four-seater only, with two sculpted seats in back.
Mercedes-Benz started this sport sedan/4-door coupe craze with its CLS, but this will be a larger, and likely more expensive, vehicle along the lines of the upcoming Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide. This Concept CS also shows us where the next iteration of BMW design is headed. Although his previous designs have been met with mixed reactions, designer Chris Bangle continues to use "flame surfacing" for complex curves that wouldn't have been possible with old manufacturing techniques. The CS feels like an evolution of that philosophy with sharper edges and swoopier surfaces all around. Underhood we'll find a 6.0-liter V12, which is essentially the M5 5.0-liter V10 with two extra cylinders. That's a nice modular motor for BMW if that ends up being the case, with 10-cylinder, 12-cylinder, and V8 versions used across the Motorsport models.
BMW's massive press release is pasted after the jump.
18:15 08.05.2007 | Paul
The new BMW M3
With its superior power, performance and dynamism, the new fourth-generation BMW M3 ensures truly unique sheer driving pleasure of the highest calibre.
The new V8 power unit, which offers enormous muscle and performance, comes with all the DNA of the current Formula 1 engine raced by the BMW Sauber F1 Team and the aesthetic design of the new car, typical of BMW M, is the epitome of motoring supremacy.
The new M3 is the first to have an eight-cylinder power unit, displacing 4.0 litres and developing maximum output of 309 kW/420 hp plus peak torque of 400 Nm/295 lb-ft at 3,900 rpm. Maximum engine speed is 8,400 rpm with some 85 per cent of the engine's peak torque available throughout the enormous speed range of 6, 500 rpm
17:27 24.04.2007 | Paul
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Kubica released from Hospital
Less than 24 hours after his high speed accident in the Canadian Grand Prix BMW Sauber F1 Team driver Robert Kubica has been released from hospital in Montreal. The Polish driver was given the all clear to leave by the local doctors and drove himself away from the hospital in a BMW X5.
In the crash he suffered light concussion and a sprained right ankle but when he left the hospital at noon today (Monday) he was showing few signs of what he had been through and commented: "I have no pain and feel well. I want to thank everyone for the medical attention I received and for all the good wishes. Mario Theissen and other team members came to visit me and also thanks to Jarno Trulli who came as well. I am happy that I have been able to leave the hospital so quickly and will now prepare for the race in Indianapolis."
Kubica underwent intensive CT-scans and other checks in the Hospital du Sacre Coeur in Montreal.
On lap 27 of the Canadian GP, an accident involving Robert Kubica overshadowed the race action. Thankfully, the Pole survived the massive impact without suffering serious injuries. Therefore, the BMW Sauber F1 Team had the opportunity to celebrate with Nick Heidfeld, who crossed the line in second place.
The race at Montreal's "Circuit Gilles Villeneuve" was a truly tumultuous one, with just twelve of the twenty-two drivers making it to the finish line. BMW Sauber F1 Team driver Robert Kubica was the man who suffered the worst accident. The first of four safety car periods had just ended, and the 22-year-old had completed his first pit stop, when he went off at high speed while approaching the hairpin. His BMW Sauber F1.07 hit the concrete wall and rolled over. Trackside doctors extricated Robert from the car's undamaged safety cell and took him to the circuit's medical centre. Following an initial check-up, Robert was flown out by helicopter to hospital for extensive examinations.
At the start, Robert successfully defended his eighth position. When pitting on lap 25, he had moved up to a highly promising sixth place. Two laps later the crash meant an early end to his race. Nevertheless, Nick continued in great style providing the BMW Sauber F1 Team with its biggest success so far. The 30-year-old laid the foundation for this result right at the start. He got away well and used a mistake by Fernando Alonso (McLaren) to move up to second place. Afterwards, Nick demonstrated the F1.07's competitiveness by keeping the two-time World Champion at bay and being the second fastest driver - behind the subsequent winner Lewis Hamilton - at this stage of the race.
Nick and Robert third and eighth on the Montreal grid
In qualifying for the Canadian GP, Nick Heidfeld secured a fantastic third position on the grid, ahead of both Ferraris. Robert couldn't quite match his team-mate's pace but from eighth position, he also is in a promising position for scoring points.
Neither Nick Heidfeld nor Robert Kubica had any problems whatsoever advancing to the second knockout phase of qualifying. Nick made a mistake on his first flying lap but improved on his second and third laps to set a personal fastest lap time of 1:17.006 minutes and finish fifth. Robert set his personal fastest lap of 1:17.267 minutes on the second flying lap of his first four-lap stint. He went out for a second assault in the closing stages of the phase but failed to improve. However, he finished 9th and also qualified for the next round. The fastest lap time (1:16.468 minutes) was set by Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen.