Hartge has released the details of their 2009 BMW Z4 accessories range which includes both exterior and interior parts. The 2009 Hartge BMW Z4 accessories range features the tuner's CLASSIC 2 wheel set and a new set of stainless steel tail pipes. 
For the interior, the 2009 Hartge BMW Z4 range includes aluminum pedals, foot rest and steering wheel emblem as well as new speedometers with a 300 km/h or 200 MPH maximum speed. We expect the 2009 Hartge BMW Z4 program will include more items in the near future.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
2009 Hartge BMW Z4
BMW Concept X1
BMW will unveil its Concept X1 at the Paris motor show, a tarted-up version of the production car that will debut in mid-2009. But ahead of the official debut BMW has released this teaser video.
Of course it's a PR stunt, with glimpses of the Concept X1 mixed in with shots of skateboarders and grafftti artists, but it gives us our first look at the new X1 on the move. Except the real thing to arrive in mid-2009, while a 'coupe' X2 version will also be spun from the same platform.
GSD&M wins BMW worldwide advertising account
BMW AG has selected GSD&M Idea City, based in Austin TX, as its lead global agency of creative for brand advertising communications. Prior to this decision, the global creative duties were shared among various international marketing agencies, operating independently from several countries across the world. This is the first international account for GSD&M Idea City and BMW represents the highest profile customer at this point.
The Austin based ad agency started working with BMW of North America back in 2005 and the road to this win was quite difficult, several agencies went through extensive competitive reviews.
“We are delighted to have an agency such as GSD&M Idea City with the potential to set further creative benchmarks with BMW global brand communications in the future. We will be working with our partner to continue sharpening BMW’s brand profile through focused and emotional communications,” said Jan-Christiaan Koenders, director brand communication, BMW and group marketing services, in a statement.
The first task for GSD&M is the development of a new global communication campaign focused on the “Joy” theme which was recently mentioned in the new “Expression of Joy” BMW Z4. The marketing campaign will take place worldwide at auto shows, private and public events, print and online media. Even though not confirmed in the press release, we expect GSD&M to organize the campaign around the upcoming BMW X1 which carries the marketing catchy name “This is your world”
The new global communication campaign will be introduced in Europe throughout summer 2009 and is being planned for a US roll-out in early 2010.
BMW Designworks creates the interior cabin of the new Falcon 7X business jet
BMW Group DesignworksUSA and Dassault Aviation announced their latest successful collaboration, the interior cabin of the new Falcon 7X business jet. The Falcon 7X with the new interior by DesignworksUSA made its global debut at EBACE 2009, in Geneva on May 11, 2009. EBACE is the flagship forum for the European business aviation community to find products and services from the world’s top vendors. DesignworksUSA, a global design consultancy and subsidiary of BMW Group, was approached by Dassault recognizing their deep knowledge of premium transportation and the ability to create designs consistent with individual brands, as exemplified by BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
“We have been very pleased with our decision to collaborate with DesignworksUSA,” said Dassault Aviation’s John Rosanvallon, President and CEO of Dassault Falcon. “Thanks to DesignworksUSA’s transportation design expertise and hard work, the new Falcon 7X interior cabin reflects our goal to define a new level of flying experience.”
The Falcon 7X interior feels familiar and classic, yet modern and elegant, an experience that was achieved by designing a cabin that is clean, calm, and crafted. The design combines a modern, non-ornamental appeal with timeless aspects of quality in the attention to detail and craftsmanship.
“To meet Dassault’s high goals, DesignworksUSA created the theme of “Elegance and Style fused with Function”, said Verena Kloos, BMW Group DesignworksUSA President, “Our concept focuses on the sensory elements of the flying experience emphasizing form follows feeling.”
Strategic, Vertically Integrated Design Process
Utilizing multi-faceted teams, DesignworksUSA’s Transportation Design Group brought branding, design ideation, color, materials, and finish, and 3D CAD development skills together. This ultimately created a vertically integrated design process that leveraged each group’s expertise to create an interior that embodies more than the individual efforts. The combination creates a strategically targeted and uniquely innovative interior design.
Innovation, Forms, Details and Lighting
The new Falcon 7X cabin introduces subtle curves throughout the interior. The single arc in the carpet visually stretches the cabin and connects the interior front to back, while the curved bulkheads visually expand the main cabin volume. Subtle curves in the galley and main cabin furniture create a graceful flow. Even the new, unique cabinetry latches feature a subtle curvature, emphasizing harmony and style.
The larger windows in the 7X bring more light into the cabin and the soft up-wash and down-wash ambient lighting as well as the distinctive “Lunule” lights in the valance panels create an airy spacious feel when sunlight fades. Upon entry to the aft lavatory, star lighting in the ceiling greets the passenger with a gentle and warm light and the backlit window panel gives a sense of openness and comfort.
Other smart details improve functionality, efficiency and ease of use. For example, the ergonomic controls of the new in-flight entertainment system (IFE) hide in the side ledge until needed and the tactile light and gasper controls in the valance panel allow easy and precise adjustment. A pull-out vanity in the aft VIP lavatory gives efficient and comfortable access to hygiene and personal care items.
Colors, Materials and Finishes
The colors, materials and finish program continues the “Clean, Calm and Crafted” theme with natural, honest, tactile, and warm colors and materials. The darker carpet and lower side walls ground the design while the lighter upper side walls, valance panels and ceiling emphasize a more open and spacious overall environment. The contrasting dark wood side ledge and bulkheads create spatial definition and rhythm, and the horizontal wood grain ads an element of modern freshness.
With this emphasis on the passenger Dassault is defining a new level of flying experience, uniting their aeronautical passion with a design that celebrates well-being, modern appeal, and timeless elegance, created by DesignworksUSA.
[Source: BMW ]
Axles of Evil: BMW M3 vs. Mercedes C63 AMG vs. Lexus IS F
From time to time we come across interesting BMW related articles on the web and since we’re so into our bimmers, we have no choice but to share them with you. Now, the comparison below is something we have seen on here many times before and it is probably one of the most popular compact sports sedans standoff that there is out there.
Three beautiful, high performance cars, that bring out the best features and technologies available within each company: BMW M3, Mercedes Benz C63 AMG and Lexus IS F.
BMW was probably ready for this. After all, it’s been building ripper rear-drive compacts going back to the early ’70s and the 2002tii, and no doubt wondering why others didn’t get in on the act. Along with Mercedes, they should have been ready, of course, for the likes of Lexus to branch out from super-silent, super-soft luxury stuff into the realms of hardcore performance. Ready for the snorting IS F to start trampling all over the world’s favourite German turf. Question is, can it?
The current compact kings of performance are the M3 and the C63 AMG, at least while Audi pauses a moment between the outgoing RS4 and the next. That gap has been filled neatly by the IS F because, make no mistake, this is far more than a warmed-over IS250. Four years in the making, fitted with a brawny 5.0-litre V8, big Brembo brakes and a version of the LS460’s eight-speed auto, the IS F comes across as pure, rear-drive muscle-car exhilaration. Significantly, it’s also the first car of this ilk to come out of Japan.
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This impression is confirmed on the racetrack where the M3 easily overcame its power and torque inferiority to post quicker lap times than its more hairy-chested rivals. But it also continues to be a precision tool on the road. If the sedan has lost any torsional rigidity compared with the 20kg-lighter M3 coupe, you’ll never pick it. The combination of rapid-action steering, a tremendously grippy rear end, sensibly linear torque delivery and perfectly controlled body movement make it a joy to drive. The dual-clutch manual gearbox reacts quickly to manual shifts, or smoothly and intuitively if left in drive. If anything, the manual variant’s combination of sheer speed and refinement has only been enhanced by this very clever gearbox.
That’s not to say a good auto is left in the M3’s wake, as evidenced by the C63. The torque delivery of that monster V8 is dominating, and is the almost overwhelming aspect of the driving experience, but the seven-speed is never caught out. If you need to find a lower gear manually, it reacts relatively quickly; left to its own devices, it’ll do a better-than-average job. Throttle inputs need to be judicious if the ESP is switched off, but apart from progressive rear-end slip under power, there are no surprises here. The C63 reacts with all the big-engined brutality it can muster, although tempered by particularly pleasant steering and just a smidge of the understeer displayed on the circuit.
BMW X6 Hybrid caught undisguised
The final production version of the first all-wheel-drive hybrid from BMW, the X6, was spotted in the beautiful Munich. While the concept was officially unveiled at the L.A Auto Show last year in November, the production model has been seen around still carrying some minor camouflage. We already learned that the BMW X6 Hybrid along with 7 Series Hybrid will be launched at the end of this year.
The BMW X6 Hybrid is a two-mode hybrid based on an 8-cylinder gasoline engine which has been custom-made to meet the requirements of an SAV. The newer, greener X6 will utilize the dual-mode ActiveHybrid system, which has discrete modes for high-torque, low speed driving as well as for high-speed cruises.
The system uses a modular hybrid system which can be adapted to many different engine/vehicle combination, as opposed to a design-specific petrol engine/hybrid combination, which sees wider use in the automotive industry.
The two-mode hybrid uses about 20 percent less fuel than than a comparable vehicle with combustion engine. BMW is using a nickel metal hydride battery for the initial applications and unlike the other car manufacturers, the BMW hybrid engine will not be using cylinder deactivation. And second, if our sources are correct, then the BMW X6 Hybrid will feature the Start/Stop technology.
The body style is almost identical to the petrol versions, except the slightly larger M3-style bonnet, a funky feature that has been lightly criticized by some bimmer fans.
Even though no recent announcement has been made but judging from past spy photos, we expect to see a hybrid version of the BMW X5 as well, most likely next year.
[Photos courtesy of Christian Wimmer at CWPhotography ]
BMW X1 spotted near the BMW plant in Leipzig
Just a month ago, we had the opportunity to show you exclusively the BMW X1 completely unveiled. Sure, it was only one photo and not an extremely close shot, but at least we have an idea of what to expect from the production model. The changes from the concept version revealed at the Paris Auto Show are insignificant and the only thing that stands out are the unique wheel design. Now, we’re pretty sure that there will be some minor cosmetic differences, but they won’t be obvious to everyone.
Mathis, one of our long time readers, have spotted the X1 near the Leipzig plant in Germany. Unfortunately the car was still wearing the now copied-by-others psychedelic camouflage and the design lines are well hidden again. The taillights are covered by the tape camo, a clear sign that we will some changes there compared to the concept version. The side creases popular on many recent BMW models, are also covered by the camouflage, but that’s an area that we have no doubt that BMW will simply leave it the way it is.
What really struck us about these photos is the actual size of the car and most important, the road presence. While originally, we believed the X1 will be far smaller than the current X3, to our surprise and from what Mathis has mentioned, the X1 has a slightly lower ride height, but it’s a bit wider. On the other hand, this is something many specialists and BMW fans expected, since the new generation X3 which will be unveiled next year, will grow in size therefore creating a spot for the X1 urban vehicle. Many of you might not know, but the BMW X1 is built on the next generation 1 Series platform and it will be part of the 1 Series family which will include several different bodystyles, from coupe to hatchback and Gran Turismo.
Mathis also mentioned seeing the same style suspension linkages that are visible on the 1 Series hatchback and this prototype is most likely powered by a four cylinder engine judging from the single exhaust.
With the risk of repeating ourselves, we will tell you that the BMW X1 will be available with four and six cylinder engines both diesel and petrol, but expect in the future to see the four cylinder turbo petrol in there too:
- 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline - 170-horsepower
- 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel - 177-horsepower
- 3.0-liter six-cylinder gasoline engine - 265-horsepower
- 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel - 245-horsepower
The BMW X1 will be available in four wheel drive, but also as a rear wheel drive. With the initial launch in the European market only, the four-wheel drive will be the only option offered. The production version will be unveiled within the next 3 weeks and it will be available in the European showrooms later this fall. Even though for now BMW has confirmed the X1 only for the non-U.S. market, sources close to BMW USA spoke of future plans which might include the X1 as well.
Pricing? Unknown at the moment, but we expect it to be set between the 1 Series and the entry level X3 SAV.
BMW X6 in matte color - Is this the new “black”?
You have probably heard the expression “This <insert color here> is the new black….” many times before and it’s a phrase quite often used in the fashion industry. But today, we’re stealing their catchy phrase and pose the following question to you: Is the matte black really the new “black”?
We’ve been seeing a trend lately and we cannot wonder if it will go mainstream in the future since more and more people sport this matte black on their cars. The first matte black BMW was seen by us back in 2008 when coincidentally, it was an X6 model as well. In the following months, we came across the Lumma version of the M5, then a stunning black matte Z3 and more recently, a 335i and M3 spotted at the Bimmerfest 2009 event.
So when our friend Christian Wimmer decided to share these photos with us, our jaws dropped again and had no choice but to post them. While you know that we don’t always dig those pimped out cars and usually embrace the “clean look” of our bimmers, we admit that we have a soft spot for these matte black X6s.
Now wait, this car is actually more than just another “Batman” like version, it also has some pretty cool upgrades on it, like the aftermarket black/chromed wheels, to the interesting air vents on the hood and the very aggressive front-bumper. Not a bad looking X6 and definitely one that will turn heads, especially if spotted on U.S. soil.
And while we’re on this matte black vinyl subject, let’s take the time to answer the question that many people sent in asking for a recommendation of an auto shop that performs such work. Our friends in the BMW tuning world recommend Vinyl Styles shop in California and Loud Ocean of Santa Ana, but if you have any other recommendation on the East Coast, feel free to drop a comment and we will update the article.
2009 Hartge BMW Z4
Hartge has released the details of their 2009 BMW Z4 accessories range which includes both exterior and interior parts. The 2009 Hartge BMW Z4 accessories range features the tuner's CLASSIC 2 wheel set and a new set of stainless steel tail pipes. For the interior, the 2009 Hartge BMW Z4 range includes aluminum pedals, foot rest and steering wheel emblem as well as new speedometers with a 300 km/h or 200 MPH maximum speed. We expect the 2009 Hartge BMW Z4 program will include more items in the near future.
© Source: zercustoms
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