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Design tribute to the BMW M1 celebrates its world premiere at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2008.
Munich/Cernobbio. To mark the 30th anniversary of the BMW M1 super sports car, BMW Group Design is presenting a homage to this legendary model as part of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2008. The BMW M1 designed by Giorgio Giugiaro was a car of superlatives and a highly emotive vehicle that was uncompromisingly primed for the race track. Spawning this development was the BMW Turbo by Paul Bracq, a revolutionary concept car which, in addition to its groundbreaking functional design, also boasted a raft of technical innovations. It is from these two unique vehicles that the BMW M1 Homage takes its cue - a design study that pays tribute to its forerunner models and an embodiment of the competence, creativity and potential of the BMW Group Design team.
'For BMW, heritage is always also a living heritage. Drawing inspiration from your own past and thereby reinventing yourself - that is exactly what the BMW M1 Homage demonstrates in impressive style.'
Dr Klaus Draeger, BMW Group Board Member, Development
A particular forte of BMW Group Design is to draw on its own powerful history and actively feed this into the design of the future. The BMW M1 Homage is a design study in the tradition of a BMW Turbo that represents a contemporary take on the BMW M1 and the mid-engine concept. This tribute exhibits an emotional design that showcases technology and integrates it into the overall aesthetics of the vehicle.
The First Sports Activity Vehicle in the Premium Compact Segment
Once again the successful history of BMW X models is opening up the door for further inspiration in the development of innovative vehicle concepts: The BMW Concept X1 offers all the thrill of agile and versatile mobility also beyond the beaten track in a new segment of vehicles.
Proudly presenting this new Concept Car, BMW is offering an outlook at the world's first Sports Activity Vehicle in the premium compact segment. Through its design alone, this new concept model clearly expresses all the strengths and qualities of such a vehicle, the BMW Concept X1 exuding a strong touch of agility and versatility both in its driving qualities and practical use. And at the same time the Concept Car clearly reveals the stylish elegance of this five-door as well as its modern function.
Creating this unique Concept Car, BMW is catering for the demands of a modern target group in search of an up-to-date automobile meeting both the challenges of everyday traffic and the personal needs of many purchasers for an active lifestyle and a versatile driving experience.
The First BMW of the Hybrid World Makes its North American Debut at 2008 Detroit Auto Show
In addition to the world debut of its all-new X6 Sports Activity Coupe at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, BMW will also present the North American debut of an innovative hybrid concept like no other in the world - the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid. The vehicle is the world's first Sports Activity Coupe to feature a unique design of hybrid drive like never seen before, combining the Ultimate Driving Machine with significant enhancement of all-round efficiency.
Through its drive concept alone, the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid allows far greater driving dynamics than a conventional hybrid car and at the same time reduces fuel consumption by up to 20 percent versus a comparable car running on a combustion engine alone.
The innovative drivetrain and the unique concept of the Sports Activity Coupe form an ideal match that is unparalleled anywhere in the world. BMW ActiveHybrid technology has indeed been developed especially for a particularly dynamic vehicle in this segment and for extensive use far beyond city traffic.
In terms of its size, character and driving dynamics, the BMW X6 Sports Activity Coupe is simply ideal for bringing out the full potential of BMW ActiveHybrid technology, combining an elegant and dynamically flowing roofline with the features so typical of a BMW X model. Its design clearly epitomizes the full DNA of BMW X, while interpreting the character of these vehicles in a uniquely sporting manner.
Maximum efficiency in the luxury class, supreme dynamics in a hybrid
Introducing this Concept Car based on the new BMW 7 Series, BMW is clearly demonstrating the potential offered by the most advanced hybrid technology available today. The BMW Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid comes with hybrid components tailored precisely to the character of this unique saloon, offering driving comfort, everyday motoring qualities and driving safety of the supreme standard only the BMW 7 Series is able to provide.
In addition, the BMW ActiveHybrid technology featured in the Concept Car reduces both fuel consumption and emissions by 15 percent versus the same car with a combustion engine and offers a standard of driving dynamics clearly exceeding all series models with hybrid technology presented so far.
The BMW Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid combines an eight-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor developing 15 kW/20 hp and maximum torque of 210 Newton-metres/155 lb-ft as a mild hybrid concept. Electric power is generated by a particularly powerful variant of Brake Energy Regeneration already featured in the BMW Group's regular production cars. The energy generated in this way is then stored in alithium-ion battery fitted in accordance with the package of the car beneath the luggage compartment.
