Friday, September 30, 2016

Paris 2016: BMW M2 Safety Car rocks the M exhibit

BMW-M2-Safety-Car-1

The flashiest car at the BMW stand in Paris is also one of the coolest M cars you can see today. The BMW M2 Safety Car was first introduced in early 2016 and follows on from the concept and success story of the BMW 1 Series M Coupe and the subsequent BMW 1M MotoGP Safety Car.

The new 2016 MotoGP Safety Car shines here with an extremely eye-catching livery in the colors of BMW Motorsport and of course some modifications to prepare it for the permanent race track use. Carbon fiber part from the BMW M Performance catalog and golden details like the wheels complete the spectacular M2 Safety Car.

BMW-M2-Safety-Car-9

An adjustable coilover suspension the carbon fiber blades applied to the body and side skirts, the diffuser insert at the rear are just a few of the aerodynamic improvements. The racing wing, M carbon ceramic brakes, the Michelin Cup 2 tires and the racing-inspired wrap are just some of the latest details that make this M2 a track monster.

BMW-M2-Safety-Car-2 BMW-M2-Safety-Car-8 BMW-M2-Safety-Car-6

Click below for more images.

BMW-M2-Safety-Car-1 BMW-M2-Safety-Car-2 BMW-M2-Safety-Car-3 BMW-M2-Safety-Car-4 BMW-M2-Safety-Car-5 BMW-M2-Safety-Car-6 BMW-M2-Safety-Car-7 BMW-M2-Safety-Car-8 BMW-M2-Safety-Car-9

 

The article Paris 2016: BMW M2 Safety Car rocks the M exhibit appeared first on BMW BLOG



from BMW BLOG http://ift.tt/2cHuYHH

Rice and Loftus progress at Q-School

Declan Loftus

Declan Loftus

Limerick's Tim Rice and Mayo's Declan Loftus came through the First Qualifying Stage Section C of the European Tour Q-School. But it was a disappointing week for former Walker Cup player Gavin Moynihan and Alps Tour regular David Carey.

At Golf d'Hardelot in France, Rice closed with a two under 69 to finish tied 17th on two under at a venue where 26 players advanced to next month's Second Stage.

The other three Irish were in action at Ribagolfe in Portugal where the top 23 and ties progressed and in the end just 24 players got through with Breafy House Resort sponsored Loftus claiming a share of 22nd on one under par as exactly 24 players progressed

The Maynooth University graduate made six birdies in a four under par 68 to make it on the mark but Carey shot 74 to miss out by four shots with Moynihan (74) a shot further back.

After Sections A, B and C of Q-School only Stephen Grant, Cormac Sharvin, Brian Casey, Loftus and Rice have progressed.



from News - Irish Golf Desk http://ift.tt/2dLwQnG

{Friday Photo Bliss}

It is finally fall and we are once again enjoying the great outdoors!


Piper's underbite just kills me. It is so freaking adorable!

I am such a goofball. When he was a puppy and I brought him to the vet, the vet tech commented on his underbite. I immediately saw dollar signs dance in front of my eyes and asked "Oh no, does he need braces or something?"

The vet tech almost died laughing. "No," she said, "He just looks cute."

I guess I am sensitive because I have already have two boys with crooked teeth and didn't want to add a third set of braces. ;-)


I decided to bring out the "real camera" and practice back button focusing. Works pretty well with this lens. Unfortunately the mosquitoes (female mosquitoes only of course, the boys always remind me the male ones sip on nectar, not humans) were eating us up and we only had time to take a few shots.


We went for a morning walk to the park with my mom and Piper. Fall is here and it is cool and the sky was a deep blue.

Mom had an old film Canon Rebel that she gave to Duke. So he is shooting his first roll of film while learning how to use the camera. He commented that he prefers film because he knows he has to take time on each photo so he won't waste film. Also, we are always behind getting our digital prints printed (we are going to do it, just haven't done it yet!) so this way he will have actual photos for his album.


This is the kind of weather I live for. I love fall!


Pipe had so much fun on our two mile hike.


Now that it has cooled down we can have our fire pit family gatherings once again. The boys are both little pyros and love burning dead bamboo.

We have a very fancy outdoor kitchen. Our rusted-out fire pit and our small charcoal grill.  We used to have an electric smoker but it stopped working and we haven't replaced it yet. We live the high life!!!

See that green umbrella in the background? We can't open it because a bat has moved in. I noticed he became a bit concerned about the fire and flew out and around us a few times to let us know he was annoyed. We need to put up some bat houses in the back yard.


Now that my parents moved into town I can call them up last minute and invite them over for dinner. Well, I can call them, but my dad is the opposite of spontaneous so he wouldn't come with such short notice. But Mom, like our family, loves these last minute dinners. Or walks. Or going out to eat.

We had to sip on sparkling water since we are both doing the Whole30 again and can't drink any alcohol. Three days in, yay!!!


Piper loves Paul and is always giving him air kisses. LOVE!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop PSE/Photoshop Actions and Lightroom Presets or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

For complete info on installing all of my actions, click here.


More from Rita:
Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter


from The CoffeeShop Blog http://ift.tt/2cHfXWo

Electric BMW M cars are coming, just not any time soon

BMW-M4-GTS-test-drive-review-151

I’m glad this is done through the internet, because there’s a reason why the expression “don’t kill the messenger” exists. People don’t like the messenger of bad news. However, I have to be exactly that to many BMW M enthusiasts across the globe. So here goes. BMW’s M Division will be creating electrified and hybrid cars in the future.

Now, before you foam and the mouth and grab your pitchfork and torch, understand that the aforementioned future is a distant one. According to BMW M boss, Frank van Meel, electric powertrains and batteries are far too heavy and complicated to be used in M cars at the moment or even in the near future.

“If you look at electrification technology right now, the weight increase would be too big compared to the increase of performance. The answer for the time being is no, but on the other hand we are looking at what project ‘i’ is doing with new battery technologies and new e-motors, so when we see the advancements in technology are big enough, then the time will be right.” said van Meel.

BMW-M4-GTS-test-drive-review-21

Van Meel does admit, though, that it is a matter of when, not if, BMW M cars will gain electric technology. “At the end of the road, of course, M vehicles will be electrified,” The reason being that there’s only so far that the internal combustion engine can take us, in terms of performance, dynamics and precision. He also reminds us that the powertrain is not what defines a BMW M car, it’s the experience.

“We follow a clear motorsport philosophy about precision, dynamics, agility – drivetrain isn’t the defining factor of what M stands for, it’s just a way of fulfilling our philosophy. So yes, electric drivetrains in the future can also fulfil our philosophy and they will.”

But, as he mentioned, electric powertrain technology cannot fulfill that same M Division philosophy at the moment, so we won’t see such a car for awhile. It’s actually the same reason that M won’t be doing any work with the BMW i8. The i8, according to van Meel, is perfect and adding power, grip or performance would be ruining the philosophy of that car. “You can’t marry M and ‘i’ together because i8 is perfect as it is. Although it has batteries, the weight is below 1,500kg and to make that happen you have to make the car exactly to the point”

BMW-M2-South-Africa-36

Adding to that, we also won’t be seeing an M supercar, as that would step on the i8’s toes a bit. When asked if BMW M would create something along the lines of the Mercedes-AMG GT, van Meel said “The i8 is the current halo car, it’s the future on the road. I wouldn’t want to ruin this halo effect by trying to make another halo car, so currently it’s not an issue. And from an M perspective, rather than having a flagship and a heap of boats, we’d rather have an armada of high-performance vessels.”

[Source: Top Gear]

The article Electric BMW M cars are coming, just not any time soon appeared first on BMW BLOG



from BMW BLOG http://ift.tt/2dtjQPf

BMW issues X3, X4 and X5 recall for new Takata air bag problem

test-drive-2014-bmw-x3-facelift-04

BMW is recalling 4,000 SUVs in the U.S. and Canada to fix a new and potentially deadly problem with Takata air bag inflators.

BMW says in the NHTSA documents released that the driver’s front inflator can separate from a plate, shooting out metal and other debris.

The companies traced the problem to incorrect welding at a Takata factory in Mexico. It’s different from the problem that affected the entire automotive industry last year. In those vehicles, the ammonium nitrate used to inflate the air bags can degrade over time and blow the inflators apart, spewing shrapnel.

2016-BMW-X4-M40i-test-drive-review-95

The recall covers certain BMW X3 and X4 SUVs from the 2015 model year, and X5s from 2014 and 2015.

Dealers will replace the driver’s air bag at no cost starting November 11.

The article BMW issues X3, X4 and X5 recall for new Takata air bag problem appeared first on BMW BLOG



from BMW BLOG http://ift.tt/2dFEflG

BMW Group entering phase two of EVs with electric MINI and BMW X3

BMW-330e-test-drive-review-64

BMW’s i Division has been largely influential on the BMW Group as a whole and how it moves forward. While many feel that BMW’s i sub-brand is sort of spinning its wheels a bit, after the big debuts of the BMW i3 and i8, BMW feels as if the beginning of the i Division was only phase one of its plan. Now, the BMW Group as a whole will be entering the next phase, something BMW feels puts it ahead of its competitors.

“Competitors are now in phase one on their electric strategy, while we’re entering phase two,” said BMW CEO Harald Krueger. “We’re already well on our way to electrifying the core portfolio, using powertrain technology from BMW i.”

What Krueger is referring to when he talks about BMW’s competitors is the recent push from GM and Mercedes-Benz to create more plug-in hybrid vehicles, something Krueger feels BMW has already done. For example, Mercedes just recently launched its “Generation EQ” EV at the 2016 Paris Motor Show and it will be the beginning of a new line of electric vehicles from Mercedes. However, BMW has been there and done that already, now moving onto taking that technology and implementing it across the BMW lineup.

BMW-330e-test-drive-review-62

 

One such vehicle that BMW is currently planning on is a plug-in hybrid variant of the BMW X3. The next-generation of X3 is on its way and BMW wants to create a hybrid variant as BMW sees it as a more mainstream offering to the consumer. Whereas the current BMW plug-in hybrid cars are mostly quite expensive (BMW X5 xDrive40e and 740e), the X3 would give buyers another mainstream offering next to the BMW 330e.

The BMW Group is also interested in getting its MINI brand electrified. We’ve already heard about the brand’s efforts to develop a MINI Countryman E plug-in hybrid. This will offer yet another more cost-effective and mainstream plug-in offering from the BMW Group.

So whereas the competition is only beginning to launch their plug-in and electric vehicle initiatives, the BMW Group is already on going mainstream. And while there are many that feel BMW isn’t treading deep enough to the electrified waters, by sticking with hybrids instead of full-on EVs, BMW feels that plug-ins offer the best option for green-driving at the current moment.

2016-BMW-330e-iPerformance-15

So while Mercedes-Benz and GM have just begun to start their EV and plug-in hybrid portfolio, BMW has moved past that and is implementing its newfound technologies into its mainstream cars. In a way, BMW is the anti-hipster of the EV world. It’s now in phase two.

[Source: Bloomberg]

 

The article BMW Group entering phase two of EVs with electric MINI and BMW X3 appeared first on BMW BLOG



from BMW BLOG http://ift.tt/2dd89hR