The Up-Cycle House follows a very simple, but strict ethos of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’ resulting in a closed-loop reinvention of an existing small family home that is architecturally beautiful and environmentally responsible. Where the home did need fixing, architect Alexander Symes did so emphatically, but with recycled materials that adhered to […]
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JP Fitzgerald and Rory McIlroy after the Co Down man's win in the Tour Championship at FedEx Cup last year.
Paul McGinley is surprised at the timing of Rory McIlroy’s split with caddie JP Fitzgerald but believes the change could be the spark the Holywood star needs to get back to winning majors.
According to reports, the four-time major winner has parted company with Fitzgerald after nine years together.
Sources close to McIlroy have revealed that he has yet to hire a full-time replacement and will have one of his close friends — some of his childhood friends include Harry Diamond, Ricky McCormick and Mitchell Tweedie — on the bag for the next few weeks.
But while McGinley is unsurprised that McIlroy and his former caddie Fitzgerald have decided to go their separate ways, he admitted at Lahinch yesterday that the timing — the week of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational and two weeks before the US PGA — is something of a shock.
Speaking at the Lahinch during the Champions’ Day for former winners of the South of Ireland Championship that formed part of the club's 125th-anniversary celebrations, McGinley said: “The timing? It’s surprising. He’s obviously got his reasons and I don’t know what they are.
“I don’t want to be critical of him and I haven’t spoken to him but going into the last major of the year, I’d agree that it’s surprising timing.
“I'm surprised that he’s made that decision going to a golf course where he has won twice with JP on the bag.
“Who knows what the reasons were.”
Asked if McIlroy might be looking for something to reignite his career after three years with a major win, McGinley said: “He might. And it might work!”
McGinley knows that caddie changes are part and parcel of the life of a professional golfer and does not believe there’s anything sinister behind the McIlroy move,
McGinley himself parted ways with Fitzgerald after seven years together and the former Ryder Cup captain has seen it all before.
He said: “Rory is very much his own man. Rory makes his own decisions. Caddie-player relationships — what are they together now, nine years? — that’s way past what the average would be.
“They have survived a long time in the pressure cooker of the top of the world rankings.
“They have won four majors and I think both of them can walk away with their heads held high. It is one of those things that happens.
“Is there a professional caddie relationship that has lasted a whole career? You don’t sack a caddie. You part ways.
“JP was with me for six or seven years and we sat down and said, maybe this has run its course. Maybe it will freshen both of us up if we get different jobs.
“So I said, JP you keep caddying for me and sound out if there are any other bags going and let me know.
“Three weeks later he found Thomas Bjorn. I asked him how long he needed before he went and he said two weeks.
“So I had two weeks to find someone and that’s when I got Darren Reynolds who was working for Roger Chapman.
“We had a lot of success, Ryder Cups, won tournaments. So it’s swings and roundabouts.”
Fitzgerald has frequently been the subject of criticism for McIlroy’s course management errors such as the recent double bogey the Co Down man made at the 10th hole at Royal Birkdale in the third round of The Open.
“I just completely took the wrong club on the 10th off the tee,” McIlroy said. "You either hit a club that stays short of all those bunkers or you take a club that at least only brings the traps up at 300 into play and I did neither."
But McGinley is cautious about criticising any caddie for decisions that come down to both parties.
“Tell me a caddie who doesn’t make mistakes?” he asked. “We don’t know what happened in that situation on 10 at Birkdale.
“Maybe JP said to him, it’s a three-wood Rory and maybe Rory said it was a three-iron.
“Unless you are privy to what is going on, it’s very easy to be judgmental from the outside and it’s very easy to be judgemental in hindsight.
“But until you are on the ground, the only person who can answer that question is Rory or JP.“
BMW will bring the all-new Concept 8 Series Coupe and the Z4 Concept to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The unveiling of the two concept vehicles and press conference will take place on Thursday August 17th at 10:00 am at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Reviewing Stand on the 18th green of The Lodge at Pebble Beach Golf Course.
The BMW Concept 8 Series serves as a preview of a forthcoming BMW model – the new BMW 8 Series Coupe, slated for launch in 2018, while the Z4 Concept previews the new roadster also out in 2018.
“The number 8 and cars like the Z8 Roadster and i8 have represented the pinnacle of sports performance and exclusivity at BMW,” explains Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG Harald Krüger. “The forthcoming BMW 8 Series Coupe will demonstrate that razor-sharp dynamics and modern luxury can go hand-in-hand. This will be the next model in the expansion of our luxury-car offering and will raise the benchmark for coupes in the segment. In the process, we will strengthen our claim to leadership in the luxury class.”
“The BMW Concept 8 Series is our take on a full-blooded high-end driving machine,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “It is a luxurious sports car which embodies both unadulterated dynamics and modern luxury like arguably no other. For me, it’s a slice of pure automotive fascination.”
The BMW Concept 8 Series makes its North American debut after being first shown at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in late May. The BMW Concept 8 Series will be shown publicly at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering on Friday August 18th and on the Concept Lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday August 20th.
The Z4 Concept will be shown on the Concept Lawn of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday August 20th.
BMW will again participate in the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion this year campaigning two historic cars driven by notable drivers. The famous 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL #25 will, one last time, be driven by former BMW of North America President Ludwig Willisch while the 1972 ALPINA 2002ti will be driven by none other than Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW Group Head of Design.
Press Conference Details.
| Date: | Thursday, August 17th |
| Pre- conference gathering: | 9:30 am – 10:00 am |
| Press Conference: | 10:00 am – 10:30 am |
| Photography time: | 10:30 am – 11:15 am |
| Location: | The Lodge at Pebble Beach (PB Concours Reviewing Stand) 1700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA 93953 |
The article BMW Z4 Concept and 8 Series Concept to be show at Pebble Beach appeared first on BMW BLOG
A BMW G05 X5 prototype with the M Sport Package was spotted in Spartanburg, South Carolina, during a test run with just a few months before its world unveil. After just five years of production, BMW is replacing the X5, which was introduced in 2013, with a new design.
In contrast to its predecessor, the new X5 is based on the innovative cluster architecture (CLAR). The new platform will be significantly lighter, stiffer and more flexible. A mix of magnesium, aluminum and even CFRP will be infused into its body and chassis, and they should prove providential in changing the way the car handles. Of course, it will impact the fuel consumption, in a positive way as well.
Big jumps are not to be expected in the design, however, just like the dimensions, the exterior of the X5 should not differ greatly from the current model. The front fascia features similar headlights and kidney grille as the new X3, while the lower area of the front-end stands out with large air curtains and sculpted “fangs” that give the X5 that desired sporty look. The side view features a more slopping roofline compared to the current generation X5, while the two character lines running from rear to front emphasize the dynamics of this car.
The model range will remain mostly the same. The sDrive35i and its all-wheel brother, the xDrive35i becoming 40i versions as they will get the new B58 3-liter straight six engine with its 320 HP. The same name change will be true for diesel versions as well. Of course, the xDrive40e plug-in hybrid will continue to be offered as will the V8 option in the guise of the xDrive50i.
The production of the F15 X5 is scheduled to end in BMW’s Spartanburg plant in July 2018 with the new model slotted to being production shortly after.
The article Upcoming G05 BMW X5 spotted in South Carolina appeared first on BMW BLOG
I always liked the BMW E92. I think it’s one of that classic BMW designs that will never grow old, it’s still a relatively small two door coupe and from where I’m looking at it, it really is a gorgeous looking thing. But there’s one thing I never fully understood: why would people chose a 335i over an M3 when it comes to the E92 chassis?
I mean, how can someone voluntarily pick a three liter twin turbo inline six over a screaming V8. How?!
In order to understand why, Martin took me for a spin in his highly modified and mean looking E92 335i.
But first, let’s get the mods list out of the way:
Performance
Interior
Chassis
Exterior
Not bad huh? And what I like the most about Martin’s car is just how well these mods all fit together. Nothing on this car feels out of place and I especially love the custom carbon fiber bits.
Power is now up to 400+hp, we have no dyno figures yet so we don’t know the exact numbers, the engine pulls really well and if you floor it in first or second gear, you get a wonderful tail wiggle that you can hold on to until you release the throttle pedal. The car is wonderfully balanced, it’s loud, it’s really not as uncomfortable as it looks and the E92 M3 seats are a wonderful addition as they’re quite comfortable and also offer great side support.
The M Performance alcantara steering wheel looks and feels wonderful to the touch and from now on I will never question another bimmer owner that wears driving gloves.
And even though the N54 engine is known for having some issues, in Martin’s three and a half years of ownership he experienced none and mind you, this is not a garage queen, it’s his daily driver and a trusty long journey partner.
But yeah, after spending the day with Martin’s car, I now fully understand why someone would chose a 335i over an M3 without looking back. With a few tweaks here and there and some well thought out mods, you can turn a 335i into a rather special machine.
Granted, it’s not a special as a naturally aspirated V8 but hey, neither are the maintenance bills.
Follow Martin’s build here: http://ift.tt/2vmfuXo
The article BATM4AN – The Story Of A BMW E92 335i appeared first on BMW BLOG
When Tesla first spoke about the idea of its new Model 3, its main target was the BMW 3 Series. The 3er has always been the most popular car in the segment, so it’s only natural to target it. To take on BMW’s sales-giant, Tesla was going to have to build a car that was quick, practical and high-tech, at a similar price to the 3 Series. As far as we can tell, it seems that the Tesla Model 3 does all of those things.
In this new comparison from Electrek, we take a look at the Model 3 and the 3 Series and see how they compare on paper. We can obviously only compare on paper, as we haven’t yet driven the Model 3.
In exterior dimensions, the two cars are quite similar. The Model 3 is a bit bigger in almost every respect, though. It’s a few inches longer, a fraction of an inch taller, has a slightly long wheelbase and slightly wider wheel track. So it’s the bigger car, but only by a bit. Though, its interior volume is going to be significantly larger than the 3er’s. Thanks to its electric powertrain, Tesla is able to carve out far more space on the inside.
As far as performance goes, these two cars are quite similar. Electrek used the BMW 330i as an example, as it’s the closest to the Model 3 in terms of performance. The Model 3 in its standard battery form can sprint from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. With its upgraded battery, it can do the same sprint in 5.1 seconds. The BMW 330i splits the two cars, doing it in 5.4 seconds. So performance is pretty similar between the two cars.
If you’re going to ask about the differences in powertrain, it’s not really relevant. Yes, the Model 3 is fully electric while the BMW 330i uses a 2.0 liter turbo-four. However, Elon Musk was clear in that he wants the Model 3 to compete with all cars in the segment, not just EVs. So how they make their propulsion isn’t as relevant as what they do with it.
In terms of pricing, the Tesla seems like it might have the BMW 3 Series beat. The standard Model 3 starts life at $35,000, while the BMW 330i starts at $38,750. While those prices can easily be evened out by BMW dealer discounts, the kicker is in their equipment. The Model 3 comes remarkably well equipped. Things like navigation, back-up camera and blind-spot assist are all standard on the Tesla. They’re optional extras on the 3 Series. Fancy autonomous driver aids are optional on both cars, though, but the options are far cheaper on the BMW. As far as standard equipment, though, the Model 3 might be the smarter deal, especially considering the tax incentives EVs get.
We obviously can’t compare these two cars on the road just yet. However, on paper, these two seem remarkably close. When Musk claimed the Model 3 would take on the 3 Series, he wasn’t kidding. We can’t wait to drive both back-to-back and see how they compare in the real world.
[Source: Electrek]The article Spec and Price Comparison: BMW 330i vs Tesla Model 3 appeared first on BMW BLOG
