E D I TO RIA L 3 5
DEAR READERS
Rolf Epp CEO BMW Group Latin America & the Caribbean
As usual, it brings me great pleasure to share our news from the first half of the year with you and, true to the style of our brands, the pace has been dynamic with numerous activities and developments across all areas, at both regional and global levels. At the start of the year, MINI gave an excellent performance at the Dakar 2015, marking an exceptional start to the brand with a dominant role in the world's toughest rally. Once again, the X-raid Team stormed to victory alongside the powerful MINI ALL4 Racing in this test that moved to our region several years ago, gaining many new fans. BMW Group fans know that our main weapon of motivation and seduction is new models and that’s why we are pleased to introduce you to some of them here. Without lingering too much, I’d like to briefly tell you about a few models that will have important roles because of their characteristics, and will be admired by many on the streets of Latin America and the Caribbean. As for BMW, I want to highlight the various new models that mark a shift toward the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer that now features in some markets within the region and I believe enhances BMW’s range of models. Covering an entirely new segment, this brand new model offers up a balanced mix of dynamism and habitability. The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer has a high level of comfort and versatile space, using a new front wheel drive system along with new turbo three- and four-cylinder engines and numerous BMW EfficientDynamics solutions that provide a sports performance as well as exemplary efficiency. A model that will surprise many BMW connoisseurs. You will also find a report on the revamped the BMW 6 Series Convertible on the following pages with inviting images that will convince you to enjoy the summer breeze along some of the beautiful beaches in our continent. As for motorcycles, I recommend reading the driving impressions on the BMW Motorrad BMW R 1200 and the Roadster boxer engine bike, an attractive combination for more than 90 years. Those who love this type of motorcycle know that BMW Roadster is synonymous with the purest and most genuine of driving pleasures. In addition, you can also find out more about Rolls Royce’s flagship models, travel stories from around the Americas, get to know the five-door MINI better, and much more. With these launches and those to come, BMW Group certainly remains solid as it aims to provide clients varying degrees of mobility for everyone – and always with the seal of quality that makes the group stand out. I hope you enjoy these and many other facets of the BMW world in this latest edition of the BMW Group Report.
Cover: BMW 6 Series Convertible, photography BMW Press Club.
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CONTENTS
01.2015
30 30 BMW 6 Series Convertible Sea breeze 38 Rolls-Royce Maharaja Phantom Drophead Coupé Times of pageantry 44 “The MINI Story” at the BMW Museum The story of a cult brand 58 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer The most functional
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44 72 BMW R 1200 R Old school, new technology
Sections
80 Mini 5-Door Largely desired
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TOP SHOT Dzine pop installation for Rolls-Royce
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NEWS Barcelona’s urban police mount the new BMW C Evolution / The fastest wheelie on ice / Signs of the same spirit / Useful and multifunctional accessories / The Drop chair revamped / John Cooper Works 2015 / Commitment to culture / Paddington Bear in London
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DESIGN Folding electric skateboard / MINI Yours
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TECHNOLOGY Water injection
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SCENE
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PANORAMA Interview: Miquel Silvestre In the footsteps of forgotten explorers Preparing the terrain / 30 electric charging stations / Rally Dakar 2015
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MY BMW BMW R 60/2, 1960
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COMING SOON
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top s h ot
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Dzine for Rolls-Royce Carlos Rol贸n, known as Dzine, is a versatile artistic genius producing installations, sculptures, murals, miniatures, paintings and even books. His eclectic, vibrant and sensual work has attracted attention worldwide. His passion for pop extends to his music, which exhibits the vibrant and rhythmic effect of all his works. In his experimental recording studio in Chicago, Carlos composes in collaboration with today's most talented producers and DJs. Rolls-Royce commissioned Carlos Rol贸n for a new installation in the firm's Singapore showroom. The neon display, curiously called "Untitled (Opulence)" is a celebration of funk. With this three-metre by 3.5-metre piece, which produces a suggestive effect to the observer, Rol贸n explores movement and light to express "The spirit of ecstasy", Rolls-Royce's slogan.
In 1784, the groundbreaking Pierre Jaquet Droz established Geneva’s first ever watchmaking factory. Grande Seconde Quantième Ivory Enamel , ref. J007033200 Ivory Grand Feu enamel, double level. 18-carat red gold case. Self-winding mechanical movement, silicon balance. Power reserve of 68 hours. Pointer-type date display at 6 o’clock. Diameter 43 mm. W W W. JAQUET-DROZ.C OM
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news
Sign of the same spirit For the past five winters MINI has hosted the Burton European Open snowboard competition that takes place in Laax, Switzerland. Snowboard maker Burton and MINI share the same taste in bright colours, contrasts and design boldness. At each Burton competition, MINI gathers prestigious and emerging artists to undertake unconventional installations on the snowy slopes. This year, the white freestyle piste became a background that emphasised works by illustrator Geoff McFetridge, who also created the cinematographic interfaces for the film ‘Her.’ On the edge of the abstraction, the Canadian’s drawings are completely simple yet intuitive. These graphics, the size of a traffic signal, have an effective ability to communicate. McFetridge also designed a MINI Countryman's bodywork in black and white. Burton and MINI stand out for their playful and vanguard ideas that are always functional. The compact car firm also sponsors young sportsmen and women and favours the snowboard, a young sport that was incorporated into the Winter Olympics in 1998.
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news
The Drop Chair revisited Did you know the Drop Chair wasn’t designed to to be commercialised? Created by Arne Jacobsen in 1958 for Copenhagen’s Sas Royal Hotel lobby, nearly six decades later, the Republic of Fritz reinterpreted it to present it at Milan’s Design Week 2014. It was an immediate hit. The drop-shaped chair is charming, comfortable and adapts to any space. To commemorate the fifth anniversary of the joint venture between MINI and Republic of Fritz Hansen, they launched two versions of the chair that are inspired by two compact cars. The Classic Drop Chair is inspired by the Classic MINI and is covered in black leather with a red
trim. More elaborate and a greater contrast, the Modern Drop Chair interprets the interior of a MINI Clubman with its corduroy upholstery stitched with a diamond pattern. The workshop founded by Fritz Hansen in Copenhagen in 1972 evolved so much that it became an “open republic” for designers from all around the world who made the grade for Arne Jacobsen or Christian Dell. This democratic and talented group joined the MINI design team in a celebration that allowed us to enjoy the eternally beautiful pieces.
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LEGENDS ARE FOREVER EL PRIMERO
I Chronomaster 1969
Zenith Boutique: St. Maarten • Little Europe: St. Maarten • Goldfinger: St. Maarten Diamonds International: St. Thomas, Grand Cayman, Aruba, St. Maarten Port, Bahamas, Cozumel, Pla ya del Carmen, Jamaica Club Jibarito: Puerto Rico
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news
Commitment to culture BMW Group recently published a catalogue that share the creative works produced by the firm in collaboration with some of the world’s most exciting artists. The 100-plus page “Part Off� is filled with with attention-grabbing images backed up by short texts, so that readers can appreciate the effort and commitment to art made by the Bavarian firm for the past 40 years. These images illustrate a task undertaken by BMW in various guises, sometimes as a patron, other times as a team player, or organising platforms from which to launch artists. Give that production over the past four decades has been enormous, the works selected for the catalogue are the most representative from the disciplines of contemporary art, architecture, music and design. The catalogue, which was created by Munich design team Stofer und Hartje, was published in English and German, and it was also awarded prizes by NatureOffice and Blauer Engel for using materials that respect the environment and for printing ecologically.
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news
Useful and multifunctional objects The new BMW i collection now counts on 11 multifunctional, ultra-light and sustainable accessories. Although they were created for the BMW i3 and the BMW i8, these accessories adapt to any driver who appreciates a well-designed product that’s useful, long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing. Each item points to organising and protecting the exterior as well as the interior of the vehicle. Among them, a folding box made from a light and water-resistant recycled material. It fits into a shopping trolley and objects can be stored in its compartments. The protector-boot box has two functions: folded up, it avoids getting dirty and it adapts perfectly to the boot; its innovative folding system and adjustable belt turns it into a waterproof transport box in seconds. The ultra-light cover extends sufficiently to cover the cargo area with seats folded down or to protect the back seats. Besides using it as a picnic rug, given that one side is waterproof and the other, fleece. BMW i’s smart design team also created a car cover protector, a a foldable cover for tools and cables, a solar protector for the rear windscreen and an original sliding key casing that protects the remote control.
AQUARACER CALIBRE 16 CHRONOGRAPH
Cronometrador Oficial de la WSL Big Wave Events. Surfear olas gigantes es cuestión de sincronización, estar preparado y en el lugar adecuado cuando la marejada del año se aproxima. Como TAG Heuer, los mejores surfistas de olas gigantes viven para afrontar retos#DontCrackUnderPressure.
AVAILABLE IN OUR TAG HEUER LIFESTYLE BOUTIQUES IN: CARIBBEAN: Aruba – Bahamas – Barbados Limegrove – Cozumel – Grand Cayman Playa del Carmen – St Maarten – St Thomas ALSO AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE CARIBBEAN AT SELECTED FINE JEWELRY STORES.
For a list of authorized retailers, visit www.tagheuer.com
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1,000,000 Sedans. BMW’s Pretoria, South Africa, factory marks the production of the one millionth Serie 3 Sedan.
John Cooper Works 2015 With intense colours, a sport steering-wheel, more aerodynamic lines, an exclusive front flap with prominent airways, the new MINI John Cooper Works is the most passionate in MINI’S third-generation range. Its four-cylinder 2.0 litre engine with TwinPower Turbo technology offers 231 CV of power and a maximum torque of 320 Nm to 1,250 revolutions. It reaches 0 to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds and in 6.1 seconds using the automatic gearbox, and has a maximum speed of 246 km/h. The efficient brake system designed by Brembo works with fixed calipers, painted in an attention-seeking red, which guarantee an optimum braking capacity. It also has a differential electronic block and, as an option, dynamic suspension control. The interior has a super sport look to it. The MINI John Cooper Works 2015 debuts exclusive seats with integrated headrests covered in Dynamic upholstery. The multi-function sporty steering-wheel can take the gear levies in the back in case the car has an automatic change. The JCW frames in the doors, the gearbox levers with the JCR stamp, the splendid pedals in stainless steel and the peculiar hood finished in anthracite give a more dynamic feeling to this new generation.
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A very special anniversary
The No. 59 BMW 3.0 CSL Group 4 race car with driver Brian Redman, winners of the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1976.
BMW Team RLL competed in its seventh consecutive season of sports car racing competition when it took part in the 53rd edition of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The competition marked the 40th anniversary of BMW’s first race in the US and BMW Team RLL raced with the numbers 24 and 25 on its two BMW Z4 GTLM cars in honour of the iconic BMW 3.0 CSL race cars that debuted at the same race four decades ago. “Forty years ago, while BMW of North America was still in its
infancy, we made the decision to be a part of these exciting races”, commented Ludwig Willisch, Chairman and CEO of BMW of North America, LLC. “BMW Motorsport introduced two BMW 3.0 CSL race cars in North America for the 1975 IMSA season at 24 Hours of Daytona. Those cars became legends and laid the foundation for success BMW has enjoyed in the past four decades, where today we are the number-one luxury brand.”
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Paddington Bear in London Paddington Bear is one of the most famous characters in British children’s literature. Created by Michael Bond, Paddington was published for the first time in 1958. But following Paddington’s big screen début, the character made a comeback in front of the whole world. At the start of the year, London gave a home to 50 cute sculptures of everyone’s favourite bear created by renowned designed in collaboration with celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, Emma Watson and David Beckham. From the mind of Gyles Taylor, design director at Rolls-Royce, came a Paddington sculpture that adorned the store’s façade in Berkeley Square. The ideas man was inspired by Charles Rolls, one of the founders of the luxury automobile firm along with Henry Royce. The aristocratic marquis Charles Rolls was a daring pilot and pioneering aviator who decided to team up with Henry Royce, a humble but visionary mechanic, to create Rolls-Royce at the start of the 20th century. Between 10 December and 7 January, in conjunction with legendary auction house Christie’s, these fantastic Paddington bears were auctioned off, with all the funds raised going to the NSPCC, a charity dedicated to fighting child abuse.
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Sea breeze
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BMW 6 Series Convertible
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BMW's 6 series retakes the brand's legendary car traditions with three distinct models. Presenting the super sporty and irresistibly designed BMW 6 Series Convertible.
The new 6 Series models belong to the highest tier of luxury and dynamism. The concept began with the BMW 327 Sport Coupé launched onto the market in 1973. Ever since 1976, these unmistakable characteristics, good-taste and sportiness, are intertwined hallmarks of the number 6. The latest generation of the 6 Series has expanded and now includes three new models. The new BMW 6 Series Convertible, BMW 6 Series Coupé and the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé are the vanguard of dynamism, comfort, advanced technology and design. The trio has won various awards, among them the coveted Red Dot Award, awarded to outstanding design products.
Common traits All the 6 Series models share the same contemporary air in their design. The double-ovoid grille typical of BMW protruding from the centrefront of the car is more expressive. The amount of grille rods was reduced from 10 to nine, and the large vent openings indicate that under the hood lie especially powerful engines, requiring a greater cooling air flow. The new front skirt expresses the uninterrupted lower air inlet, giving itself greater breadth.
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The slanting headlights allow for more fluid side-aerodynamics and include a series of light-emitting diode headlamps which work together with the wizardry of BMW’s Selective Beam headlamps. Another innovation includes the indicator lights located on the top part of the headlights. The side-mirrors are more stylised and now integrate a slender indicator bar in the wing mirror’s housings.
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At the back, the curved wheel arches and the rear’s lateral profile vividly enhance the track width of all the BMW 6 series' models, thereby expressing its poise and dynamic stability. In addition, the skirts of the subsequent models equipped with six-cylinder engines have extended recesses to accommodate the exhaust system’s exit pipes, which now have a diameter of 90 millimetres instead of the classic 80.
The convertible of the series Although it radiates a maritime air with its sports boat-inspired design, its element is the asphalt. The elaborate character line flows toward the front and creates the feeling that the convertible is able to dive right into the road. The figure of the BMW 6 Series Convertible brings to mind the fluid design of a motor boat; light, open and fresh. The soft-top roof disappears smoothly within the body creating a flat and harmonious waistline. The driving position is dominated by the instruments’ sporty design. And all the contours and lines, both outside and inside the cockpit, highlight aerodynamics. With its muscular wheel arches and a solid and powerful posture, the rear of the car presents a marked contrast with the dynamic front. Above all, its appearance is characterised by the L-shaped rear lights, the striking exhaust frame and the additional horizontal frames in chrome. It is the most exclusive convertible out of all BMW's models.
Fabric soft top The totally automatic soft top offers an exceptional acoustic isolation and warmth. It gives the convertible its coupé silhouette. For some fresh air, the soft top roof folds back with just the push of a button and is stored in a boot compartment. Up to speeds of 40 km/h, it is possible to lower the roof in 19 seconds and raise it in 24 seconds. With the roof lowered, the convertible’s occupants can enjoy a revitalising experience of driving in the fresh air: the five windows can all lower at the same time while the soft top remains up, for example, to protect from strong sunlight. Being able to lower the rear window also guarantees an excellent air flow in the interior.
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Series equipment The BMW 6 Series Convertible's accessories include an 8-gear Steptronic sports gear box, LED headlights, the ConnectedDrive navigation kit, Dakota leather, heated front seats and the standard electronics with memory function, automatic dual-zone climate control with complementary roles, leather sports steering wheel with standard electronics, fitted with multiple function switches, cruise control and braking assistance, exterior electric and heated side-mirrors, professional audio system, high-fidelity speakers, hands-free system and a USB port. The standard, lightweight front seats have integrated seat belts, with an electrically-activated tightening system optimised to increase the level of comfort.
components on the dashboard, as well as trims of noble grey with visible poplar seams to give sophisticated feel to the convertible.
640i sport exhaust The BMW 640i Convertible includes a sport exhaust that adds an exciting sound to the spontaneous power delivery and perfectly complements the vehicle's overall sportsmanship. The sound can also be changed using a exhaust-integrated valve mechanism, controlled by the Control Driving Experience. The dynamic driving modes SPORT and SPORT+ are accentuated by a distinctive roar, in comfort-oriented modes the ride is accompanied by a more discreet engine sound, suitable for long trips and a more luxurious driving experience.
8-speed Steptronic sports gearbox Two irresistible interiors The new BMW 6 Series Convertible can be optionally customised with two different designs. The Design Pure Experience underlines the sporting image with a grille of ovoid dual rods, the BMW Individual highgloss Shadow line finish, exhaust pipes matched in glossy black, as well as 19-inch alloy wheels with a unique, radial design, star-shaped and in a two-colour combination. The new, suggestive Napa leather seats in cognac and black combine with brown Fineline hardwood trims. The Design Pure Excellence line includes 19-inch light alloy wheels and a luxurious cabin interior. The Napa leather upholstery in ivory white with black accents is an exquisite proposal. Exclusive details such as the leather upholstered instrument panel with stitching contrast, ceramic
The new convertible includes as standard the 8-speed Steptronic gearbox that adapts to the individual's driving style. It is perfect for any type of driving: from comfortable to extremely dynamic. Of course, in addition to the automatic gear selection, it is possible to change to manual at any time. You can change gear using the dynamically designed gear-stick or the gear-selection buttons on the steering wheel. In Sport mode, the gear changes are configured to provide maximum performance. Furthermore, they achieve a higher rate of acceleration, for instance, when overtaking another vehicle. When driving at high speed, the eighth gear reduces the stress on the engine to reduce consumption and noise. This is also when the new clutch converter comes into play.
New BMW Series 6 Convertible BMW 640i Convertible
BMW 640i xDrive Convertible
BMW 650i Convertible
BMW 650i xDrive Convertible
BMW 640d Convertible
BMW 640d xDrive Convertible
Length/Width/Height
4894 / 1894 / 1365 mm
4894 / 1894 / 1365 mm
4894 / 1894 / 1365 mm
4894 / 1894 / 1365 mm
4894 / 1894 / 1365 mm
4894 / 1894 / 1365 mm
Distance between axels
2855 mm
2855 mm
2855 mm
2855 mm
2855 mm
2855 mm
Maximum total weight
2325 kg
2390 kg
2425 kg
2480 kg
2365 kg
2440 kg
Engine
Petrol
Petrol
Petrol
Petrol
Diesel
Diesel
Engine technology
BMW TwinPower Turbo Twin-Scroll type technology, direct injection of High Precision Injection fuel, variable VALVETRONIC valve regulation and double-VANOS camshafts
BMW TwinPower Turbo Twin-Scroll type technology, direct injection of High Precision Injection fuel, variable VALVETRONIC valve regulation and double-VANOS camshafts
BMW TwinPower turbo technology: high pressure turbocharger tiered with variable geometry driving, common-rail direct injection with injectors (maximum pressure injection: 2,000 bars)
Gear box
8-gear Steptronic sporty gear box
8-gear Steptronic sporty gear box
8-gear Steptronic sporty gear box
Type/quantity of cylinders/valves
L/6/4
L/6/4
V/8/4
V/8/4
L/6/4
L/6/4
Cylinder cc
2979
2979
4395
4395
2993
2993
kW (HP) potential in RPM
235 (320) / 5800-6000
235 (320) / 5800-6000
330 (450) / 5500 – 6000
330 (450) / 5500 – 6000
230 (313) / 4400
230 (313) / 4400
Max torque Nm/rpm
450 / 1300 – 4500
450 / 1300 – 4500
650 / 2000 – 4500
650 / 2000 – 4500
630 / 1500 – 2500
630 / 1500 – 2500
Max speed km/h
250
250
250
250
250
250
Acceleration 0-100/h in 1 second
5.5
5.4
4.6
4.5
5.5
5.3
Traction
rear
4 wheel
rear
4 wheel
rear
4 wheel
Steering
Electromechanical power steering (EPS) with Servotronic function. Optional: active integral steering
Hydraulic gear and zip steering with Servotronic assistance
Electromechanical power steering (EPS) with Servotronic function. Optional: active integral steering
Hydraulic gear and zip steering with Servotronic assistance
Electromechanical power steering (EPS) with Servotronic function. Optional: active integral steering
Hydraulic gear and zip steering with Servotronic assistance
Urban and interurban consumption
7.6 litres/100km
8 litres/100km
8.9 litres/100km
9.3 litres/100km
5.4 litres/100km
5.6 litres/100km
CO2 value
179 g/km
191 g/km
213 g/km
221 g/km
149 g/km
154 g/km
Emissions classification
EU6
EU6
EU6
EU6
EU6
EU6
Bodywork
* Availability of specified engines may vary according to market.
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The fuel and CO2 consumption values are with series tyres
Rolls-Royce Maharaja Phantom Drophead CoupĂŠ
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Pomp and circumstance Photos: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
The Rolls-Royce Maharaja is the first in a series of vehicles inspired by the 840 Rolls-Royces that were purchased by extremely wealthy Maharaja of India from the start to the middle of the 20th century.
The reason for creating a tribute to India’s most important kings goes back to the first half of the 20th century. During that period, more than 800 Rolls-Royce cars were exported from England to India, and the majority of them was such an extreme eccentricity formed by their owners’ fantasies and comparable with the sumptuous decorations that adorned elephants in their most festive attire. The buyers, maharajas, whose power was increasingly diluted while the Indo-British government increased in strength. The luxurious and exotic vehicles were a comfort ahead of the inevitable historic turn.
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The limited edition Rolls-Royce Maharaja was created in honour of India although with the intention of selling it exclusively in Dubai. That’s not all. The Arab Emirates’ leading city is a hub for wealthy Indians looking for a luxurious refuge with a good climate and security in the Middle East.
The maharajas are traditionally Rolls-Royce most faithful and original customers.
On the edge of eccentricities, under a long patronage, India became one of the largest civilizations in the world, and its culture and mysticism spread around the world and still today enchants the West. Rolls-Royce recalls India’s princes and maharajas who started a long relationship with an automobile brand, a romance that lasted more than 50 years, with this special edition. This series’ development in honour of India is in the hands of the company’s bespoke department in Goodwood, England, in collaboration with a group of brand aficionados from India. The exquisite Rolls-Royce Maharaja Phantom Drophead Coupé launches this series. This time, lavishness doesn’t reach excess but is delicate and subtle with regard to materials and forms. The white bodywork inspired by the Taj Mahal’s marble is cleverly broken up by emerald green details such as the elegant hood or the peacock emblem, India’s national bird, and the artistic use of wood. The front instrument board in wood, frames made from the same material as the sides, while the wood-shaped keel behind the back seats is similar to the deck of a yacht.
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The upholstered edges replicate the feathers of a peacock, India’s national bird.
The interior’s ambiance is serene and elegant, as the the way the materials come together has a deliciously harmonious effect. The delicate wood with a handcraft finish, the ivory leather seats and emerald green details on the door, steering-wheel and the instrument panel complement each other. A curious watch endorsed with the national bird is built into the dashboard. This fabulous four-seat convertible measures 5.61 metres in length and weighs 2,705 kilos. Its 67-litre, 450 CV V12 engine reaches a maximum
speed of 240 km/h and can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds. The Rolls-Royce Maharaja Phantom Drophead Coupé starts the series destined to express those vehicles ordered by maharajas in years gone by in a contemporary style. Just as it did 100 years ago, Rolls-Royce continues to offer a hand-crafted, elegant and detailed product, and Henry Royce’s initial idea of “conceiving the best car in the world without worrying about expense and selling it to the people who can appreciate a fine article and are able to pay for it” continues even after all this time.
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The elegant wooden hood cover looks like a keel and completes the yacht look.
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“The MINI Story”
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The MINI Story at the BMW museum The story of a cult brand More than half a century of the iconic MINI's history is on display at the BMW museum in Munich, a story told through collectors’ cars, prototypes, artists' models and unusual vehicles. The MINI Cooper's story is split into two stages: its successful origin in the 60s and later its modernisation in 2001, once BMW Group had acquired the British firm with all its rich traditions. Since then, MINI has progressively grown following the compass of its creator, Alec Issigonis. The perfect recipe in maintaining the connection to the MINI's past while giving continuity to its British essence: practicality, independence and a touch of razor-sharp humour. BMW reinterpreted the iconic MINI's spirit, while maintaining its compact design, the pragmatic distribution of its space and MINI’s perpetual youthful agility despite celebrating 55 years of production in 2015. To commemorate this anniversary, the German firm organised an exhibit, The MINI Story, at the BMW Museum in Munich, which will remain open to the public until 31 January, 2016.
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Paul Smith, the famous English fashion designer, designed a model with 86 stripes in 26 different colours for MINI's 40th anniversary. The production process is an essential part of the exhibition.
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The collection of vehicles is joined by other excellent and truly fantastic objects such as a helmet donated by the driver Rauno Aaltonen that accompanied him throughout 60 years of legendary races such as the Monte Carlo rally. This knocked-about and overlooked accessory represented in its time a big advance in driver safety: for the first time a helmet had integrated earphones, allowing communication with the team during the race. Along with the helmet the original vehicle is also exhibited, in which the Finnish pilot won the victories that earned him the nickname ‘the rally professor’.
The MINI family's famous "grandfathers" on display: Mini Cabrio, Mini Clubman, Mini Moke.
David Bowie's spectacular, fully chromed Classic MINI stands immediately beside the "X-ray" photography of Nick Veasey combining two very different aspects to MINI. The design of the MINI Classic created by David Bowie, covered with a shining second skin, aspires not only to differentiate itself from its environment but to reflect it, and enables the relationship between the artwork and the observer. As such, the artwork stops being the object of desire and instead becomes a mirror which replicates the observer. In contrast, and with a more rationalist conception Nick Veasey's photography offers a bridge between art and science. The English photographer makes the actual known qualities of objects visible. To do this, he completely dismantled a Classic MINI and exposed each component to an x-ray machine, then rebuilt the vehicle on a computer. The MINI Paceman Kapooow is another of the participating cars exhibited in the Museum. Created as an installation in 2013 by MINI's design team led by Anders Warming, it shows the metamorphosis of a MINI from sketch to reality. The unique Ice Cream Van comes from the amazing MINI collection formed by Trevor Ripley from Birmingham. The van initially belonged to the Trufelli company of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, and as well as being a spectacle, it was actually used for to sell ice-cream. As the years passed it changed ownership several times and its appearance was also modified and painted many different colours. Its thorough restoration was completed shortly before the opening of the exhibition. The mobile citrus, named Outspan Orange, is only just recognisable as a MINI and is one of the most original bodyworks on display. It was used in advertising and comes from the South African Co-operative Citrus Exchange and Capespan. The base is an automatic Classic MINI with a body in the shape of an orange that was a real challenge for car's creators. The MINI Story shows the career of the MINI as a film star that began with the great Peter Sellers' comedy when he chose a MINI Classic for the 1964 film "A Shot in the Dark", the continuation of the legendary British comedy "The Pink Panther". MINI also participated in the 1966 film "Blowup" directed by Michelangelo Antonioni," a film that really reflected the spirit of the 60s, and in "The Italian Job" directed by Peter Collinson in 1969. “The MINI Story” is also a trip back in time that covers the brand's 50 years in the spotlight. The MINI tour demonstrates its ability to reinvent itself time and time again defying convention. Even today, and perhaps more than ever, the functional concepts on which it is based remain in force and are archetypes of lucid design, creativity, and intelligence.
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Divided into 20 thematic areas, the exhibition shows the most notable stages of the compact car's long journey and offers a perspective into the future that MINI can conquer continuing with the qualities that have defined it from the beginning and which are more relevant than ever. Some 30 original vehicles and memorabilia are on exhibition, including the first MINI ever built, several futuristic concept cars and rare film clips. Visitors can also learn about the historical details and spirit of each era along with its social and political background information.
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design
MINI Yours The new line of MINI Yours accessories made to customise your car is inspired by the haute couture tailoring hallmarked by London's Savile Row. Handmade and refined, the range includes various options such as paint finishes, different upholstery fabrics and interior colours, as well as ceiling decoration and graphic elements. For the car exterior, choose between a selection of little-used and sophisticated paint finishes, alloy wheels tailored for each specific model or stamped rear-view mirror casings. For the interior, MINI Yours offers a wide palette of colours in the best leather, contrasting seams, different precisely manufactured woods, ornamental graphics, various steering wheels and handmade aluminium finishes. The suggestions are endless and abundantly cheerful, like the car itself. The MINI Yours' team of designers focuses on making each MINI as personal as its owner. Since the brand’s 2001 relaunch, MINI has fulfilled the wishes of its clients with fascinating special editions and design models. MINI Yours responds further to the need to emphasise the individual spirit of MINI, its quality and its British roots.
FOLDING ELECTRIC SCOOTER MINI presents MINI Citysurfer Concept, a two-wheeled electric prototype, that’s already been presented to the public at the Los Angeles auto show. This electric scooter incorporates a lithium-ion battery that can be charged through a 12-volt plug with the help of a braking regeneration system, and has a 16 to 24 km range. Reaching a maximum speed of 25 km/h, the Citysurfer requires an initial physical push from the rider. Once at a set minimum speed, its electric drive activates, which has a gearless hand throttle. Other details include three independent braking systems, a mudguard and heightadjustable handlebars. It also has a base plate for a smartphone. The practical and urbanite MINI Citysurfer weighs just 18 kilos and as it folds away, it’s ideal when combined with other methods of transport. Safe and agile to ride, it’s the ideal design to adapt to the ever more congested city traffic.
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T ECH N OLO GY
MotoGP safety car uses water injection In this year’s MotorGP circuit, Grand Prix motorcycle racing’s premier class, BMW M launches an innovative water injection system into the high-performance propulsion system, greatly increasing engine efficiency and enhancing performance. The water injection system employed by BMW M, the company’s innovative motorsport division, further optimises performance and fuel efficiency when its in-line six-cylinder engine is run at full-throttle. The engineers have made use of the water’s physical effect during the vaporisation process to extract the energy required from the environmental medium. Water is injected into the intake module’s collector as a fine spray, significantly cooling the exhaust air during vaporisation. This lowers the discharge temperature in the combustion changer and thus reduces the tendency for knocking. The turbo engine can thus be operated with a higher charging pressure and an earlier ignition point. The lower process temperatures also reduce the formation of hazardous substances and nitrogen oxide. In addition, this system of water injection increases performance and torque, while at the same time ensuring outstanding fuel consumption and diminished emissions. Greater performance can be achieved without subjecting the components to increased temperatures; thereby the reliability of these parts is not affected. Finally, the injection system can be configured to limit water consumption, which, in turn, ensures a greater reserve when it’s needed to run at full power. As a product of BMW M, a division at the forefront of technology and innovation, the BMW M4 MotoGP also opens the way for the possible use of this technology in future four-wheel series vehicles.
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
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Fully functional The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer contradicts classic BMW values. Its front-wheel drive, three-cylinder engine and people-carrier shape were all designed with the urban family in mind.
Photos: BMW Press Club
With BMW quality and innovative practical vision, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is a novel offering from the Bavarian firm. The BMW team chose practicality, comfort, fuel efficiency, the spacious interior and, of course, the most efficient mechanical configuration to serve these purposes. On the outside Its high roof profile dropping sharply toward the bonnet and the rear, along with its technical qualities embody the perfect combination of functionality and style. Upfront, the classic grill is framed by two large headlights that along with with the curved bonnet and bumpers give it a striking and exciting look. In profile the lateral recesses produce a well-defined aura of acceleration. The elegant rear design, with large L-shaped lights and ample wheelbase give the BMW Series 2 Active Tourer a sporty style, in spite of its height. At the same time the large boot door, accompanied by a low cargo tray and a wide opening, creates easy boot access. The high roof line and big doors, facilitating access to every seat, allow the passenger easier access.
Light-filled ambiance The large and quiet interior of the BMW Series 2 Active Tourer is very harmonic. The materials and interior trim combine their subtle colours with the large windows to create a light and luminous atmosphere. The panoramic roof option even further accentuates this luminosity. The instrument display appears to float independently, adding an elegant and modern touch to the interior. In addition to abundant space, the striking central console, the door interiors and the central armrests contribute to storage space along with the glove compartment for smart phones or sunglasses, or the generous cup and bottle holders. These functional features adorn the passenger compartment, as seen in the flat bed of the boot, making loading easier, or the three rear seats, that adjust length ways and lower the seat proportions 40/20/40 enabling flexibility in available space.
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The aluminum bonnet weighs only eight kilos, half that of a conventional bonnet.
New BMW Serie 2 Active Tourer BMW 218i Active Tourer
BMW 225i Active Tourer
BMW 218d Active Tourer
Length/Width/Height
4342 / 1800 / 1555
4342 / 1800 / 1555
4342 / 1800 / 1555
Distance between axels
2670 mm
2670 mm
2670 mm
Engine
Petrol
Petrol
Petrol
Engine technology
Technology BMW TwinPower Turbo: Twin Scroll Turbo, High Precision Direct Injection
Technology BMW TwinPower Turbo: turbo unit with variable geometry turbocharger admission. Direct injection common-rail
Gear box
Manual, six gears. Optional: Automatic, 6 gears
Manual, six gears. Optional: Automatic, 8 gears
Bodywork
Automatic, 8 gears
Type/quantity cylinders/valves
L/3/4
L/4/4
L/4/4
Cylinder CC
1499
1998
1995
Power kW (HP) RPM
100 (136) / 4500–6000
170/231
110 (150) / 4000-4400
Maximum torque Nm/rpm
220 / 1250
350 / 1250
330 / 1750–2250
Maximum speed km/h
200
235
205
Acceleration 0-100/h in 1 second
9.3
6.8
8.9
Urban and interurban consumption
4.9 litres/100km
6.0 litres/100km
4.1 litres/100km
CO2 value
115 g/km
139 g/km
109 g/km
Classification according to emissions
EU6
EU6
EU6
The fuel consumption value and CO2 are with series tyres * Availability of specified engines may vary according to market.
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Independent control display The independent LCD screen contributes to the light and modern sensation of the BMW Series 2 Active Tourer's interior. Perfectly located at eye level, it can be combined, for example, with the Plus navigation system's relevant information and great sharpness, even in unfavourable light conditions.
Control systems for a serene trip Various technological innovations help to control the vehicle in different situations. The Launch Control system, with extreme drivers in mind, allows the vehicle to reach the maximum acceleration possible while avoiding tyre spin. In the corners, the BMW Performance Control intervenes adjusting the engine's power and applying the brakes as necessary: optimising the traction conditions to distribute the torque by feeding more to the wheels exerting greater traction and less to the others. It also brakes any wheels that are sliding.
The panoramic glass roof increases the outstanding ventilation options.
The suspension's dynamic control allows the driver to modify the suspension characteristics choosing between two options: Comfort and Sport, in order to enjoy an exceptionally smooth ride or a greater driving dynamic.
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Rear seat backrests can be easily folded down thanks to the electric unlocking system.
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The Steptronic box The 6 or 8 speed Steptronic gears are a key element in enjoying great sportiness and dynamism, especially at higher speeds, as the higher number of gears reduces the strain on the motor and, at the same time, fuel consumption and noise. In addition to automatic gear selection, manual selection is possible at any moment through the gear stick or with the buttons on the elegant, leather sports steering-wheel. In Sport mode, the gear changes are configured to provide maximum performance. The acceleration is fine-tuned by precise changes between all eight gears. The different engines available for this model work perfectly with the exceptional 8-speed gearbox. Together they reach 0-100 km/h in just 6.6 seconds and can reach 240 km/h in a heartbeat.
Traction The sDrive system used by BMW vehicles directs the torque through a single axle. In the case of the BMW Series 2 Active Tourer, a compact car that, nevertheless, offers a spacious interior and a versatile and ample boot, the sDrive system in the forward axle, together with the transverse motor, offers a solution that helps to save space and simultaneously guarantees exceptional dynamic and utility. In the case of the xDrive options, the intelligent traction system in the four BMW xDrive wheels' Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) conquer even the most foregone imbalances. Controlled through sensors with utmost speed the xDrive system quickly and flexibly distributes the engine's power between the axles in order to prevent understeer or oversteer, especially on a road under critical conditions. With the German firm's classic agility, the four wheel traction has great advantages in safety as a result of the impeccable directional stability.
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Kappl, Austria Zhero Hotel Zhero, a hotel that combines the classically enchanting look of an Austrian chalet with smart contemporary style, is located on Kappl’s main street. This mountain town is renowned for its lengthy eight-kilometre slope and calm ski centre, although the hotel offers a free transfer service to Ischl, a nearby ski centre with plenty of action and activities. Designed by architect Manfred Jäger, the Zhero Hotel stands out against the mountainous background thanks to its translucency given its glass, wood and stone construction. The interior is charming and modern. The fire is always burning, animal hides are casually thrown over sofas, large photos adorn the walls and light lounge music invites guests to chill out. Rooms are decorated in the same tones as the great outdoors, an effect that reinforces the enormous windows that further soften the transition towards the mountainous surroundings. The voluptuous calm makes its way to the 750m2 spa which offers special treatments using natural products, also offering various saunas, the latest generation gym and the largest indoor pool in the area. Both the restaurant and the bar are excellent. Chef Klaus Brunmayr’s 15 years’ experience can be appreciated via his extensive menu that includes dishes from around the world made using the finest ingredients. Don’t miss the Peking duck, for example. At Minotti Lounge, the barman serves up delicious cocktails; it also houses a surprising wine list specialising in Austrian varietals. In the lounge, the hypnotic fire and armchairs adorned with animal hides add to the Zhero Hotel’s hedonistic spirit. Wiese 687 6555 Kappl, Tirol, Austria Tel: +43 5445 61 200 info@zherohotelgroup.com
Colonia del Sacramento Charco Hotel Located in an old house in Colonia del Sacramento, Charco Hotel nestles within the historical Uruguayan town declared Patrimony of Humanity thanks to its singular post-colonial architecture. From there, guests can visit the town by foot or cycle down the rambla, past the lighthouse, the Portuguese Museum, the viceroy’s house or along the enchanting Calle de los suspiros street filled with constructions made from mud, stone and tiles. Located just 100 metres from the port, the Charco Hotel has seven delightful and luminous rooms, some offering a view of the immense River Plate. Its ambience fuses rustic-colonial details with wood and white contemporary furniture sporting Nordic detail that harmoniously integrate with colonial pieces. The eight room, “Rancho” is a delightful two-bedroom stone house that has its own garden. Dishes at the bistro are made from the finest ingredients in the area, such as the cheese selection served with homemade tomato chutney, delicate olive oil from the region for dressing salads, lamb served with a tannat reduction and mushroom ragout as well as the sweet cake made with the most delicious dulce de leche from the River Plate. Guests can also enjoy breakfast on the lovely terrace, while the natural pond and stunning garden complete the serene and pastoral scene. Room service, 24-hour reception and complimentary WiFi also form part of the equation. San Pedro 116 Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay Tel: +59 8 45 23 5000/01/02 info@charcohotel.com
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MEXICO One & Only Palmilla A spectacular oasis on the tip of the Baja Peninsula, this is where peace and excitement blend in harmony. All 173 accommodations feature 24-hour shared butler service, a balcony or terrace facing the sea, and pre-Hispanic architecture. On land and sea, One&Only Palmilla is a recreational paradise featuring a plethora of dining options, two dramatic infinity-edge pools, an elegant spa with private treatment villas, a signature Jack Nicklaus designed 27-hole golf course, tennis courts, a surfing program, non- motorized watersports at our very own swimmable beach, seasonal whale watching, sportfishing and our private 90 ft. yacht. The complimentary KidsOnly Club keeps children active and entertained. Live the Moment. One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos Km. 7.5 Carretera Transpeninsular, San Jose Del Cabo, B.C.S., Mexico 23400
Miami The Tides South Beach White, clear and stylish, The Tides hotel building overlooking Ocean Drive offers all the charm of Miami’s most glamorous time. White is also dominant in the interior of the twelve floors, white that becomes lighter and fresher even under the bright natural light flowing through the windows. The space formerly occupied by 115 rooms is now divided into 45 ample suites overlooking the ocean and equipped with a telescope so as to peer into the beach, the sea and the open sky. The eclectic decoration combines the geometric lines with contemporary details, travertine floors and sophisticated furniture chosen with the eye of an artist. All the rooms include High tech entertainment facilities, free WiFi and huge and modern bathrooms with towel bathrobes and Molton Brown products. The common areas follow the decorative scheme where white and the colors of late afternoon dominate. With its à la carte menu specializing in ocean fresh flavors with a Southern twist, the Tides restaurant on the rooftop terrace on the 12th floor overlooks the architectural wonders of the Art Déco District. Downstairs, the heated 15-metre swimming pool is surrounded by lawn chairs and small cabins, which offer massages and beauty treatments. The hotel features a fully equipped gym, a bar renowned for its drinks, three penthouse suites, in-room spa treatments and provides guests with everything they need to spend the day at the beach, which is but five blocks away from this iconic Miami building. 1220 Ocean Drive Miami Beach, FL 33139 Tel. (305) 604 5070
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BMW R 1200 R
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Old school, new technology With the telescopic inverted-pitchfork suspension and compact, stylish and muscular design, the new BMW R 1200 R is multifaceted. Its curves combine the fascination of automobiles from the past with an expression of modern aesthetics.
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In 1923, the Bavarian firm produced its first motorcycle, the BMW R 32 equipped with a four-stroke, two-cylinder boxer engine. Instead of using chained gears that are vulnerable to wear and tear, the force of the traction was transmitted to the bevel gear of the rear axle in an oil bath through a cardan shaft. The cylinders had longitudinal grooves that melted into one piece along with the cylinder heads and vertical valves. At that time there was no fully enclosed bodywork; the engine was bare and unprotected. They were known as “naked” motorcycles and they stood out for their great maneuverability and dynamism. Almost a century later BMW returns to that simplicity by presenting various “naked” motorbikes, maintaining a vintage look but with the latest technology and a sportier form. Featured among them is the splendid BMW R 1200 R with boxer engine, ideal for a relaxed cruise, dynamically driving along winding roads or also for two people travelling with luggage.
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The boxer engine, resonant and powerful The brand-new boxer engine of the powerful 125 CV, R 1200 R together with the new multidisc clutch in oil bath and the paralever rear-suspension system form the perfect mechanism. Among the possibilities within the engine features an optional Assistant Pro system that allows gear changes without pressing the clutch or releasing the accelerator. In this system, a sensor installed on the gearbox detects when the driver wishes to change gear. It then attempts to limit engine torque, allowing the different gears in the gearbox to synchronize and change.
tions. In addition, if this mode is activated, the motorcycle reacts more gently when turning the accelerator grip. Considering that the new R 1200 R is also equipped as standard with ABS and ASC systems, considerably expanding the bike’s margin of error, providing far greater safety, especially if the road is slippery. The optional Pro driving modes offers dynamic traction control DTC system with angle inclination detection and two other driving modes added, Dynamic and User, that can combine with Rain and Road modes amplifying the driver’s choices.
Prioritising maneuverability Driving styles The new R 1200 R comes standard with the dual driving-mode activation system, Rain and Road, with which the motorcycle adapts to the driver’s specific requirements. With Road mode active, adjustment systems favour dynamism and performance, and at the same time, comfort on any paved road. In Rain mode, the motorbike adapts to slippery condi-
A new chassis was designed for the new BMW R 1200 R, double beam steel tubes envelop the two-cylinder boxer engine as a self-supporting element. The wheel guidance, through the inverted telescopic fork in the front wheel and with the EVO Paralever in the rear, adheres to the classic system, albeit modern in concept, considering the characteristics of the new roadster. During
the development of the new chassis, steering accuracy, trajectory fidelity, maneuverability and impeccable braking behaviour were all prioritised.
Three versions The BMW R 1200 R will be available in three versions. The Cordoba blue base with the tank’s central area coating in a grey-granite synthetic, metallic material. The chassis is black while the brake calipers are finished in anodised black. The Style 1 version has more sporty aspirations. It is Light White and carries a large R to identify itself; in addition its chassis is painted Racingred, the brake callipers in anodized gold colour, the engine deflector in the same colour as the motorcycle, a thin strip of stainless steel on the tank and another with an engraved Pure R on the instrument panel. Lastly, the fabulous, vintage look Style 2, in metallic Thundergrey, with metallic agategrey matte frame, anodised golden callipers and a strip of stainless steel on the tank.
This bike is mine
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In order to offer a motorcycle as unique as its owner’s taste, BMW offers a long list of accessories, such as the tank bag, the Navigator V or the four different windscreens designed for long trips. Innovative features such as the multicontroller navigation system, the Gear Shift Assis-
tant Pro and the Comfort Access system make this sport-style roadster a genuine all-rounder. To achieve a unique style, the driver can choose original pedals and milled footpegs or electropolished, stainless-steel engine guards, creating a perfect balance between functional configuration and visual customisation.
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BMW R 1200 R Total length
2,165 mm
Total width with mirrors
880 mm
Kerb weight with a full boot
231 kg
Engine
Two opposed cylinder engine, cooled by air and liquid
Cylinder capacity
1170 cc
Power
92/125 kW/CV
RPM
7,750 RPM
Engine torque
125 Nm
RPM
6,500 RPM
Maximum speed km/h
200 km/h
Accelaration 0-100 km/h
3.3 seconds
Gear box
Six-gear gear box, double-teeth coupling
Clutch
Multidisc anti-bounce clutch, oil bath
Consumption at 90 km/h
3.9 l/100 km
Consumption at 120 km/h
5.4 l/100 km
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MINI 5-door
Long-awaited The brand's new model meets its fans’ wishes. The MINI 5-Door is larger and more spacious but stays faithful to its dynamic and compact image.
At the end of the 1950s, the public sought a city car; small, accessible, and, of course, attractive. So when, in 1959, the first ever MINI model launched, it soon became an emblem of pragmatism and English subtlety. Also at that time, in response to public demand, a five-door scale prototype was created although it didn’t become a commercial success. Andrés Warming, director of MINI's design department, was in charge of realising a project forgotten for more than 50 years and long dreamt of by MINI fans. Warming explains that the MINI 5-Door's design uses the same premises originating from the first MINI: beauty, practicality and urban mobility.
More spacious With the five-door itself, the biggest change is in its dimensions. The new MINI stays faithful to its compact size while growing by a few centimetres. The wheelbase has increased by 72 millimetres which gives 72 millimetres more space in the rear seats, and more room for the knees. The roof, 15 millimetres higher, creates more head space. The 61 millimetres added to the width of the passenger compartment space provides more elbow room. And lastly, the 278-litre boot, 67 litres larger in volume than the three-door model. On the outside, compared with the new three-door version, the measurement increases become 161 mm longer, 11 mm taller, although keep same width. Its characteristic image hasn't changed either: the hexagonal grill, headlights and tail lights with wide, chrome frames, indicator lights and the black side frame surrounding the entire body.
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Agile and precise behaviour even with its larger dimensions. The central dial's frame is illuminated and changes colour with driving style.
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Go-Kart feeling The main challenge was to ensure that the six new model variants, as well as being larger in dimension, didn't show any dynamic differences with their younger brothers. This strategy defines the Go-Kart feeling and through an effective suspension, with a rigid chassis and low centre of gravity, the car achieves a light and agile behaviour, and gives the sensation of driving a go-kart. This is technically possible thanks to specific suspension standards and to the evolution of technology in the chassis, with a unique forward axel configuration and telescopic mountings, and multiple rear axle arms. Furthermore, the electromechanical power steering with the Servotronic function, the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), both as standard, including the Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and the Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC) all working together. In the case of the MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper SD 5-door models, the Performance Control System is also included.
Equipment The new generation 5-door MINI no longer has the speedometer in the centre of the instrument panel. The space is occupied instead by a central dial that acts as a naviga-
tion display and controls the vehicle's different systems. The dial's illuminated frame is a special feature that changes colour according to driving style or whether the ambient light tone is changed by the switch located on the upper ceiling. The instrument panel is mounted on the steering column, consisting of a speedometer and RPM counter, colour display indicating various settings and fuel gauge. Some of the standard equipment includes the elegant, leather-bound steering wheel, the dual-zone automatic climate control, front and lateral airbags, tyre pressure control system, rear Isofix anchorages, and semi-automatically retracting hood to optimise pedestrian protection. Furthermore, 15 or 16 inch, lightweight alloy wheels (MINI Cooper S 5-door, MINI Cooper SD 5-door). Optional 18-inch light-alloy wheels are also available. The optional MINI Driving Modes system's selection wheel is located at the base of the gear box, allowing the selection of the modes — Sport, Mid and Green — for the engine's response, the steering, the automatic gear box and the muffling DDC. In Green mode the automatic gear box, in some circumstances, selects neutral to allow the car to travel onwards by inertia alone.
Infinite possibilities The new MINI 5-Door launches onto the market in eleven variations: MINI One 5-door (petrol, six-speed manual gear box), MINI One Automatik 5-door (petrol, six-speed steptronic gear box), MINI One D 5-door (diesel, sixspeed manual gear box), MINI Cooper 5-door (petrol, six-speed manual gear ox) MINI Cooper Automatik 5-door (petrol, six-speed steptronic gear box), MINI Cooper S 5-door (petrol, sixspeed manual gear box), MINI Cooper S Automatik 5-door (petrol, six-speed steptronic gear box), MINI Cooper D 5-door (diesel, sixspeed manual gear box), MINI Cooper D Automatik 5-door (diesel, six-speed steptronic gear box), MINI Cooper SD 5-door (diesel, sixspeed manual gear box) and MINI Cooper SD 5-door Automatik (diesel, six-speed steptronic gear box). Some of these figure in this article's technical reference table. They are all available in 13 different bodywork colours, and include the new MINI Yours Lapisluxury Blue colour. In MINI Cooper 5-door, MINI Cooper S 5-door, MINI Cooper D 5-door and MINI Cooper SD 5-door models the roof and the rearview mirror frames are available in contrasting colours at no extra cost. The result is cheerful, dynamic and original, promoting and continuing the MINI legacy.
panora ma
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Miquel Silvestre
In the Footsteps of Forgotten Explorers
With his motorcycle journeys, Miquel Silvestre rescues Spanish explorers from oblivion, whom centuries past braved uncharted and dangerous lands. In this Alicante native's own words these "awesome explorers" had the typical masculine qualities of the Renaissance, motivated by the desire for fame, spurred on by adventure and the need for absolute independence. Not black nor white, with the good and the bad Miquel Silvestre remind us that these characters set out the features of modern man. He recounts his travels in Africa, Ireland, Asia and America aboard his motorcycle, Anayansi. As well as a driver, Miquel is also a writer. From his worldwide motorcycle adventures various successful books have arisen such as, “A Million Stones", "The Nomadic Feeling", or "The Escape From Shipwreck". His latest and most extensive journey of 20,000 kilometres through Latin America was sponsored by the Extremadura regional government and BMW Group. The journey spanned the Magallanes Strait until the Panama canal and inspired not only the book "Nomad's Fairy", but also a 13-episode television series. This time Anayansi accompanied Miquel on the routes where Pedro de Valdivia, Francisco de Orellana, Vasco Núñez de Balboa and Francisco Pizarro explored in the 16th century, all born in the Extremadura region and all died in the "New World". BMW: We understand you gave up your desk job in your 30s. What provoked you to leave your profession in order to travel and write?
The desire to really live and tell stories. I chose to live poorly in order to live. My income was drastically reduced and I was no longer able to buy things, but instead I could feel emotions and discover the world, to live the life of adventure that I had dreamed about as a child. BMW: All your routes follow in the steps of Spanish adventurers. Are there any of their feats or events that have had the most impact on you?
One of Francisco de Cuéllar's, the subject of my first book “The Escape From Shipwreck”. In 1588, Spain attempted to invade England with a great armada of 130 boats, but it failed and the boats tried to return home. At least 25 of those were shipwrecked in Ireland and the Spanish died in their thousands. After a lot of hardship, De Cuéllar survived and travelled a long way sailing around the cold and wet island. He wrote a letter telling of his epic. He wasn't a proud conqueror, but a survivor able to overcome difficulties and discouragement. I followed his route by motorbike and I was immersed in his story and his deeds. He was the first explorer whom I followed and he changed my life. After becoming his friend, I decided to rescue more stories like that. BMW: Explorers are heavily judged in some sectors of Latin American society. What can you say in their favour?
Personally, they were men of a toughness and courage which is unknown today. There aren’t any people like this any more. The Conquista phenomenon had no parallel in history. Neither Rome nor Alejandro Magno had so much success. Politically, I can accept criticism from indigenous people whose way of life was altered but not from any Latin American descendant of European migrants. They, the white people who today live in Latin America, are those who have taken advantage of the colonisation, they live in lands that weren’t originally theirs today. Taking into account the brutal pillaging carried out by the Europeans in the period after the conquest, I believe that no descendant of the pillagers has moral authority to condemn someone whom risked their life to clear the way in the sixteenth century, so that they could arrive after their grandparents to live in cities with streets already laid.
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BMW: What were the different stages of the Latin
BMW: How do you see Latin America and how do
American trip?
you think latinos see the Spanish? Is it possible to
From Santiago de Chile to Punta Arenas, from there to Buenos Aires, Colonia de Sacramento, entering Brazil through Iguazú, and afterwards Ciudad del Este, Asunción, to Potosi in Bolivia via Chaco, Salar de Uyuni, returning to Chile via the Atacama, Perú via Puno, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Nazca, Lima, Cajamarca And entering Ecuador through Piura, Cuenca, Quito and entering Colombia through Pasto, Bogota and Cartagena de Indias. Finishing in Panama after crossing the Darien gap by boat.
revitalise the relationship?
BMW: Which country's beauty took your breath away?
The Andes. They are impressive. Whenever I crossed them, and there have been 13 or 14 crossings, the Andean landscapes astounded me, from the glaciers in the south to the jungles of the tropics. BMW: What was the most difficult section?
Driving Route 40 in Argentine Patagonia due to the gravel roads and the wind. It was very hard. BMW: South America shares language and culture with Spain. Did you feel at home?
Indeed, that was the feeling speaking in Spaniards, feeling like I was home. I had travelled very far, but understanding the people in their mother tongue and connecting directly to their soul through a common language, it was as if I never had left home.
Honestly, I believe that the relationship is already very strong. Many Americans come to Spain and many Spaniards are going to America. And the social networks ensure frequent participation in channels of communication, active and instantaneous. The Spanish motorcyclists dream of covering America and enjoying the scenery, the food and the people that approach the travelling, professional motorcyclists. I believe that projects like my TV series and my book help us to know one another better and to increase the level of interest in Latin America among the Spaniards. BMW: What cultural differences did you find between the countries you passed through?
Vast ones. There are very European countries, like Chile, Uruguay and Argentina, a result of, among other things, the genocides committed after the independence from Spain against the Tehuelche and Charrúa natives, and other countries that are much more indigenous such as Peru and Bolivia. There are peculiar cases like Paraguay, a country isolated by wars and recovering with recent immigration but retains guaraní as its first language. We also found more unclassifiable countries like Ecuador, that surprised us with its development and cleanliness, or Colombia that still suffers the consequences of violence past, or Panamá, the most developed Central American country.
BMW: Who are your favourite Spanish and Latin American writers?
BMW: Why did you choose the name Anayansi for your BMW motorcycle?
Anayansi was Vasco Núñez de Balboa's indigenous wife, he discovered the Pacific Ocean and is one of the subjects of my television series. He showed America to be a new continent, that the earth is round and that the world map can be redrawn.
BMW: Which BMW motorcycles did you use in your journey around the world? How did they excel?
I have used many. All were the 1200 GS apart from the R80 G/S which I crossed Africa with to write my book “A Million Stones”. They excelled in the fact that they were a lot of fun to drive and they never got damaged beyond repair. BMW: Could you live as a nomad forever or is it time to hang up your boots and settle down?
Being a nomad is a mental state. It is never holding on to material goods. I will always be a nomad even if I stay same place for the rest of my life.
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I love to read and I think that those who follow me will not understand the reason why I have become a benchmark with motorbike travellers if they don't read me. It is in my books not my videos where the journey's thoughts and emotions truly generate force and content, and many people connect emotionally to me like no other traveller. American writers that have inspired me are Gabriel García Márquez, Mario Vargas Llosa, Ernesto Sábato, Julio Cortázar, Juan Rulfo or Jorge Luis Borges. In
Spain there are many that I consider masters but I can quote Josep Pla and Camilo José Cela, for saying the phrase that I adherently follow: “He who resists wins”.
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The fastest wheelie on ice With some help from his BMW S 1000 RR, 24-year-old Swedish rider Robert Gull has become the first person to wheelie a motorcycle over 124 mph on a frozen lake, and in doing so has set a new Guinness World Record for the "Fastest motorcycle wheelie on ice". His record broke the previous record of 114 mph set in 2014 across a frozen Wisconsin lake by US rider Ryan Suchanek on a Kawasaki ZX-10R.
Swedish motorcyclists simply don’t allow winter to spoil their fun. With so much ice around throughout much of the year, opportunities abound for riders to test their skills, and so frozen lake surfaces are transformed into tracks and classic tyres are replaced with spiked ones. Therefore it isn’t surprising that Robert Gull, who participated in the CEV Moto2 and the Red Bull Rookies Cup a few years ago, had focused on becoming the world's fastest rider on ice with just one wheel. This was not, however, a spur-of-the-moment act by Gull. He performed multiple tests on tyres in his garage ahead of the challenge to establish a new record, and also experimented with his newly acquired BMW S 1000 RR. Finally, on 28 February this year, Robert and his BMW S 1000 RR managed to travel the required distance of 100 metres across an ice surface that had been slightly melted by the warmer weather to break the record and make history.
Barcelona’s urban police mount the new BMW C Evolution The beautiful Catalonian city of Barcelona is a pioneer in the widespread use of zero-emission vehicles, aiming to create an environmentally friendly and efficient flow of traffic through its streets. To sustain this initiative, BMW Group delivered a fleet of 30 C Evolution scooters to Barcelona City Hall. The integration of these electric vehicles into an urban police force is the first of its kind in the world. Equipped with an electric motor, the C Evolution is BMW Motorrad’s contribution to zero-emissions urban mobility. With a continuous power output of 11KW, all a rider requires is an A1 or B licence but in addition, the motor can achieve maximum output of 35 KW. With its 72Nm torque delivery, the scooter has an acceleration capacity superior to that of a similar vehicle with a combustion engine. The model acquired by the city was modified to local police vehicle regulations, including a higher windscreen to protect officers as well as signalling and public address systems. Alphabet, the BMW Group’s multi-brand leasing company, is administrating the C Evolution fleet and offers the AlphaElectric service for leased electric vehicles and also undertakes charging point installations, as well as offering tools to determine the optimal way to electrify the fleet.
Mexico
A commemorative event was held at the end of February this year to mark the start of construction of a new BMW Group factory in Mexico. The governor of San Luis Potosí state, Dr. Fernando Toranzo Fernández, along with the recently appointed managing director of the future BMW factory in San Luis Potosí, Hermann Bohrer, officiated the start of the project by overseeing the heavy groundclearing machinery’s implementation. In the coming months the industrial park’s administration, designated Logistik Park, will busy themselves with laying roads, installing electricity and other required infrastructure with the near-future goal of setting the plant’s cornerstone. San Luis Potosí is an ideal location and will represent an important zone within the BMW Group’s production network. Around US$1bn are earmarked for investment into the plant project with production planned to begin in 2019, which is when the workforce is expected to reach 1,500. Three human resource offices have already been set up in San Luis Potosí city in order to recruit staff, and a climate controlled facility within the industrial zone is in place to train and qualify the workforce. “Since 1994, the year BMW Group began operation in Mexico, we have witnessed constant growth and success,” said Hermann Bohrer, and everything indicates a continuation of that pattern.
30 electric charging stations Committed to the environment and the promotion of new technologies, BMW Group Mexico, through its BMW i sub-brand, has installed more than 30 electric charging stations within the ChargeNow network in Mexico City and its metropolitan area, Puebla, Guadalajara and Querétaro. Schneider Electric and General Electric, worldwide leaders and specialists in the design and construction of energy-efficient charging equipment, manufactured the charging stations. These companies have actively collaborated with BMW i to develop the ChargeNow network infrastructure in Mexico. The chargers work with all vehicles using the North American standard SAE-J1772, the connector approved for most electric cars currently marketed in Mexico. Additionally, the new BMW i models – the futuristic hybrid BMW i8 and the fully electric BMW i3 – are now for sale in the country.
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2015 Dakar Rally
The MINI team wins for the fourth consecutive time The 37th edition of the famous Dakar Rally was held from 4-17 January, 2015, hosted, as it has been since 2009, in South America. The five years of experience in the area has enabled the organisers to refine the routes, propose specifications for the various categories and create new challenges for the participants. With each subsequent edition, the Dakar is increasingly difficult and more exciting, running across untouched terrain, marathon stages where the drivers receive no team assistance and routes that test men and machines to their limits. After traversing more than 5,600 miles across Argentina, Chile and Bolivia, the MINI team won their category for the fourth consecutive time. Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar and Frenchman Mathieu Baumel crossed the finish line in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, as the overall leaders after winning five of the 13 stages in their MINI ALL4 Racing. The two drivers and their support crew overcame the challenges of a demanding route, the first stretch started from Buenos Aires to the city of Iquique, on the northern Chilean coast, followed by a shorter section to the Uyuni desert in Bolivia and a return to Buenos Aires by way of Salta and Rosario, in the Argentine province of Santa Fe. Making their way in the intense summer heat under the exhausting sun, the competitors drove along classic gravel trails in Argentina, the twisting mountain roads of the Andes, the towering sand dunes of the hot and extremely dry Atacama desert in Chile and made the rapid,
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6,500-feet, descent to Iquique, with the expanse of the Pacific ocean clearly in view. Throughout all this varied and unyielding terrain, the MINI ALL4 Racing performed brilliantly, all the while confirming its reliability, strength and agility. This year, the MINI ALL4 Racing vehicle entries managed to capture eleven of thirteen of the Dakar stages for their class, and five of these were double victories. No less than four MINI ALL4 Racings ranked among the top five cars in the final table for their class. The diesel engine that powers the MINI ALL4 Racing was designed by BMW Motoren GmbH in Steyr, Austria, for use in the most difficult conditions of endurance racing. The 2993 cc TwinPower Turbo diesel engine, with a 38mm air restrictor, generates more than 300 CV of power at 3205 rpm, which allows the MINI ALL4 Racing to reach a speed of 115 mph. The engine is also equipped with a dry lubrication system to limit the overall weight and ensure optimal crankcase lubrication under extreme conditions. But those who have participated there is more involved to the competition than the quality of the vehicles. The qualities needed to overcome the arduous journey are strength and constancy. All those on board the ATVs, trucks and motorcycles needed to find a rhythm and, above all, their capacity to adapt to territories that put the participants’ qualities to the test.
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Name: Carlos Gutiérrez Country: Peru Model: BMW R 60/2, 1960
Carlos Gutiérrez, mechanical engineer, has been interested in all kinds of engines and wheels since he was a small boy. In 2004 Carlos lived in Cajamarca, a city that used to be home to a large Inca population in northern Peru. It was there that he was on the hunt for a classic motorbike to try to restore. Lady Luck brought him and a highly unusual 1960 BMW R 60/2 together, whose 600cc boxer engine and robust yet elegant design hypnotised him.
The R 60/2 was made in Munich during the 1960s and was designed to support a Side Car. Carlos restored the bike with original pieces that were still available that he was able to buy online. The refurbishment took place in the sixth-floor apartment where Carlos lives with his extremely patient wife. Once everything had been done, he needed to partially break down the bike to take it downstairs then put it back together on the ground floor. Carlos’ wife, naturally grateful. Its owner values the BMW R 60/2 for its simple and trustworthy mechanics. Thanks to the boxer engine, he says, the bike has a low centre of gravity which makes it stable, especially on Peru’s charming yet winding roads. The engine also works very well on Cajamarca’s lofty 2,800-metre high peaks. Obviously this bike’s refurbishment taking place on the sixth floor had something to do with enhancing that quality. www.motosantiguasperu.page.tl
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The next issue of BMW Group Report will be published in August 2015
The new BMW 1 Series
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