Onyx | Spring 23

VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 03 | SPRING 2023

THE BMW 7 SERIES | LANDMAND GOLF CLUB | BMW DRIVING SCHOOL

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This West Point, NE, property was a homeowner’s dream: a new build in a semi rural location that was for all intents and purposes an empty slate. Karie Boggs and Molly Kaplan, both Allied Members ASID and designers with Interiors Joan & Associates, were more than up to the task. The skilled professionals worked together to create a sophisticated, contemporary interior that paid homage to its rural surroundings while still accommodating a large, energetic family of six that loves to entertain.

Boggs and Kaplan approached turning the house into a home with a nuanced eye that

balances warm neutrals against vibrant pops of color and also pairs organic materials like sleek stone and porcelain tile with warm woods, textural wallpaper, and comforting textiles. Their focus on organic elements created a unified space that makes for maximum livability.

“We had to make sure that the family would have the space to be comfortable and stretch out,” said Boggs. “The home couldn’t be too dressy but still had to have a statement about it.”

The pictures show how powerful that statement is and tell the story of unerring design choices: a contemporary sculpture of a horse, for example,

is a nod to the home’s semi country location but still situates the interior firmly in the here and now. High quality design elements make for a cozy interior, but one that is easy to maintain.

The owners couldn’t be more thrilled and rave how the interior meets their family’s specific needs, saying that the reveal was “like Christmas.”

“It’s like everything we do here,” observed Boggs. “We make homes individual and unique to the clients and their personalities.”

Molly Kaplan

ASID Allied Member

Karie Boggs ASID Allied Member

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MADE TO BE IN THIS WORLD BMW SALES MANAGER CRISTI COPELAND REVELS IN HER WORK

Story by Jeff Lacey // Photography by Bill Sitzmann

risti Copeland didn’t originally plan on working in the luxury automotive industry.  In 2009, the ONYX BMW sales manager wanted to go into nursing; the thought of helping others appealed to her, so she made the decision to start pursuing an education in health care. In order to make ends meet, she also got a job at Gregg Young Chevrolet.

That’s when the key turned.

She fell in love with the industry. She loved the cars. She loved the pace. Mostly, Copeland loved the people, and the social aspect of the job completely drew her in and gave her pause about a career in health care. It was all too much fun. Nursing fell by the wayside as Copeland decided instead to pursue a career in car sales full-time.

Now she is assisting others in a different capacity by helping them navigate what Insider Magazine describes as one of the five most important financial decisions a person can make: purchasing a motor vehicle. This perfect fit has led to over a decade of experience in the luxury car industry, and for the last two and a half years, Copeland has served as a sales manager at BMW Omaha, part of ONYX Automotive.

Copeland has moved her way up in the sales industry. Over the years, she has worked in many capacities in the profession, including floor sales, internet sales, aftermarket, and as a finance manager. She doesn’t mind the grind, though; she is passionate about her job. Copeland takes pride in building strong relationships with her customers and is especially delighted when they come back to work with her again.

“I’ve had several customers who’ve recognized me and wanted to work with me again,” she recounted. “Being able to reconnect was great. It felt good knowing they trusted me.”

As a luxury car enthusiast, Copeland has always been drawn to BMWs. She loves the performance, technology, and aesthetics of the vehicles. Currently, she drives an M440i, known for its sporty handling and traction. She particularly likes the idrive system, which she finds easy to use and functional. In an in-

dustry teeming with tech heavy choices, Copeland loves the blend of form and simplicity that BMW offers. “I am not a very techie person,” Copeland explained. “The technology of the idrive system is very easy and functional for me. It’s advanced, yet easy to use. It is easy compared to other brands. With others, I had to shift through drawers to get the same experience as I get with a BMW.”

The sales manager also has a passion for helping people make decisions about their car purchases, a moment that for some has the potential to be riddled with anxiety and unknowns. Instead, Copeland sees those decisions as nothing but opportunities. She enjoys the thrill when customers see the potential that her brand offers and finds it rewarding to see her customers’ excitement.

“One of my favorite parts of the job is helping people make their decisions on the cars,” she shared. “It’s just great to have so many choices in front of you. I’m a people person, and I love the socialization.”

Copeland also says that working for fantastic employers doesn’t hurt. She loves working for BMW Omaha and the ONYX Automotive organization. Not only does she appreciate that the dealership is a world-class facility located in West Omaha’s new Heartwood Preserve, which the Omaha World-Herald described as “Omaha’s preeminent multiuse development,” she also appreciates the community service aspects of the company. Noting that Onyx Automotive genuinely looks after its people, she said, “I love this organization, and the company. I was made to be in this world. ONYX 100% cares about their employees. They really listen to them. I trust the people in charge. They’re the kind of owners an auto business should have.”

As a woman leader in a demanding industry, Copeland says that being an outgoing people person and having a thick skin are crucial in a sales position. She also has an important message for young women looking to get into the business: “Have confidence, trust in yourself, have a good work ethic,” she said. “Be yourself.”

For more information, visit onyxautomotive.com.

“ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE JOB IS HELPING PEOPLE MAKE THEIR DECISIONS ON THE CARS. IT’S JUST GREAT TO HAVE SO MANY CHOICES IN FRONT OF YOU.”

A ROADTRIP LIKE NO OTHER

BMW PERFORMANCE DRIVING SCHOOL IS ULTIMATE BEHIND-THE-WHEEL EXPERIENCE

Story by Kim Reiner

Photography by Bill Sitzmann

Most drivers don’t realize their car’s performance capabilities until it’s almost too late. They hit an icy patch or suddenly need to avoid debris in the roadway, for example, and only narrowly avert an accident at the last nanosecond.

Imagine knowing in advance exactly how your vehicle will respond in an emergency. More specifically, imagine knowing how you, as a trained driver, will handle any given unanticipated situation.

Roxy Garate, a client advisor with ONYX Automotive, typically spends her time in the passenger seat while potential new patrons test drive BMWs. Whether cruising down Interstate 80 or Dodge Street, the exploratory drive is fairly straightforward. She explains what the car is capable of accomplishing, but there really is no planned opportunity to experience the car’s handling on an Omaha road—especially if the client special orders an M Series car for particular performance enhancements.

For that, her clients can opt for the BMW Performance Driving School.

The specially designed instruction time is designed to place everyday drivers into situations that most people only read about or see on television or movie screens. What does it feel like to approach 140 mph? What’s it like the moment you activate a car’s anti-lock brake system? These are details you might read about in a car manual or discuss when you take a BMW for a test drive.

The driving school, however, is handson learning in the safety of a closed course and under the supervision of instructors, who educate drivers regarding the true performance of a vehicle in its different modes.

The schools are located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Thermal, California, and Indianapolis, Indiana. Garate traveled to Indianapolis to learn more about the performance driving school. Her experience on the legendary Indy Motor Speedway included hitting 125 mph while maneuvering on a wet track. It’s the kind of experience impossible to duplicate in the real world without having to worry about real world outcomes.

“You get to learn more about vehicles,” she said, from the intricacies of the engine to the feel of the car hitting a slick track. “Being hands-on is a much more unique experience.”

BMW’s M Models are intended for performance-obsessed drivers, ones who select each detail of their car for a reason. The $2,500 BMW Performance Driving School is open to people who’ve built a special order M car. They can bring their new car to one of the tracks and put it to the ultimate test or put other models through the paces.

It’s a full day’s worth of driving and testing out top-of-the-line cars and their capabilities when drivers are presented with various challenges. They are learning as they go, experiencing what a car manual can only describe.

Even if customers don’t purchase a customized M Model BMW, they still have the option of getting a two-hour experience on a track. Mark Deegan, also an ONYX client advisor, visited the BMW Performance Center West in California and now frequently recommends the experience to his customers.

According to Deegan, it doesn’t matter what kind of car the client purchases. “It gives you a whole other level of respect for the brand and what the cars are capable of doing. Until you get to go experience it, you don’t understand,” he observed with a laugh.

At the California track, drivers learn about hard braking and the racing line on the autocross course. It’s one thing to read about a car’s anti-lock brake system. It’s another to feel it activate as you attack a curve and adjust accordingly. There’s a walkie-talkie in the car so students can receive real-time directions from their instructor watching from the sideline.

On a slick track, drivers develop a better understanding of the car’s performance capabilities when they’re on the verge of losing control as they learn to adjust to over- or understeering. It’s empowering for drivers to know that they’re able to handle extreme situations like the feeling of having a car slide on a slick surface without warning. ›››

“IT GIVES YOU A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL OF RESPECT FOR THE BRAND AND WHAT THE CARS ARE CAPABLE OF DOING. UNTIL YOU GET TO GO EXPERIENCE IT, YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND.”

MARK DEEGAN

For example, Deegan and fellow drivers drove BMW SUVs, including the S5, on an off-road track. They traversed nearly knee-high water and then climbed a small hill. On the way down, drivers tested out the vehicle’s “hill descent control” feature, which enables a driver to have a safe crawl downhill.

Elizabeth Blackstock has written about her experience at the California track for A Girl’s Guide To Cars how she gained driving confidence and appreciation for her own abilities. She marveled at how the extreme driv ing school taught her how to handle a vehicle with a lot of power.

“Even if you’re riddled with anxiety about traveling at high speeds like me,” Blackstock recalled, “you’re going to feel so confident that you’ve conquered a fear, pushed your boundaries, and come out on the other side a more competent driver.”

For more information on BMW’s Performance Driving School, visit onyxautomotive.com

“YOU’RE GOING TO FEEL SO CONFIDENT THAT YOU’VE CONQUERED A FEAR, PUSHED YOUR BOUNDARIES, AND COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE A MORE COMPETENT DRIVER.”

ELIZABETH BLACKSTOCK

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ENJOYING THE RIDE LAND ROVER OWNER JANA FALLER

Story by Kara Schweiss// Photography by Bill Sitzmann

“I LIKE ONYX’S WHITE-GLOVE SERVICE AND PROFESSIONALISM. THEY ARE ALWAYS GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO DELIVER GREAT SERVICE.”

JANA FALLER

FORGED IN STEEL

STEELHOUSE OMAHA BRINGS NEW MUSIC TO OMAHA

Story by Kim Carpenter // Photography courtesy of Omaha Performing Arts

The buzz has been building. As each girder and piece of steel cladding slides into place, the outline of Omaha’s newest live music venue has been coming into sharper relief downtown along 12th and Dodge streets. Steelhouse Omaha—its sleek, contemporary architecture a fitting complement to the Holland Performing Arts Center and recently refurbished Gene Leahy Mall—will be the place to hear musical acts that have typically bypassed Omaha for other cities.

“We need this kind of entertainment venue more than ever,” observed Joan Squires, president of Omaha Performing Arts (O-pa), which has been spearheading the project. “We are fortunate in Omaha to already have two worldclass venues. What we are missing in the community is a venue with a midsize capacity.”

What does that mean? Music acts not quite ready for stadium-size crowds bypass Omaha, heading instead to cities like Denver, Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Kansas City. That’s a loss in revenue for Omaha and its business owners, but a loss, too, for music lovers, who otherwise have to travel out of state to catch their favorite acts. “Omaha is the perfect stopping point,” said Squires.

This new venue, which opens May 12, will be a be a boon for music lovers, whose targeted demographic is age 1845 across the income spectrum. Capacity is flexible from 1,500 to 3,000. The majority of concert attendees will be standing room only on the ground floor, while some 300 premium club seats will be situated on a balcony overlooking the performers. The premium experience will also include parking, special entry to bypass lines, lounge access at a private bar, and concierge ticketing.

Acoustics, of course, will be state-ofthe-art for both amplified and acoustic sound with extra care taken to insure that music doesn’t spill over onto the street. “Here you’ll hear incredibly well, and the building will contain the sound,” Squires said.

Part of the entertainment experience will also include food and drink. When enter-

JOAN SQUIRES

ing the facility, music lovers will encounter a “big, beautiful bar” in the lobby/lounge area, and upon entering the performance area, they have another three bars to choose from where they can also order food. An outdoor plaza will additionally provide space for outdoor performances during warmer weather.

Steelhouse will be managed by Omaha Performing Arts, and Live Nation, the world’s leading live entertainment company, will be the exclusive promoter for the live music venue. “We know this is a growing live music market, and Steelhouse Omaha will be a spectacular new venue for artists to play in Nebraska,“ said Jason Wright, president of Live Nation Midwest. “There is a lot of opportunity to bring more concerts to the city, and we really value the partnership with Omaha Performing Arts.”

Others have also valued partnering with the organization. Funding for the $104.1 million project came predominantly from private donors with $1.1 million from the City of Omaha. Project partners include Kiewit Building Group, Ennead Architects of New York City, and Holland Basham Architects of Omaha. “It really is an extraordinary testament to the generosity that’s here in Omaha and the understanding of what this building will mean to the city,” Squires observed.

That meaning will be profound. An impact study conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln projects that the annual economic impact of Steelhouse Omaha will result in $13 million in revenue for the city with an estimated attendance of 155,000 every year. For restaurants, hotels, bars, parking garages, and other businesses, the addition of the venue to the cityscape will be a boon.

In that regard, Squires notes that Steelhouse will have a transformational impact on not just Omaha, but also the regional music scene and will serve as a vital component of the redevelopment of downtown and the riverfront. “Where Steelhouse is located is really key,” Squires said. “It connects the Gene Leahy Mall and the riverfront to the Capitol District and the Old Market. It’s really exciting in terms of downtown’s revitalization.”

Squires said that future musical acts will be both national and international and run the genre gamut from R&B to hiphop. Bands will be announced one act at a time as they release their own tour dates so O-pa encourages people to sign up for email alerts, check the website, and to follow Steelhouse’s socials.

A two-week launch of celebratory activities begins on May 12 when the Killers, known for their critically acclaimed hits like “Mr. Brightside,” “Somebody Told Me,” and “All These Things That I’ve Done,” take to the Steelhouse stage. Tickets went on sale February 17 and sold out almost immediately.

“The Killers are considered one of the biggest artists of the 21st century, and we are excited to welcome them to open Steelhouse Omaha on May 12,” Squires said in the middle of February. “We wanted to present an incredible opening evening that will demonstrate how we’re adding to Omaha’s entertainment options. We’re grateful to our donors and the City of Omaha who contributed to build this fabulous venue, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to Steelhouse Omaha!”

Steelhouse won’t, however, just be about touring artists. It will serve as a true venue for the community. “In addition to live events and performances, there will also be opportunities for community organizations to utilize Steelhouse Omaha,“ Squires said. “It’s really a location for Omaha artists, too.” Indeed, the opening weekend festivities will include a community open house and family activities, which will showcase the venue’s community potential.

For Squires, the wait from concept drawings to the Killers will be well worth the wait.

“To see this come to life has been so exciting,” she enthused. “We are so delighted and hope the public will be as excited as we are. This really is transformative and fabulous for the community.”

For more information, visit SteelhouseOmaha.com

“WE ARE FORTUNATE IN OMAHA TO ALREADY HAVE TWO WORLD-CLASS VENUES. WHAT WE ARE MISSING IN THE COMMUNITY IS A VENUE WITH A MID-SIZE CAPACITY.”

LANDMAND’S GOLF PANORAMA

One of the world’s best new courses is right here in Nebraska

Story by Kim Carpenter // Photography courtesy of Landmand Golf Club

In January, Golf Digest described it as “golf’s hottest new course.” Sports Illustrated labeled it the “best new public course.” And Golf.com went even further, calling it “Nebraska’s newest gift from the golf gods” that boasts a “course of biblical proportions” akin to “riding a rollercoaster.”

These are a lot of superlatives for a course that modestly bills itself as “The Farmer’s Golf Club,” but that humble sobriquet belies the grand, dramatic— some would even say daunting—sweep of Landmand Golf Club, 18 public holes located in the Loess Hills of Homer, Nebraska, just 20 miles from Sioux City on the Missouri River.

Danish for “farmer,” Landmand has belonged for four generations to the Andersen family, who farm corn and soybeans in the surrounding region. The 588 acres, however, proved too rugged, challenging, and wild to cultivate. The rolling landscape was simply too tough to tame into obedient agriculture, and as a teen, Will Andersen, now 39, talked with his friends about how the vast property would make an ideal golf course.

“I got big into golf in high school,” he revealed. “We thought this land would make for an extreme course and be so much fun.”

Flash forward to 2019, and Andersen started making that idle teen dream a reality. He tapped Rob Collins and Tad King as architects for the project after other architects balked at the idea of even attempting to transform the land into a golf course. The duo, the founders of King Collins Golf, had already garnered attention for their nine-hole Sweetens Cove Golf Club, built on a floodplain in Tennessee’s Appalachian Mountains. It opened in 2015 and quickly became hailed by Golfweek as the state’s No. 1 ranked public access course.

Collins and King were intrigued by the challenge. “Working with them was just a hunch. We hit it off really well,” recounted Andersen. “There was an immediate kinship spark between them and my family.”

It was good there was a strong bond. Three months into the project, midwestern snow began to fly. Then came COVID. Neither of those, though, stood in the way of the massive land clearing necessary for the landscape’s transformation.

“When Rob and Tad came in, it was all prairie grass. There were no trees,”

Andersen recalled. “With the elevation changes, it wasn’t playable. It was such an extreme property.”

So extreme, he said, that the architects “had to smooth a lot.” That smoothing involved bulldozing at least one million cubic yards of earth to make way for shaping, irrigation, and planting pest resistant, durable blue and ryegrass on the fairways, which complement the panoramic sweep of land. For the greens, the architects turned to creeping bentgrass, which provides for an ideal putting surface.

When asked to describe the end result, Andersen paused. “I would say massive. This has never existed before. It fits the topography. The property is big and vast, and the fairways and greens match the land. They just fit—it’s like they’re meant to be there.”

Forget delicate country club courses.

and connecting fairways that span more than 150.

And Landmand’s greens? The average size is more than 14,000 square feet. Some stretch more than 20,000. The par-3 fifth hole boasts a 25,000-squarefoot putting green; the 17th is a boggling 34,000. For perspective, Pebble Beach putting greens are around 3,500 while Augusta National’s are slightly over 6,400. In terms of hazards, golfers can forget sand traps. On Landmand, you’ll have to maneuver around Cornfield Corner when playing holes eight, nine, and 10.

Andersen, of course, has personal preferences when it comes to his own course. “Number two is my favorite. The way it sits—it’s one of the more natural holes out there. Number one is up and down, but two is on a hillside. You can see it, and you feel the play exactly as you envision it.

“Number nine is the most challenging,” he continued. “It’s a very wide fairway, and you have to be in a special part of the fairway to hit it onto the green.”

One of the real winning characteristics of the course, emphasized Andersen, is what it’s not. “The atmosphere is not like a golf course at a country club. There is not pretentiousness.”

Landmand is big—roughly three times the size of an average golf course. It’s also bold and filled with the kind of challenges only midwestern topography carved billions of years ago by Ice Age glaciers can deliver: rolling dunes, slopes, ridges, valleys, bluffs, and basins. Formidable gusts of wind combined with changes in elevation soaring up to 150 feet make Landmand a cut above other courses. Golf enthusiasts might liken the course to the vaunted St. Andrews in Scotland, but nothing compares to the sheer scale and challenges presented by fairways that are at least 80 feet wide (some go as high as 100)

What has the public reaction been? Golfers agree with all the golf publication assessments. When Landmand opened in September 2022, memberships sold out within days. Tee times were not far behind. This year is similarly on track. Andersen said that although tee times sell out fast, cancellations do occur, so he recommends checking the website daily for openings.

The success of this first year has been humbling for Andersen, who remains grounded to his farmer roots. “There has been something so surreal about this,” he observed. “It’s nice to get the accolades. I really can’t explain it and put it into words. It’s been so gratifying.”

For more information, visit landmandgc.com

“THIS HAS NEVER EXISTED BEFORE. IT FITS THE TOPOGRAPHY. THE PROPERTY IS BIG AND VAST, AND THE FAIRWAYS AND GREENS MATCH THE LAND. THEY JUST FIT—IT’S LIKE THEY’RE MEANT TO BE THERE.”

WILL ANDERSEN

CHEESEBURGER! CHEESEBURGER! CHEESEBURGER! Take-Out Joint Brings the Beef

Story by Kim Carpenter // Photography by Bill Sitzmann

eople of a certain age (and serious fans of comedy) will remember Saturday Night Live’s recurring Olympia Café skit during which Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi played salty, acerbic line cooks who routinely yelled, “Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger!” The joke was that no matter what hungry customers ordered, a cheeseburger was all they were going to get.

While that’s not entirely true at the simply named “Cheeseburgers” restaurant, I can’t help but think of that skit every time I dine there. Although cheeseburgers are one of the few menu items, this is where comparisons to the fictional greasy spoon end. Cheeseburgers may well be a self-described “take-out joint,” but it offers 100% certified Angus beef (“never frozen”) burgers that are far from greasy and very close to perfect.

As well they should be. When a restaurant names itself for the food it specializes in, it better deliver. For the most part, Cheeseburgers does.

With locations already established in the Blackstone District and Millard, the new kitchen at Regency Landing expands Cheeseburgers, a locally owned and operated franchise, into Blue Sky Patio and Pickleball, which touts itself as “Omaha’s first bar, patio, and pickleball concept.” My dining companion and I settled on this location for our sampling venture, and discovered that Blue Sky also includes a well-stocked bar and a Noli’s Pizzeria.

The humble restaurant has no pretensions to be anything other than what it claims: a quick turnaround kitchen with a limited menu that features several varieties of cheeseburgers—seven, to be precise—as well as three iterations of hot dogs (“party,” chili, and corn), an assortment of fried chicken (in finger and sandwich form), and “munchies.”

Within the menu, there are infinite ways to garnish, build on, and embellish a burger, with options including Cajun mayo, sautéed mushrooms, BBQ sauce, bacon, chili, and more. Prices are modest, ranging from $6.75 to $9.75, although almost $10 for a cheeseburger accompanied by no sides may seem steep to some. Meatless patties are

available, but when visiting a place built around burgers, vegetarians and vegans might want to consider a pizza at Noli’s instead.

To the food: dining companion settled on The Nation, two beef patties topped with American cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles, onions, and 1000 Island dressing sandwiched in a three-part toasted bun. She added a fried egg to the well-seared patties, which resulted in a jammy creaminess that elevated the overall flavor. I opted for The Jalepeño and Cream Cheese version, which also featured double patties. The hot burgers contrasted against the cold cream cheese to make for a pleasant combination, and the fresh—not pickled—jalapeños provided a pleasant, crunchy kick of spiciness. My burgers had full, rich flavor, but were slightly dry. Fortunately, the cream cheese compensated.

“Munchies” varied. The fried pickles and onion rings, both heavily breaded with light seasoning, were table favorites. The deep-fried coating provided plenty of satisfying crunch, which gave away to warm, moist centers. In both cases, the batter complemented the sour, salty pickles and vibrant, sweet onions, lending to an ideal balance of flavors. A dill dressing came on the side for dipping the fried pickles and created an addictive combo of dill-on-dill pickle. The French fries were more lackluster and tasted like standard crinkle cut fries taken from the freezer before being placed into the deep fryer. They were passable, but didn’t come anywhere close to the fried pickle chips or onion rings.

Although our drinks remained on the “dry” side (a rich, creamy chocolate malt and a pop), this fare is ideal for chowing down with an ice-cold beer (all the better if waiting for a pickleball court to become available).

In sum, Cheeseburgers is an ideal spot for a hearty indulgence, a beefy burger, a restaurant that lives up to its name and delivers what it promises.

Cheeseburger!

Cheeseburger!

Cheeseburger!

For more information, visit ineedcheeseburgers.com

CHEESEBURGERS IS AN IDEAL SPOT FOR A HEARTY INDULGENCE, A BEEFY BURGER, A RESTAURANT THAT LIVES UP TO ITS NAME AND DELIVERS WHAT IT PROMISES. KIM CARPENTER

MAXIMUM WITH THE MINI

MINI COOPER SETS PULSES RACING

Story by Kara Schweiss // Photography by Bill Sitzmann

As a MINI technician at ONYX, Joe Peterson knows the brand’s vehicles inside and out—literally. Not only does he get to see a side of MINI that most owners aren’t privy to, as a top technician he was once offered an opportunity to experience MINI in a way that very few people ever will.

“I actually got to drive one down the straightaway at Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” Peterson said.

MINI has a history in motorsports dating back six decades and across the pond to when British automaker John Cooper first realized the racing potential of the MINI after driving a pre-production model. Cooper and his father, motorsport mechanic and designer Charles Cooper, had founded the Cooper Car Company, which produced innovative racing cars in the 1950s and 1960s. John Cooper, still lauded today for a rear-engine chassis design credited for transforming the sport of auto racing, was also an occasional driver. In 1960, he created a modified version of a 1959 MINI model for driver Roy Salvadori to race against an Aston Martin DB4 at the Monza track in Italy. The MINI won the event—by more than an hour.

MINI continued to be successful in racing, making its mark especially in the 1960s and 1970s; a MINI won at Monte Carlo four years in a row, among other victories. The Cooper name was eventually licensed for the higher-performance versions of MINI cars, and John Cooper (who died in 2000) and his son, Mike Cooper, both served in advisory roles for the MINI design team. For its 60th anniversary in 2019, MINI introduced a special edition vehicle in British Racing Green with unique anniversary racing stripes on the hood. It was a tribute to John Cooper’s role in launching MINI racing, as well as to the designer of the classic MINI (and Cooper’s friend), Sir Alexexander Issigonis.

MINI vehicles are still seen in races today, including right here in the United States. LAP Motorsports, based in Indianapolis, was founded in 2008 and is now a leader in race programs and teams in both North America and Europe. The organization owns and operates the “giant-slaying” MINI John Cooper Works team in the SRO TC America Series.

MINIs are powerful vehicles, Peterson said. He’s heard the jokes poking fun at the MINI’s diminuative measurements— the brand is called “mini” for a reason— but the vehicle’s small size, light weight, maneuverability, and robust engine make it ideal for racing.

Peterson said he “jumped all over the chance” to get behind the wheel of one of the racers, a JCW (for John Cooper Works) base model with standard racing mods but a stock MINI engine. The ride was brief but memorable.

“It was super quick,” he said, adding that although he didn’t know the exact miles per hour he reached, he certainly felt the sensation of speed. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is fun! I wanted to just keep going.”

Peterson looks back on the experience fondly. “I was honored and humbled to even get the opportunity to go do something like that.”

ONYX does carry JCW models, including the GP (for Grand Prix) versions that look most like racers, Peterson said. However, any JCW will “usually sell pretty quick.”

“From what I see, the customers who do like a sporty car, a small car, they go for the JCWs,” he said. “They know they do have power.”

“Well, people say that they look like a golf cart or similar, but they’re actually more like a go-kart. I would say a pretty quick go-kart,” Peterson said with a chuckle. “They have an ample amount of power and torque. They are fun, especially the manual transmission (models).”

MINIs also have different driving modes to optimize their performance in various driving conditions, he added. They’re low to the ground, making them very stable, and they handle turns very well. And some models have 300-plus horsepower, exceptional for their size. The MINIs modified for racing also have interior components like passenger seating scaled down or stripped out for reduced weight, and they have an impact-resistant fuel cell instead of a fuel tank for safety. So, all told, a racing MINI is “fast, fast, fast,” Peterson said. And seeing them up close on the track when he was invited to visit the MINI John Cooper Works team was an incomparable experience.

“You’re never going to see a tiny car like that just move the way it does, maneuver the way that it does,” he said. “Actually seeing these cars in action and some of the slight modifications that they made to make them able to handle on a track—it was pretty impressive.”

Peterson said that not only are MINIs outstanding on the track, they’re also great vehicles for everyday drivers, too.

“Being here at ONYX with the MINI brand for almost four years now, I’ve learned so much about these little cars,” he said. “Honestly, they are fun.”

Peterson praised the line’s solid construction and consistently high safety ratings, especially considering the compact size of even the largest MINI models (Countryman and Clubman). He also pointed out that MINIs are quality vehicles with a reputation for reliability and that the vehicles are incredibly fuel-efficient.

“Sometimes we do preventative maintenance services on these cars, and one of them is a fuel service. It takes so long to run through this little tiny car just because of the fuel efficiency,” he said. “MINI is a good economy car.”

For more information on the MINI, visit onyxautomotive.com.

PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY LOOK LIKE A GOLF CART OR SIMILAR, BUT THEY’RE ACTUALLY MORE LIKE A GO-KART. THEY HAVE AN AMPLE AMOUNT OF POWER AND TORQUE. THEY ARE FUN, ESPECIALLY THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION (MODELS).”

JOE PETERSON

BMW’S SEVENTH HEAVEN LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE, CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY

Story by Dwain Hebda // Photography courtesy of Onyx Automotive

There’s a lot about this year’s models that remind drivers why BMW has always been, and remains, the “Ultimate Driving Machine.” A drive in one of the latest iterations of refined luxury and high performance vehicles, and you know the more things change for the German carmaker, the more things stay the same.

But there’s also much to signal the iconic brand’s evolution, which embraces the needs and wants of modern driving enthusiasts. Nowhere do these two worlds blend together more seamlessly than in the 2023 BMW 7 Series.

“I like to say BMW is an engineering company that stumbled upon making cars, and they make a darn good one,” said Mark Deegan, client advisor with Onyx Automotive. “The 7 Series has always had a very elegant, very defined presence, especially this new one. I sometimes refer to it as the limousine of BMWs.”

The 740i features a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine while the 760i xDrive beefs it up to a twin-turbo V-8—but the ride may surprise you. Despite its larger size, the handling feels quite nimble while changes to the chassis and suspension allow it to float down the road. Various modes allow the driver to customize the car’s feel to match driving conditions.

None of which comes at the price of power, of course. The 760i commands attention with 536 horsepower and peak torque of 553 lb-ft that will get one from 0 to 60 mph in around 4.2 seconds. The 740i boasts 375 hp, peak torque of 383 lb-ft, and standing-to-60 in 5 seconds flat.

Both models are linked to a 48-volt mild hybrid starter-generator system offering regenerative braking, which boosts horsepower and torque and also feeds the car’s 12-volt electrical system.

“That mild hybrid system helps drive more power and more economy, and it really helps the transition when it comes to a stop,” Deegan said. “It’s very subtle.”

While the heart of the new models will feel very familiar, the face of it is decidedly different. The 7 Series offers completely reimagined body design styling, particularly up front. Split headlights and large illuminated kidney grilles

announce the vehicles with authority. Some purists may scoff at the look, but such reactions are getting fainter as the public warms to this new embodiment of the brand. After all, few people invest in a machine of this caliber for its subtlety.

“It’s the ultimate head-turner,” Deegan said. At 212.2 inches long, 76.8 inches wide, and 60.8 inches tall, the new 7 is the biggest BMW ever built. The company uses all that space to create a sumptuously comfortable and appointed cabin, including four-zone climate control, heated and ventilated massage seats in the front and the rear, and an almost entirely new infotainment system.

Without question, the biggest advancement in the new BMW 7 Series is the level of technology smartly incorporated into the cabin. The driver’s instruments have been integrated into iDrive 8 and the curved dash display, which minimizes physical buttons and knobs. Intuitive and beautiful, the system features BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA), incorporating voice commands to help the driver navigate and adjust to the expansive system.

Things are even more impressive for passengers, thanks to an available 31.3-inch 8K resolution touchscreen display that folds up into the roof of the rear passenger area. The show-stopping feature is equipped with Amazon Fire TV and other streaming applications that can be accessed through various user profiles.

“If you had told me a few years ago that they’d be putting TVs into the back of a 7, I’d have laughed at you,” Deegan said, “but it really is so well-engineered and refined. Many of the people buying these aren’t driving them; they’re in the back [seat]...with that technology, they can do a Zoom call just as easily as in an office. For the person riding in the back of the car, those amenities are definitely very sought after.”

BMW has pushed the technology and engineering envelope in another major way: by building a full electric version of the 7 Series, which is getting rave reviews from the automotive press. BMW is no stranger to the EV space, but as with the gasoline models, the i7 takes the concept and turns it up to 11 in performance, comfort, and features.

The i7 features two electric motors (neither of which contain any rare-earth minerals), delivering 536 horsepower and around 300 miles of driving range per charge. The 101.7 kWh lithium-ion battery is heavy, but also represents a big step forward in EV battery technology. For example, charging the beast from 10 to 80% takes just 34 minutes thanks to a 350kW DC fast charger. The company also claims just 10 minutes of charge will yield about 80 miles.

Charging, range, and power (BMW puts the car’s straight-line 0-to-60 time at 4.5 seconds) are impressive enough, but when one considers the creature comforts, the powerplant is supporting on top of the powertrain, the genius behind the i7 really starts to come into focus. From the aforementioned instrument display and TV to the sound system and ambient lighting, the i7 demands few concessions neither from the driver nor their passengers.

It’s as hard to comprehend what the 7 Series could have possibly overlooked as it is to imagine what they will come up with next. But as the 2023 lineup proves, even a luxury standard-bearer like BMW is capable of shaking things up with the right balance of engineering and imagination.

“When you get up into the 7 Series, they definitely are the pinnacle,” Deegan said. “They’re bold statement pieces.”

For more information on BMW’s 7 series, visit onyxautomotive.com.

“WHEN YOU GET UP INTO THE 7 SERIES, THEY DEFINITLY ARE THE PINNACLE. THEY’RE BOLD STATEMENT PIECES.”

MARK DEEGAN

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