Tag Archives: BMW

Perfecting the BMW R1200 GS

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2013 marks the 30th anniversary of the BMW GS series of adventure bikes. BMW invented and continue to set the bar for this genre of motorcycle with their GS line. The do-it-all motorcycle has picked up in popularity in recent years partly due to the slow economy making people demand that their toys be more flexible on and off road which is what the GS is named after. The new 2013 model 2013-bmw-r1200gs-engine-cooling-system via WebBikeWorld.comincorporates water cooling for the first time. Air still cools the cylinders through fins, but water is responsible for the valve seats in the heads. The big 2-cylinder boxer engine also incorporates an innovative Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) system that debuted in the current generation of the bike in 2010. The cams are turned perpendicular to the usual layout for intake and exhaust manifold clearance. Each cam drives one intake and exhaust valve. Slightly conical cam lobes allows the straight cam to drive valves that sit at V-angle from each other. BMW released this video showing how the passions of the engineers and designers shaped the new 2013 R1200 GS.


Source: BMW Motorrad on YouTube

2013 BMW M5 vs. 2013 BMW M6

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The comparison between the BMW M5 and M6 was one that I thought wasn’t going to be very interesting going into this video by Car and Driver’s European Correspondent, Jethro Bovingdon. The M5 and M6 share the same drivetrain and running gear, but the M6 is a two door coupe instead of a four door sedan (saloon car). Furthermore, the M5 is almost $20,000 cheaper than the M6. Can the M6 be that much better than the already very competent and fast M5? It turns out the M6 is a touch faster in a drag race but ends up being significantly faster around a track thanks to better turn in and a lower center of gravity. The combination of heavy weight with lots of turbo power, balance and grip draws the analogy of the M6 being called the rear-wheel drive version of the GT-R. Ultimately the M6 is a hard car to justify on paper, but Jethro seems to think the car is worth the premium from behind the wheel.


Source: CAR and DRIVER on YouTube

How to Build the Perfect M3

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BMW is going to release a new M3 in 2014 on the current 3-series chassis which has been criticized for not being as sporty as previous models. They will be replacing the current E92 M3’s V8 with a twin turbo inline 6 which could very well be a torque monster based on the performance of their latest engines. Steve Sutcliffe of Autocar takes the E30 M3, E46 M3 CSL and the E92 M3 out for a track day at Brands Hatch Circuit. He discusses what he likes and dislikes from what he says are the 3 three best generations of M3. Sutcliffe also discusses which of the cars and features that BMW need to emulate while designing the new model. It’s a nice guided tour of the M3 dynasty.


Source: Autocar on YouTube

BMW Art Car Collection – evo TV

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Henry Catchpole of evo walks us through the BMW Art Car Collection that was gathered in London as part of BMW’s sponsorship of the Olympics. It turns out he got his start writing for the automotive industry after doing his philosophy and art history dissertation on this collection of Art Cars so there are few people who make a better guide. Evo also has an accompanying gallery of the cars here.


Source: evo TV on YouTube

BMW M5 vs. Porsche Panamera GTS – Motor Trend Head 2 Head

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Motor Trend’s Johnny Lieberman brings us the latest in German executive express cars for this episode of Head 2 Head. BMW has been setting the benchmark standard for this class for a long time just like it’s done with the M3 and sport luxury sedans. The M5 has always been the perfect combination of size, comfort, outright speed and agile handling. This year’s model features the first turbocharged engine for the M5 line downsizing from the previous model’s V10 to a 5.5 liter twin turbo V8. The airflow through the heads has been reversed so that the two turbos sit in the valley of the V to improve efficiency. The turbocharged engine provides more power and a lot more torque while using less fuel than the V10. Porsche’s Panamera has been out for a while now and the GTS is their latest trim combination for it. As with many of their other GTS cars, the Panamera features a naturally aspirated engine with a lot of the goodies from the turbo model. Johnny does a good job explaining the nature of the two cars and picking a winner.


Source: Motor Trend on YouTube