Official Release: Fast Company magazine, the American address to look at when searching for trends in the business of innovation, has ranked BMW Group DesignworksUSA as the world’s “#1 Most Innovative Company in Design,” and among the “Most Innovative Companies for 2010.” This recognition appears in the March 2010 issue of Fast Company magazine, which selects the world’s most innovative companies from twenty-four categories including design, advertising & marketing, mobile, biotechnology, energy, film & television, food, media, healthcare, music, and sports. As an honoree DesignworksUSA stands shoulder-to-shoulder with both rising newcomers and industry legends such as Disney, ESPN, First Solar, Facebook, GE, Google, HP, Novartis, Spotify, and Hulu.
This week we provided you, our readers, with a brief history of where the famed BMW 5 Series began. Now, with the gracious support of our good friends at BMW North America we are able to show you the next edition of the 5 Series set to go on sale this June; the all new 2011 model code-named F10. (Full gallery after the jump).
The next generation 5 series is a distinct departure from the outgoing model. It is not controversial from a design standpoint and does not feature a front clip made entirely from aluminum. What it will be known for is its increased luxury and advanced technology in, as some would say, a conservative package.
From the start the ‘11 5 Series will be powered by a choice of two turbo charged engines. The 535i with N55 dual scroll inline six (300 hp/ 300 ft-lbs.) and the N63 twin turbo V8 (400 hp/ 450 ft-lbs.) giving the 550i some serious grunt. The engines both feature the latest in efficiency techniques while not sacrificing performance or drivability.
BimmerCast #16 is all about Alpina. We go through in detail what makes the Alpina B7 (introduced recently in the North American market) such a special car. We also talk about Alpina at large and what the brand is all about. For our US listeners who might not be that familiar with the heritage and the values of the brand, it’s a great segment. Finally we talk about why the B7 is the only Alpina we’ll see in the US.
From there we dissect the M3 Competition package and what BMW has done to get the price down $2k over the previous package. We also drop a few bits of info we’ve heard about something else coming to the M3 later in it’s lifecycle. Finally we talk about why the E9X M3 is such a special car and will be coveted for many years to come after production has ceased.
We round the show out talk of BMW Performance and the new 335is models.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
With the spectacular success of the New Class and the 02 Series, BMW had come off the ropes to reach new heights of prosperity. In the early seventies, a new plant was set up in Dingolfing to help spur sales. BMW wanted to produce 1000 cars a day. In 1972, it introduced the replacement to the 1800/2000. This new offering was a traditional mid-size model designed by Marcello Gandini and reintroduced the now-familiar nomenclature. It was called the 520 (E12).
BMW chairman Eberhard von Kuenheim described the company’s product plans through the 1980s as a program of “refinement in all areas.” He had expressed his concern over not being able to economically produce cars smaller than the 1502. The 5 Series was the first step towards the intended market. It featured a refined body design and great interior comfort. Due to its extra weight over the New Class sedans, it however was not a particularly brilliant performer.
The venerable Scott26 is back with more information on the upcoming M1 (or 1M or M2 depending on who you talk to) that is scheduled to drop in concept form early next month in Geneva. Specifically, it would seem he’s leaked details on some of the many option available to those who order the car.
(Editor)-While this information is from a reliable source it is still a rumor at this point. We do not have any hard evidence at the time this information was originally published
EXTERIOR:
Carbon fiber hood (bonnet)
Carbon fiber trunk (bootlid) with integrated spoiler
Carbon fiber mirrors
Carbon fiber front splitters
Carbon fiber rear valence diffuser
Carbon fiber sideskirts
M-stripes (available in M tricolors, Alpine White, or Ferric Gray)
M-stripes may be placed on left, central, or right hand side of car. Additional stripes can be incorporated along the side of the car.
18″ competition wheels in two finishes
BMW shadowline chrome can be extended to the front kidney grills and rear exhaust ports (titanium effect finish will be an option).
Beginning tonight this new television spot featuring the Vision Efficient Dynamics concept will air. It is meant to show how the VED is not the just the future but its ideals are contained within each current model.
In our opinion this is a great advertisement and goes to the heart of what makes a BMW a BMW it is a sum of more than its parts.
BimmerFile is dedicated to bringing you the most interesting news, links and reviews related to the BMW brand and it's vehicles.
We believe in the old school BMW ownership experience. We believe in garage nights with a six pack and some friends. We believe in 2002s, in E30 M3s and E34 540s with the 6 speed. We believe in progress in both design and engineering but we haven't lost sight of what made the brand and its products great all those years ago. And yes, we believe in the manual transmission.
We long for the days of the wave and for the days of roll-up windows. Yet we love the gadgets on the inside and the xenons on the outside.
In short, we can't get enough of BMWs. This is BimmerFile.
Sections: Design | Official News Feb 18th, 2010 No Comments 
